DIDA Needs New Leadership

EDITORIAL - by Jim Albert - Monday, December 7, 2009 - Have you ever shopped in Downtown Minocqua? Have you ever traveled to Downtown Eagle River? Rhinelander? Wausau? Duluth? Superior? Think about the last time you shopped in an out-of-town Downtown Business District. What about that experience left you with lasting memories? Why did you shop there? What about your experience would make you want to go back and shop there again?

Recently the Downtown Ironwood Development Authority (DIDA) and the City of Ironwood spent $30,000 of your hard-earned tax dollars hiring a consulting firm, Hyatt-Palma, to develop a plan to revitalize the City's Downtown Business District. This plan, Ironwood's Blueprint, spells out in exacting detail what needs to be done to make Ironwood's Downtown an attractive shopping district.

When the idea to "invest" in the Blueprint plan was first being considered, several DIDA members were opposed to the idea. Authority members opposed to the plan reasoned that over the years, several similar plans have been created for the City at an astronomical cost, only to sit and gather dust on a shelf.

One of the members who voiced opposition to the plan was Eva Smith-Furgason. She feared that the City was wasting money on yet another plan that would be ignored and shelved. After being out-voted, however, Smith-Furgason, decided that she would do everything in her power to make sure that the City's investment into the plan would not be wasted.

When Hyatt-Palma first presented their finished plan for Downtown Ironwood, they went over the plan at an introductory meeting at the college. Doyle Hyatt explained the plan of attack and the reasons for his company's strategies. Hyatt-Palma is a very well respected consulting firm that has helped many cities throughout the United States reinvent their Downtown Business Districts.  

Eva Smith-Furgason attended that meeting with an open mind. Although she initially opposed the plan, she saw the merit of the consultant's theories. Smith-Furgason is a personal friend of mine. She's a person who deeply cares about this community. She takes her appointment to the DIDA very seriously. She knows how difficult it is for small businesses to stay afloat in the "new economy." She's frugal, but sensible.

Doyle Hyatt listed off ideas that were worthwhile and he also listed ideas that the City should avoid at all costs. Beautification at a low cost was one of the Blueprint Plan's priorities. The Hyatt-Palma plan provided a list of items to be implemented year-by-year in their five year plan.

After Mr. Hyatt's presentation, the DIDA met to roll up their sleeves and to put the plan into action. From the very beginning, Smith-Furgason insisted that the Authority follow the plan as written. She read the plan cover-to-cover and according to the plan, things need to be done in a specific order. Instead of following the plan, the DIDA's leadership decided to pick and choose items they believed to be important, rather than following the plan as presented.

Every time Ms. Smith-Furgason expressed concern that the Blueprint was not being followed, Chairman George Goerig and Vice-Chairman Joe Karius would roll their eyes and do everything they could to shut her up. Smith-Furgason, however, refused to be bullied. She continued to insist that the Blueprint plan be followed. At one point, she asked Goerig if he ever read the plan. Goerig admitted that he hadn't -- but he did "skim over" it.

How can you put a plan into action if you don't know what it says?

The DIDA is currently attempting to receive grant funding through a Community Development Block Grant. The grant will provide up to $650,000 (at a 10% match) for capital improvements. Instead of earmarking the funds for the items prioritized by the Blueprint Plan, the DIDA leadership is trying to garner funds for items that will do nothing to stimulate Downtown Business District growth.

Goerig and Karius have been pushing to earmark funds for municipal parking lots and public restrooms. Over 33% of the requested funds are for parking lots and $75,000 of the funds are listed for public restooms. Doyle Hyatt made it very clear that public restrooms were a high expense, high maintainence item that the City should not invest in. Hyatt pointed out that unattended public restrooms are an invitation to crime -- vandalism, drug dealing, child molestation and even rape. Improvements to parking areas were listed in the Blueprint Plan, but not as a priority.

Is parking in Downtown Ironwood really a problem?  There are far more empty parking spaces than there are customers in the Downtown. At the last DIDA meeting Joe Karius produced evidence attempting to prove that Hyatt-Palma's assessment of public restooms downtown was incorrect. He provided information that stated the City of Bayfield, Wisconsin spent less than $5,000 annually maintaining their public restrooms. What Karius failed to disclose is that Bayfield's restrooms are not open throughout the winter months, saving thousands in heating costs alone. 

I wonder how many people shop in Bayfield because they have public restrooms. Perhaps they are there because Bayfield has a variety of quaint shops with items visitors want. Perhaps they are there because of the beautiful lake front and the beautiful buildings and landscaping in the city. Maybe they are there because there are a number of quality dining establishments and watering holes. I highly doubt that anybody would travel to Bayfield because they have public restrooms. I've never heard anybody say they shop or won't shop in any particular place because they have or don't have public municipal restrooms.  

One thing the Blueprint Plan insisted on was to expand the Depot Park in the first years. DIDA leadership, however, eliminated every penny initially proposed for the Depot Park. Instead of creating a beautiful showplace park at the Depot -- something that would actually attract visitors -- the DIDA leadership would rather spend outrageous amounts of money on parking lots and public restrooms. The total estimated cost of the Depot Park is $244,000. The total estimated cost for parking lot improvements & restrooms is $290,000.

Nobody is going to locate a new business, and shoppers will not come to Ironwood simply because they have new parking lots and stand alone restrooms. Visitors will come here to see a beautiful park; to visit our historic Library; or to see a live performance at our Theatre. Improvements to the Depot Park, the Carnegie Library, and the Ironwood Theatre are part of the Blueprint Plan -- a very big part.

People who shop in Downtown Ironwood do so because the district has stores that appeal to their needs. As more and more stores locate in the Downtown, more and more visitors will opt to shop here.

At the last DIDA meeting, Goerig asked that the DIDA to consider removing Smith-Furgason for "insubordination." Her only "crime" is that she continues to insist that the Blueprint Plan be followed as written. In order to be guilty of insubordination, you first must be subordinate to someone. All of the members of the DIDA are equal. They have all been appointed by the City Commission. No one receives pay for their contribution to the Authority and no member has authority over any other member. If anybody should be removed from the DIDA it should be Chairman George Goerig and Vice-Chairman Joe Karius. These two individuals have actually stymied progress by refusing to follow Hyatt-Palma's advice. Apparently Goerig and Karius feel they know more than the experts the City hired.

I happen to fully agree with Smith-Furgason. It makes no sense to pay for a plan only to ignore the advice given in that plan.

Jim Albert