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| OPINION: Saving Money, Making Better Decisions |
| F. Scott Tonges | 5/22/12 |
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I want to strongly suggest that both the Town and the County board members consider a smarter, less costly, and far more fruitful approach to solving many of the issues that often result in using costly consultants and third parties. I’ve been in the commercial real estate brokerage business for over 30 years and have dealt with everyone from Walmart to Deutsch Bank, property owners, developers and retail tenants in matters that impact local communities.
I have one comment and one suggestion.
Comment: There is an unending line of individuals who have become adept at sucking money out of local taxpayers. They do this by every manner of self interested recommendations, ideas, and schemes, usually presented to local boards whose members may or may not feel qualified to deny or approve various ventures. So, boards hire consultants or listen too much to self interested parties.
Suggestion: Instead of paying for dubious third party studies and consultants, drive out of town to communities who have already confronted these issues and gone through the process and ask questions. Usually, this would be to communities that are about double our size. They will have already confronted and resolved most issues a smaller community like ours faces.
 As an example, how does Walmart actually impact the local community? This is not a new question, is it? This has been confronted and resolved in communities across the country for years. Ask around at Delta, Montrose, Alamosa, etc. Get in your car and make some calls in order find out what really happened to towns who approved Walmart — and to those that did not. I did a lot of work with east India immigrants for years helping them buy, sell, and build motels. Instead of paying for a $60,000 “feasibility study” about demand in a location in which they are considering building a motel, they would drive around to area competitors parking lots after 10pm for numerous nights. They saved $60,000 and got far more useful answers.
I think the question for community boards to ask is “How can we get a street smart, proven answer to this question?” Financial accountability works too; hold back part of any fee pending results. You’ll save the taxpayers a fortune and make better, informed decisions.
It’s not rocket science, in spite of what those with their hands out for our tax dollars may try to flimflam us to believe. |
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