Community Clothing Store

I think that bringing more choice to the community is a key component to keeping shopping dollars here in town. A clothing store that adds choice for the citizens of the town and surrounding communities would be a good thing, if it can survive the rigors of a business cycle.

I would like to know more about the proposal and will ask around to find out who would directly benefit from the sale of goods and who would be responsible for funding the operation's start up and ongoing costs.

One of the reasons that people shop out of town to go where more people are. Larger communities have a more diverse population and those tastes and preferences are reflected in availability of items for sale. One only has to look at the Wal Mart in Sidney and compare it with the Wal Mart in Sterling or Cheyenne, Wyoming. and see how population density affects product assortment.

Opening a store and employing people to run it is a good thing for the local economy as well as putting money directly into the pockets of those who might be looking for a job. Hopefully any analysis that supports this endeavor will consider the impact such an organization will have on other entities such as the Salvation Army.

Having shopped at Larry's Clothing, I think it fair to say that his offerings are far superior to those found in any Wal Mart and his ability to survive wasn't really impacted by a Big Box store. It might be a different story if Men's Wearhouse wanted to put a store in Sidney.

I will follow this effort as it progresses and wish those who are trying to bring a new business to town the best of luck.

Michael Rowland

For the AssAnonymous

I suspect that the number of anonymous posters to this site is contained to a small handful of people, all of the same persuasion, I am assigning any comment I might have on them to this post and the subsequent list of comments.

It is a shame that a good question was posed this afternoon to a previous post. I would like to include it with the post mentioned, but alas. It is sent by someone who wants to remain anonymous. Too bad.. it was a good question.

Michael Rowland

Small town values

There have been a lot of accusations about conspiracies and underhanded dealings going on with the city council here of late. As a point of discussion, I would like to offer up a discussion of what people in the town think of the phrase that greets visitors and residents as they come into town.

What does the phrase, "Small town values, Big time opportunities" mean to you.

Who owns KSID radio?

Publisher's Note: Several people have commented since this post, that Ibs doesn't really have anything to do with the day to day operations for KSID radio. That is beside the point. As the owner, Mrs. Young benefits from advertising revenues garnered from the profits of a media enterprise. The point I was making, was to simply illustrate Mrs. Young's propensity to use letters to the editor in a different venue, and that the nature of her letter was to characterize some unnamed individual in a manner she chose not to use on the station's website. The tone of her message was not in keeping with her standing in the community, no matter how right she may have been to criticize the use of an anonymous letter (which I agree with her on that premise).

This post is only here to clarify some email I have received from someone who identified himself as Cliff  Vanders.  I post my response here for everyone's benefit to avoid future confusion.

A couple people have told me that Elizabeth Young was no longer the owner of the radio station known as KSID. They have said that I shouldn't be including the radio station in my comments in my responses to Ibs Young's lambasting of the so-called "Sidney Citizen."

Looking at the ownership information maintained by the FCC, a license renewal application from 2007 shows the station owner to be Elizabeth Young with a PO box located here in Sidney. The document continues to be filed every 2 years. Since this is a public record, it should be sufficient to put that question to rest.

KSID Radio, Inc.
File number BOA - 20070122ABT
Registration number 0003747623

KSID, KSID-FM Sidney
100% Elizabeth Young, Sidney, President/Treasurer


Application for license renewal filed by Elizabeth Young on January 17, 2007 for a Biennial renewal period. 


Michael Rowland

What is not covered in the Open Meeting Act of Nebraska

Someone is complaining that the message Dave Wiederspon gave at Council Meeting on Tuesday on the process for discussion of the City Manager/Economic Development coordinator position outside of council would be a violation of state law governing open meetings. I did some digging into what constitutes a meeting in the state of Nebraska and here is what I have found thus far.

Anonymous letter seeks to further stir mistrust

Publisher's Note: If you want to post on this site or have your comments taken seriously, you must be known to me in a manner that allows communication and verification prior to posting. Comments which add substance to the debate are permitted, which those which foment hate and discontent will be rejected.

The sentiment of Tuesday night's council meeting expressed by many in attendance was that anonymous comments don't deserve to be aired in public. I generally agree the sentiment, but also believe that opportunities must exist to bring up legitimate complaints, backed by evidence and not supposition. It is appropriate and necessary to remain silent on the revelation of your name, when revealing it, along with details of a crime or unethical conduct would expose the revealing person to loss of employment or community standing. When people seek to be anonymous in furtherance of stirring the pot or besmirching another in support of their own agenda, I find that action more than a little underhanded.

Anyonymity behind a penname

The publication of a recent letter penned by someone called, "The Sidney Citizen" has caused an outrage among many citizens who feel that if you cannot mention your name, you don't deserve consideration for any idea you may want to bring up. I am going to agree with that assertion, with one caveat.

Follow up on Council and City Manager Questions.

Last night a standing room only crowd once again came to the Council Chambers to listen to a light agenda of items. I presented my questions during the public comment section and after some cajoling by citizen's present, everyone agreed to address the questions I synthesized from the circulated letter, "The Sidney Citizen." It was clear from the tone of those who participated in the discussions that certain council members are not trusted and that an undercurrent of this distrust continues to permeate the community.

Open letter to the City Manager and the City Council members and staff

Lady and Gentlemen:

I write today to inquire about several questions which I hope can be addressed either in writing or in person. I have stayed largely out of the dustup over Gary Person's dual role in the city government and I intend to reserve further comment pending the budget discussions later this year.  I would like the contents of this letter entered into the council minutes as public comment and respectfully request council to do so.

Dual roles aside, I think that the writer of the letter has a few valid questions with respect to:
1.    Were there specific questions as to professional conduct, of either illegal or unethical nature that led to the resignation of the Chief of Police?
2.    Are city employees forbidden to talk to council members without approval of the city manager to any such conduct?
3.    Does the council code of conduct forbid/discourage the conduct of Councilman Gaston as expressed at last council meeting (as reported in the, "Sidney Citizen?"
4.    Does any city employee have knowledge of a financial shortfall due to a planned economic development refund requests by local business(es)?
5.    What is the nature of the relationship between the city attorney, the City Manager and the City Council? Who represents the interests of the City Manager, and why must City Council must retain external council to address specific concerns.

I am not asking questions with a particular agenda, I just have questions and I respectfully ask that the City Council and City Manager address each question in public.

Respectfully,

Michael Rowland

Comments on the site.

This site is open to all persons who wish to participate. Though I will not require you to list your names in your post, you will be required to register as a blog user, which will identify you to the publisher. Your name will not be made public unless you wish, but your content must be accurate and if you cite facts, you must cite sources.

This posting is due to Julie Young who posted material to promote another service with two articles as a better alternative. Whether they are, or not is a question for the readers.

Michael Rowland