Norfolk Daily News

Friday – February 29, 2008

Our View

Plan for New Norfolk City Offices Must Focus on Long-Term Enhancement
What does the ongoing debate over new offices for the City of Norfolk need more of?

It needs more emphasis on developing a long-term vision that enhances Norfolk for residents and visitors alike.

What does the issue need less of?

It needs less attention paid to a self-imposed deadline that only serves to rush into a decision, and less attention to the notion the cheapest alternative is the best.

Elected officials have an obligation to balance the interests of taxpayers and what’s best for the community as a whole.

For many years, Norfolk has hung its hat on the fact that it has the lowest property tax rate of all first-class cities in Nebraska.

But by always striving to maintain that status, it has meant that Norfolk has fallen behind in doing what was necessary to ensure that this community is, indeed, a first-class city.

It also has meant that Norfolk has difficulty, in some cases, seeing beyond what is the cheapest solution to a problem.

This is one of those cases.

There’s no question that the city needs new offices. The option is available to purchase, remodel and move into an existing office building. It would be an improvement, but it doesn’t fit the description of an ideal city hall. It would be workable. But is that the standard that we should be satisfied with?

Over the years, Norfolk has been able to take pride in its success in planning and building well-designed facilities that stand the test of time and serve as a source of pride. Norfolk High School, the Johnny Carson Theatre, the Lifelong Learning Center and Faith Regional Health Services come to mind.

Shouldn’t that same philosophy apply to city offices, given that they also have the potential to serve Norfolk well for decades to come?

Norfolk has the opportunity to build on the Salvation Army parking lot — literally the center of Norfolk — and design an office facility that looks beyond today’s needs and plans for the future. A true enhancement coming from a long-term vision.

That’s the challenge we place before members of the Norfolk City Council as they head into their next meeting Monday: Don’t be afraid to take the necessary time to plan for the long-term and strive for not what is merely adequate but what is a true step forward for the city.