Norfolk Daily News

Tuesday – October 14, 2008

300 Jobs over next 4 years

A Norfolk mayoral candidate has put together a four-step action plan to help create jobs in the community.

“The subject of job creation is very important, and few people seem to want to talk about it,” said Tom Schommer. “As community leaders, we must be proactive and have a plan that can deal with these immediate needs and to address them quickly.”

Schommer is running against Sue Fuchtman in the Nov. 4 general election to determine Norfolk’s next mayor. Gordon Adams, who has served the past eight years, decided not to seek re-election.

The four steps in Schommer’s plan, which would go into effect shortly after the election, are:
1. Conduct a community attitude survey.
2. Make plans for a job creation summit in Norfolk.
3. Implement an action plan with a focus on job creation.
4. Hold an open town hall meeting to report progress.

“This job creation plan could build on the successes we have had in the past and, at the same time, create the next chapter of growth for Norfolk,” he said. “Doing so will build a brighter future for our younger generation while . . . honoring the efforts of the past.”

Schommer said the survey would be distributed to every sixth household in Norfolk throughout all parts of town. A random cross-section of businesses also would receive the survey.

The survey has yet to be finalized, but questions could ask citizens to rate the performance of various city agencies, the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce, utilities, media outlets and public library, among others. The survey also would ask citizens’ opinions on things like budget issues, safety issues and tax reduction. Gaining citizen input on the Norfolk Public Schools also could be part of the survey.

Once the surveys have been distributed, completed and results tabulated, Schommer said the key is to review the results and meet with each of the respective boards or leaders of the various areas survey.

The results also would be released to the media and the public and, finally, the results would be used to validate existing areas of strength and identify areas where there is opportunity to improve, he said.

The job creation summit would have the goal of coming up with a plan to create 300 primary jobs over the next four years. Existing business owners would be invited to attend, and leaders of other communities, such as South Sioux City and Columbus, also would be invited to participate.

The action plan would utilize the results of the survey and submit to “develop a properly funded plan that would work for Norfolk,” Schommer said.

The final step — holding the town hall meeting — would be done 90 days following the implementation of a form plan to report the progress of the plan to Norfolkans.

“This puts accountability into the process and gives an additional opportunity for citizen input,” he said.

Schommer said the value of a job creation plan should be obvious.

“If you don’t see the value, I urge you to go down to Columbus and look east on Highway 30. You’ll see a landscape of business, retail and industry that did not exist 10 years ago, with jobs that, in part, came from Norfolk,” he said.

“Our policies need to focus on new job creation, therefore broadening the tax burden so that more tax revenues will be created without raising existing property taxes.”