Speak Out 10/4/14

Check out

utility bills

Yes, I was calling about the utility in town. I think they are ripping people off because they sent out a big bill and I paid 'em off and then I also know about other people who are having problems with high utilities about $300 or $400. I'd like to get it checked out. .

Forget about

Downtown

You know the new city manager wants to revitalize the downtown area. They been wantin' to do that for 35 years. I've had businesses on the east side, downtown area, 5th Street, Main Street all over the downtown area. They had special business district for businesses and they had to pay 50 percent more and all that stuff. Every time we have someone come in they want to revitalize downtown Poplar Bluff with this an that. It looks so good with those brick streets walking downtown and all, but I doubt if the city manager has even walked downtown Poplar Bluff yet, but if he has, "congratulations to him."

All they ever do in downtown Poplar Bluff is to tear one building down after another. They tore the old post office down to build that parking garage down there. They tore down the motel, hotels, all kinds of nice buildings that could have been rejuvenated and built like the doctor did there on Vine Street and all down through that area and given him credit for that. At least he didn't tear those buildings down, and they want to get grants to rebuild and rebuild. But when they get a grant they never do what they say they're gonna be done with 'em. So, Mr. Kaplan, forget about the downtown area. It's dead. Nobody wants to redo the downtown area except the Downtown Corp. because all the stores wanna go out on the highway. They've done that for 30 years ever since I was in business back in the '70s and '80s they started tearing it down, starting with 5th Street and they kept tearing it down ever since.

So, let's start into something new. Think about something new. Let's build. Take back that park along the river where kids can wade around and swim and clean it up--something like that. That would be a good thing to start with. Think about it. Go over there and walk down Black River a time or two.

PB forgetting

about local

Yes, it looks like the new city manager does'nt want to keep nothing local around here and the city council is just helping him out. They need to be thinking about all these local people that are trying to keep a job around here. This insurance and stuff that's just wrong.

It's just

simple math

Hello, Speak Out. I was just reading some of Mr. Kaplan's statements. Since the city has plenty of reserve funds, does that mean that just maybe Mr. Bagby was doing his job right? And that what he was doing was to the betterment and benefit of the city of Poplar Bluff. I think that needs to be thought about. Also on the front page the article immediately below "Income and Equality Affect Missouri Taxes," you're not affected if your income is from tax money. That includes primarily the medical community. Most of the grocery stores are getting the majority of their money through the various food stamp programs, WIC, etc. There's just not much going on in this area. You know for years Southeast Missouri has been known as the "Economic Cesspool" of the known world. Maybe not as bad as some places in Mexico, but I haven't been there, but I know you can work your whole life here and absolutely not have nothing to show for it. Best to pack up and move to where the money is, especially now with the Internet where you can go on these various Chamber of Commerce sites and determine per capita income averages. Average per capita income in Butler County is less than $20,000. Well, when you add a $200,00 a year government employee in with numerous $12,000 a year individual citizens you can come up with that average. It's not brain surgery. Just simple math. A dollar calculator will figure for you. God help us all.