EDMOND — A major part of a newspaper's responsibilities to its readers and the community it serves is to identify some top issues and advocate for the forward-movement of those issues. In 2010, the Edmond community has some difficult issues to work through and overcome. It is this Editorial Board's commitment to consistently advocate for the following 3 issues throughout the year:
1. The local economy
There are things the city and its residents can do to create that next electric leap of business faith that will bring more jobs inside the city limits. Mayors have talked about making Edmond more than just a place where its residents rest their heads at night. We've seen some success in that endeavor with more lawyers and other professionals moving their offices back from Oklahoma City into Edmond, especially after developers like Derek Turner offered them convenient and hip office spaces.
But what Edmond really needs is a concrete, long-term plan for business development that identifies what will bring money into the city and what will then keep that money in the city. Housing growth fueled some phenomenal statistics for Edmond in the last decade, but it seems unlikely that this sector will continue to drive the city's economic engine in the same manner this decade.
Some key questions will need to be answered in that long-term business plan. For example, what do we not have in Edmond that areas around us do have? How will we redevelop certain areas such as the downtown? Will we have a more complete mass transit plan that includes a vision for future high-speed rail? Can the city beef up its land acquisition fund in order to help create more public/private opportunities for new industry sectors to move in?
The creation of certain districts might help give shape and even the spark of business ideas as well as offer the city a way to guide development toward certain goals. Rethinking how we define an Edmond arts district, a university district, a financial district or even a business incubator district could give the city an edge in luring new ventures here.
Don't get us wrong — we're not ungrateful for the tremendous strides made by leaders in the past decade. A lot of groundwork has been laid for the future. We’re now advocating for a clearer picture of how the future of this decade should take shape and it should start with improving and diversifying our local economy.
2. Openness in government
Edmond’s growth, plus the upcoming census and potential state redistricting of legislative districts offers the city some things to think about in how it interacts and communicates with its residents. For example, the city has maintained four City Council wards despite unprecedented population growth in the past decade. Ward 2, which encompasses all of Edmond’s land east of Interstate 35 and west almost to Bryant Avenue in some spots, is now out of alignment with the number of registered voters living within the ward. There are 16,884 voters in this ward, compared with 12,265 voters in Ward 1, 11,067 voters in Ward 3 and 12,939 voters in Ward 4. That means Ward 2 now has 32 percent of the voting population versus 21 to 24 percent residing in the other wards.
Considering a realignment of these wards, or potentially carving out new wards should be a discussion undertaken by city government this year.
Other top issues in this category include campaign finance reform and more complete conflict of interest statements from elected officials.
Openness in government also is a concern at the state level as well. For Oklahoma’s government to come out of its economic tailspin a leaner and more efficient operation, some consideration must be given to eliminating or consolidating some of the state’s more than 500 agencies, boards and commissions.
Oklahomans must ask themselves if they really can afford all of these programs and agencies. Improving state technology systems will be a key component of modernizing government and eliminating waste. But more importantly, it might be time to consider a wholesale restructuring of how government operates in Oklahoma. Both parties have promised change on many occasions, but significant improvements have yet to occur.
3. Public infrastructure needs
Money is tight, times are tough, but we still must think ahead in what will serve Edmond and its residents best for years to come. The deflated national economy sunk several top local discussions this past year, but that doesn’t mean the city and its residents need to stop talking about its future needs. Some items in this category include the Public Safety Center, a potential community swimming pool and the implementation of an enhanced transportation system across the city. The Oklahoma County Jail situation also will be a top priority in the next six months.
Overall, we will advocate for a better Edmond and all that this proud city can be in 2010. We welcome your input and suggestions. E-mail them to lshearer@edmondsun.com.
