Plan Norwalk

Welcome to Norwalk's MindMixer. Think of this site as an online town hall meeting. We're looking for practical and resourceful ideas about improving our community.

 
     

Recent Comments

»Shop at home more, eat at the local restaurants more and more of both will come! it's simple as that!
»I think Russ's idea is good. I would break the comprehensive plan down by geographical sections. I think people look at how something is going to change in their neighborhood more than they care how it is going to change in another part of town they may not care about. Obviously the comp plan is going to impact certain parts of town more than others. However, I think everyone will be impact by the Route 28 corridor, where future schools will be located, and bike paths which a lot of people want. Overall, to engage people we need to hit home how it is going to directly impact them. That's when people start caring. (Ex. red light cameras)
»I chose Norwalk because it wasn't a city. It is quiet. People can jog/walk peacefully along 28 without encountering business entrances every 20 yards. That would go away with major business development. The schools are still small enough to seem friendly and personal. We get Wendy Whirls, not Blizzards. I want to live in community, not a business center. If business is needed, I'd rather see that on the outside of town along the bypass.
»That may not be too far fetched. Many companies like satalite type offices in smaller communities, for example Principle has satalite offices in Pella and Ottumwa. I know that one time the Ottumwa office had about 30 employees that made above average saleries for that area. May take some recruiting and some give and take from city officials to draw these companies in.
»NewKids: Some light industrial or Office type would work. Something like a headquarters for a Financial/Insurance company...something that would draw employees that would shop here before driving home.
»Norwalk Observer, We are new to town, what does the city need? What have you heard from residents or leadership from town?
»I Agree but we really need businesses in Norwalk that creates Jobs so that the people who work here....will SHOP here to support our existing businesses as well as encourage more businesses to locate here.
»I agree that the City needs to get the word out. I don't know how successful print media (water bill inserts or newspaper) will be. I think we need to get as many email address as possible to push emails out. From what I have seen it is hard to get people engaged expect for a few that have posted on Mindmixer.
»@Holly, What do we have to lose? How about our humanity as we develop an Orwellian approach to society? An officer giving you a ticket is still a person, not a faceless entity detached from the circumstances at hand. What if you are “guilty” of a minor rolling right on red and get a ticket that no officer ever would deem worth the time. Likewise, an officer could let a ticket slide upon seeing 2 fighting kids in the back seat or some other extenuating circumstance that may have contributed to minor infractions? There is no consideration for the situation with a photo.
We also lose our expectation to confront our accusers in court and our assumption of innocence. Not every family has a vehicle for each person. Who gets the tickets when a family vehicle is caught? Why should the vehicle owner be expected to become a revenue agent for the city?
Finally, as with any revenue generating system, it has the potential for abuse. Several communities and camera companies across the nation have been found tilting the system in their favor to generate more cash.
If safety is a concern, then prioritize it and stick a manned patrol car there.
»Let's prioritize all of those suggestions first and debate them each. The street lights is probably the idea I like best.
»Trails need to allow us the ability to attach to other existing trails like the great western trail to bring bikers to Norwalk as well as Norwalk bikers to surrounding areas.
»I agree, JR! It improves the safety of our community, will assist drivers in making wiser choices with regard to speeding and the running of red lights, and will bring in extra income for the city. If we are obeying the traffic rules, what do we have to lose?
»I second the original community idea posted here. I don't support buying/renovating the church as suggested in the comment thread. Oftentimes it's cheaper to build from scratch to get a building that truly fits community needs than it is to try to make a building built for another purpose conform to what is desired. Also, the city would need to find money to operate and maintain a community center on an ongoing basis, and that won't be cheap. People might be willing to pay to rent out space in a community center for parties, etc., but I think many would resist paying fees given taxpayer dollars would be used to build and run the center in the first place (i.e., you're charged (taxes) to have the facility, then charged again to use it).
»It is likely we could get DOT support to place a traffic signal on County Line Road and Highway 28 when it is developed through to the other side. If this would happen we could then time out the lights there and at Beardsley to control the access onto Lakewood Drive.
Thanks
Ed
»On the 11th, the City Council had a special meeting on the Fun Center & how to proceed with Colonial Pkwy. Mr.Putbrese was not present. The Economic Development person wanted to know whether to continue working on the Fun Center project or stop. Each City Council member made their points and appeared that each had done extensive work on the viability of a project like this. The Fun Center is asking for free water/sewer for 9 yrs, a 75% discount for an additional 5 yrs, a 50% discount for another 5 and a 25% discount from 2033 on. The total incentive package is estimated at $4-5M. The City is going to post a summary of the incentive package to let citizens know how much it would cost the City. They thought it was a great idea and would be great for the City, if only private money was used. In the end they all felt that too much of the risk was being borne by the City, the cost to the City too high and it wasn't a project they wanted to pursue.

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