Accomplishments abound for city

Hays has completed an impressive list of accomplishments over the past year:

nÀRebuilt Hall Street;

nÀRecruited N.E.W. to fill Sykes;

nÀContinued development north of Interstate 70 and east of Canterbury;

nÀRepealed the property tax as the method for paying for city services; and

nÀIncreased — through budget cuts and financial austerity — the balance in the city's savings account to nearly $2.4 million, from only $600,000 three years ago.

These are incredible gains, and many people throughout the community worked hard to make these things happen. But I am left with a sense that there is much more to do. As Robert Frost wrote: "…I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep…"

For example, Ellis County workers earn only 74 cents for every dollar earned by the average Kansas worker. This has not changed much since 1988. Barton, Finney, Ford, Reno and Saline counties have also had slower wage growth compared to the state as a whole, but none have fallen to a level as low as ours.

The reason for our wage problem is simple: we have historically had few manufacturing jobs and the oil industry is not as strong as it was 20 years ago. But when one considers that Hays is home to a state university and a regional medical center, it seems odd that we have not had better luck in attracting, or at least developing, better job opportunities in other areas.

Overcoming this challenge requires a new approach to creating jobs. It means that we have to decide — as a community — if we want our economic development dollars to go to retail stores or to higher skill, higher wage jobs. Sure, most of us want to shop in Kohl's, Target and Dillard's, and then eat at Red Lobster or Olive Garden. But what comes first: the employment and population that attracts those retailers or just the retailers?

For me, the choice is clear. I believe that the future of Hays — and western Kansas — lies in encouraging the development of new Kansas “start-up” businesses, through the creation of a business climate favorable to entrepreneurs. We must also foster the retention and expansion of our existing businesses by enhancing their long-term competitiveness.

Why entrepreneurship? First, attracting a large, new company is not feasible because there are fewer of them to catch. Second, we simply do not have the financial resources to compete with other communities — or even other nations. Finally, entrepreneurship and growth from within has traditionally been more successful in Kansas, creating greater wealth.

The disadvantage of this approach is that it requires patience and determination, as results are long term. This is no quick fix. Taking a long-term view is not a distinguishing characteristic of American life. However, I sense that there is a clearer recognition that the future of Hays lies in our own hands. People want to see our community do more than it has in the past.

I sincerely hope that this desire to do more — and build a better community — includes creating better jobs for today's families and the children of future generations.

Henry Schwaller IV is a Hays city commissioner.