Winfield needs industry, council president says

• Reprints

Updated: October 11, 2011 8:05PM

LAKES OF THE FOUR SEASONS — Winfield Town Council President Jim Hicks said Tuesday that annexation to U.S. 231 is key for the town to be successful.

“We need a business base and getting to U.S. 231 will get us that business base,” Hicks told members of the Winfield Chamber of Commerce at its monthly meeting at the Lakes of the Four Seasons Clubhouse.

Responding to chamber president Bill Stack, who asked if he was thinking of an industrial park as part of the expansion, Hicks said he believes the property would be a great place to have a warehouse facility.

Hicks said a warehouse and other industrial property would provide needed tax money at a time when the property tax levy has been frozen for several years.

Hicks, who is not running for re-election in the Nov. 8 general election, said annexation is one of three key issues the next council should focus on.

He said the council also needs to establish a downtown business district, which he said could run from the corner of 109th and Randolph south to 117th Avenue, and should focus on parks.

“Parks have been a big issue. We have none except for two tot parks,” he said.

Hicks said there is a 14-acre parcel on Randolph that is supposed to be donated to the town for park use, but said it will take another two years before anything can be done with the property.

Looking back at his unprecedented four years as council president, Hicks cited several accomplishments the council has made during his term, including what he called the “crown jewel,” establishment of the Winfield Foundation. He said the foundation provides student scholarships and has paid to upgrade the fire department’s communications equipment, among other things.

He also reported that the town just issued a $1.3 million bond to do necessary roadwork, created sewer and storm water boards, purchased a new truck for the street department and hired a street superintendent.

“I’m looking forward to a good snow removal year,” he said.

He said the council’s decision to stay in its current, temporary building on Randolph Street for two more years was a good decision for the two years, but a bad decision for the long-term.

“Winfield needs to establish a town identity,” he said.