JOBS

I take this commentary seriously, in that, I give you my honest opinion whether or not it is popular. This one might not be popular anywhere in Fairfield.

I attended the public meeting Monday night inspired by local Attorney Ryan Rice. The forum was well attended which tells me people are worried about where the city is going… 

Rice likes marketing Fairfield as a Mecca for youth sporting events because of the excellent fields and gyms available. He supports an effort to make the Atkinson Forest into a top notch nature park….and he wants a park for disabled youth. All great projects. He handed out the phone numbers of the city council, mayor and members of the Economic Development Commission and urged a lobbying effort.

The Mayor and council seem to be more inclined to use available TIF money for infrastructure, like water lines beneath Delaware and West Main….for refurbishing the city’s embarrassing water tower. I understand the need to do those projects too. The city has a revenue problem that has cooked for years.

But I heard very little talk about how I think TIF money should be spent. Rice touched on it…but not nearly enough.

Young families are not going to move or stay here because of a nature trail or a nicer looking water tower. They need jobs. Jobs should be the focus. We are becoming a bedroom community to Albion, Flora and Mt. Vernon. People here work at Champ, NAL and General Tire. We need jobs here.

Fairfield needs to acquire Airtex Plant 2, hire a top notch recruiting firm, and attract, through incentives, a company that can supply needed jobs. That should be at the core of this effort….and yet….it seems to fall way down the list.

I moved here again because I wanted to. I want nice things in the community..and solid infrastructure. But if we worry about empty pews on Sunday morning…there is only one cure. 

Job creation.