Ideas for Kingsburg

By Chet Reilly

See Below

While I am proud of our town's Swedish heritage (My great-great grandparents, the Abrahamson's, are buried in the Kingsburg Cemetery) our heavy reliance on the Swedish theme in construction without the encouragement of an entrepreneurial environment that can support that vision is short sided. I have met with numerous downtown business owners that have been embarrassed on numerous occasions by questions from out-of-town visitors coming into their businesses and asking where the "Swedish Village" is located?

I believe that the growth management ordinance adopted overwhelmingly by 84% of Kingsburg residents in 2004 is a good strategy for controlling the size and growth of our city. However, controlling residential growth should not deter us from encouraging economic development centered on promoting the location of businesses offering good paying jobs for our residents. I believe that the widely held perception that Kingsburg is "unfriendly to business" is beginning to hurt our city economically and is a contributing factor to the increase in homes available for rent and decreasing property values. Our policies should promote an environment of homeownership with occupants who have an invested stake in the city. If Kingsburg residents have to pay $4 per gallon for gas to drive to Fresno or Visalia for work and to shop, then the town loses some of its charm.

We need to have more retail options so that local citizens can spend their money in Kingsburg and the resulting sales tax generated will be reinvested in our community, not neighboring cities. Our current strategy of fast-food and hotel development centered on Highway 99 traffic short changes our local residents and minimizes our retail choices. We need to look at other retail choices that will enhance our tax base and provide better choices for Kingsburg residents.

We need to have more recreational and entertainment options for our citizens. One idea would be the development of sports/recreational facilities (like a sports complex with soccer and baseball/softball fields, expanded swimming facilities, and possibly a skate park) that will provide activities for existing residents and also draw visitors to the city who will shop and spend money here. Our city owns property on the river in Tulare County and I would support the development of a citizens group that would put together a partnership of local citizens, businesses, and other groups that could help to make it a reality.