Ground has finally broke in the summer of 2011 for the Shenandoah Super Walmart. It's been the long anticipated action and a perceived stopwatch till completion - and beyond. Dredging up old bickering and whining at this point is mute, pointless and unproductive. This post serves to present my views on this project in relation to the community of Shenandoah.
The ground is torn up and officially broke in the field behind Subway, Chat Mobility and the Elks. Heavy equipment has their predetermined parameters of entrance and exit routes. The mobile construction office is in place and directs the operation. There is no turning back now. No rolling back time or longing for simpler eras. There is only the future.
Let's just cut to the chase. A great anxiety exists in Shenandoah of the possible repercussions of this particular business entering Shenandoah. Stories abound of the Walmart effects on other towns. For instance many blame the relatively new Nebraska City Super Walmart for the close of a main grocery store there. True or not will not be debated here. Yet it is true that businesses small and large have a difficult time competing with Walmart let alone a supercenter. Supercenters that have basically everything from building materials to food to clothing and even a tire and lube easily shadow over smaller businesses. Many of these businesses exist in towns such as Shenandoah for decades if not generations. There are those that say Walmart holds an unfair monopoly of multiple markets especially in smaller communities.
In Shenandoah the biggest fear is in the retail grocery industry. Shenandoah has six or seven thousand residents and currently two thriving grocery stores. We have a Fareway and also a newly remodeled Hy-Vee Food Store. Both are successful and fierce competitors. Yet, is Shenandoah large enough to successfully support a third grocery store? That's the question! In light of the debate failure is already anticipated by many. Many question the survival of Hy-Vee and/or Fareway in Shenandoah.
Will this be the perceived destiny of Shenandoah? Do we throw up our hands in defeat before the battle is even waged or begun? Even in Shenandoah we are humans. Humans are the most adaptable and innovative species on the planet. Our system of free market and capitalism is the mechanism which we owe our technology and prosperity. Walmart is taking this under their wings. Whether overly bold or not is beside the point where Shenandoah is concerned. As I said - the ground is broke.
As a candidate for City Council it's useless to say i'm for or against a supercenter Walmart in Shenandoah. What I can say is that we can triumph. The use of "we" indicates our various businesses and even our working men and women who fear the future of their jobs. Many new jobs are promised to this community by this addition. Time will tell but I do know that it will be up to us to maintain the spirit of this city and move forward in a direction of prosperity via innovative business techniques in order to compete and survive what's coming.
I've just as much a concern as anybody. My full time job is at one of these grocery stores. In addition my home on Southwest Road is quite literally across the street from the construction zone. I think about increased traffic and also rising property values. In spite of these preoccupation of thoughts we can and will prevail.
As a councilman it will be my duty, privilege and responsibility to listen to citizen concerns and represent the town's best interest in future decisions which may arise in light of our new Shenandoah Super Walmart. Looking toward the future I congratulate Walmart for their successful construction and wish them well. Likewise I wish well and pray for the strength and well-being of our hometown businesses that they may find the correct avenues to take in order to successfully compete with this new endeavor.
The ground is torn up and officially broke in the field behind Subway, Chat Mobility and the Elks. Heavy equipment has their predetermined parameters of entrance and exit routes. The mobile construction office is in place and directs the operation. There is no turning back now. No rolling back time or longing for simpler eras. There is only the future.
Let's just cut to the chase. A great anxiety exists in Shenandoah of the possible repercussions of this particular business entering Shenandoah. Stories abound of the Walmart effects on other towns. For instance many blame the relatively new Nebraska City Super Walmart for the close of a main grocery store there. True or not will not be debated here. Yet it is true that businesses small and large have a difficult time competing with Walmart let alone a supercenter. Supercenters that have basically everything from building materials to food to clothing and even a tire and lube easily shadow over smaller businesses. Many of these businesses exist in towns such as Shenandoah for decades if not generations. There are those that say Walmart holds an unfair monopoly of multiple markets especially in smaller communities.
In Shenandoah the biggest fear is in the retail grocery industry. Shenandoah has six or seven thousand residents and currently two thriving grocery stores. We have a Fareway and also a newly remodeled Hy-Vee Food Store. Both are successful and fierce competitors. Yet, is Shenandoah large enough to successfully support a third grocery store? That's the question! In light of the debate failure is already anticipated by many. Many question the survival of Hy-Vee and/or Fareway in Shenandoah.
Will this be the perceived destiny of Shenandoah? Do we throw up our hands in defeat before the battle is even waged or begun? Even in Shenandoah we are humans. Humans are the most adaptable and innovative species on the planet. Our system of free market and capitalism is the mechanism which we owe our technology and prosperity. Walmart is taking this under their wings. Whether overly bold or not is beside the point where Shenandoah is concerned. As I said - the ground is broke.
As a candidate for City Council it's useless to say i'm for or against a supercenter Walmart in Shenandoah. What I can say is that we can triumph. The use of "we" indicates our various businesses and even our working men and women who fear the future of their jobs. Many new jobs are promised to this community by this addition. Time will tell but I do know that it will be up to us to maintain the spirit of this city and move forward in a direction of prosperity via innovative business techniques in order to compete and survive what's coming.
I've just as much a concern as anybody. My full time job is at one of these grocery stores. In addition my home on Southwest Road is quite literally across the street from the construction zone. I think about increased traffic and also rising property values. In spite of these preoccupation of thoughts we can and will prevail.
As a councilman it will be my duty, privilege and responsibility to listen to citizen concerns and represent the town's best interest in future decisions which may arise in light of our new Shenandoah Super Walmart. Looking toward the future I congratulate Walmart for their successful construction and wish them well. Likewise I wish well and pray for the strength and well-being of our hometown businesses that they may find the correct avenues to take in order to successfully compete with this new endeavor.
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