May 4, 2001

Minonk is not dying, it is A WORK IN PROGRESS!

Minonk is a work in progress. The population of Minonk has changed little since 1944, and yet they have changed a lot! The number of people who live here is the same, but a much higher percentage of our residents work out of town. Today we produce the things that we need at less cost than we used to. This allows us to have a much higher standard of living. In 1944 who would have thought that we would have I-39, a road that allows us to commute out of town to a major city like Bloomington in only 30 minutes. This road also goes the other direction allowing people who live in Bloomington to commute to their jobs in Minonk! Good roads allow our out of town customers to reach us. There is something about small towns that makes city folks want to do business here and also draws people to live here. It is these things that we need to preserve and strengthen!

Minonk people, like the people of any other community, will do some of their shopping out of town. We should not try to change that! The good news is that the same road that these people drive out of town on has another lane that brings them back at night. The other good news for local business is that those same roads allow customers from out of town to come to Minonk to purchase our goods and services that just are not available in their own community!

If you look around at the businesses that we have in Minonk, How many are being supported only by the citizenry of Minonk? Do you really think that 2100 people are enough to support 2 doctors? Of course not! But Minonk's physicians both have good reputations and people from surrounding towns will travel to use their services. This is true of many other businesses in Minonk also. How much Zivney cheese is consumed in Minonk? How many medications from LTC pharmacy are consumed in Minonk? How many parts from Durre Bros or SMF are used in Minonk? How many implements sold by Sauder and Rippel or Stoller Case-IH are purchased for use by farmers with a Minonk address? How much bodywork is being done by Herman's body shop or Uftring Automotive or Minonk Autobody for Minonk residents? Do our 2 full time attorneys work for only the residents of Minonk? How much of the bread baked at Minonk Bakery was actually consumed in Minonk? How many motorhomes has Custom Crafted Coach worked on for Minonk residents? How many other businesses have I neglected to mention? I am sure there a few businesses who probably do serve mostly Minonk residents, but most of us need the support of people from the surrounding towns! Some, like SMF and Durre's have distribution across the country or worldwide!

There are many dynamic changes going on! The philosophy of "business as usual" has caused the extinction of many businesses. Our economy is changing. Only the businesses that change to meet the needs of today's consumer will survive. Look at the newspaper business. In 1944 Minonk supported 2 newspapers. We now have a newspaper that is shared with 2 other communities. Only by changing has our newspaper survived at all. Technology has played a part in these changes. At one time a pressman slaved over a machine the made type from strips of hot lead. Now our paper is pasted up with computer generated type and graphics and taken to Bloomington to The Pantagraph to be printed on their huge modern press that can print up to 4 colors in one press run! Are there more changes coming for this newspaper? I am sure. Are there fewer people who read our newspaper now that in 1944? How many people save precious time by getting their news from the television with some channels that are full time news channels? How does this compare with the technology that we had in 1944? How has this affected readership of this newspaper?

I am often amazed at the number of people who are spending money in the Carolyn Addition of Minonk. There is a constant stream of trucks and cars exiting from the I-39 to purchase fuel and eat at Woodys or Subway/TCBY. The new Motel 6 is open and soon will be busy as well. I am not sure just what the financial impact [of these new businesses] is on the city of Minonk, but I am sure that it is a positive thing for our community! This did not happen overnight, but took lots of planning and foresight and monetary investment on the part of city government. There were many who questioned the wisdom in the investment that was made(myself included). I think that there are very few who now believe it to have been a mistake!

Someone needs to do something! That someone is you and I! Don't turn the lights out on Minonk. We do not have a dying economy, we have a changing economy. Not all businesses will survive, but that is not important! We will survive, you and I.. Because we are the best part of this community, we are the people! I often remember the time I complained to someone about the weather. It was one of those days when the temperature was -20 degrees and the snow was blowing and drifting. The man (who was older and wiser than I) said "Yes, but I haven't been bitten by a mosquito in over a week!" Friends, It is now the time of year when we can expect to be bitten by a few mosquitos, but just remember that it isn't likely to snow! How do you look at life and the challenges that are thrown your way? I recommend that you position yourself as part of the solution, not as part of the problem. The choice is yours!

Sincerely,

Bruce Fischer

Benson resident, Minonk business owner

P.S. If you are not from Minonk, please feel free to substitute the names of your town and local businesses as you read this.

Minonk will survive

First of all, I believe that Minonk, like many small towns in our great country, has been effected by the natural progression of transportation, technology, and economics. As our country emerged through time, it was by no accident that it emerged as a direct result of transportation. Our first settlements were established by the need to land and disembark ships. Later, wagon trails created the need for other towns, as our country grew westward. As the railroad developed, towns were established in order to take advantage of business opportunities associated with the frequent stops necessary to load and unload people and goods. When the automobile became affordable to the masses, other towns appeared out of nowhere in order to provide food, lodging and entertainment. Basically, towns are an unsupported feature of trade routes. This brings us to modern times. When we draw this theory to Minonk, we can easily identify the economic success of our city first, with the railroad, and secondly, with Route 51 bisecting our community. Then, evolution dealt another hand, and the freeway was born. The modern small town that has experienced success has done so by creating business opportunities where it can attract the most people. That is, moving to the freeway exchanges. I don't mean to imply that only those businesses are necessary in the economic model of a city. In fact the opposite is true. However if we are to capture ALL of the economic opportunities, we must be able to execute the geographic changes necessary.

So while Minonk can't stop progress, it can be stopped by progress. I believe that much our town's problems lie in the lack of foresight by past councils. I know that it is not popular to affix blame, especially with hindsight. However I think that we must learn from our mistakes in order to prevent repeating them. As other towns anticipated moving development, Minonk did not. I, however, do not think that it is too late. But there is more.

I and the rest of my family like Minonk. But having lived in other places, we do see complacency in Minonk that, for a small town, is unique. Garbage blows freely down Main Street and into neighborhoods not unlike some of Chicago's poorer areas that I have been unfortunate enough to visit. Under-aged smokers stand boldly on the street corners neither ashamed nor embarrassed. And now, graffiti has begun appear on some of our buildings. This is a definite spiraling pattern that must be reversed at once. And it can be, for this is the same town that provides food for the poor, worships on Sundays, and volunteers for many, many things.

I've always believed that being part of the solution should be required of anyone that indicates fault. Thus, I shall offer the following as a possible remedy.

As I see it, (and I am by no means an expert), three things need to be done. First and foremost, we have to make Minonk look attractive, if we are to attract people. (If you've relocated in your life, you know what I mean.) Further, people must be held accountable for littering, smoking when they are too young and spray painting things that don't belong to them! We have ordinances that address these things. Lets either enforce them, or find other solutions.

Secondly, the city must get directly involved with our business community, and find out what they need in order to be successful. They should start with a business summit, and invite business owners to a meeting in order to brainstorm potential solutions. Our current business owners have the knowledge and experience to help guide our city. We must take advantage of it.

And finally, we must restructure our development model, and become even more proactive. I recommend hiring a development professional, who is responsible for developing Minonk, and only Minonk. This person should be compensated on performance, not intent. This person must also be empowered to make decisions on behalf of all of us. When the number of decision-makers grow, the reaction time is slowed which retards the whole process. This position must operate independently of any Minonk organization or business, as not to become partial, or even give the image of partiality. The council must condition itself to work even faster. When I recently went to a council meeting with a business owner in order to reveal a beautification project, permission was needed in order to place some columns on the sidewalk. I was advised that a decision would not be given right away, as they do not work that quickly. That, is a fault indeed. The council must get together, agree on a path forward, and move in that direction, while keeping their eye on the ball. They must not allow themselves to get bogged down with petty distractions. Long term planning, (and I mean long term) is paramount to the success of economic development. The council must agree on a plan that will transcend future councils, and survive long past two and four year terms. I believe that every day that we loose in the pursuit of development, is a gain for our competition in surrounding communities. Economic development is a deliberate act. Opportunities doe not fall freely from trees.

I believe that Minonk will survive, regardless of what happens. The extent of survival has yet to be seen. For I also believe that the best way to predict the future is to create it.

Joe Limbaugh Minonk, IL