Scott Barter answers…

It is my belief that if Kenosha is to ever be the “Destination” Place that everybody has attempted to make it, especially with the development of our Harbor Park area, we will have to include more than a Civil War Museum and a Trolley. And I will agree that we can make this a very profitable endeavor for all of our fine citizens, however, we have to create a marketing plan which will be first rate.

Unlike other cities that are surrounded by populated communities offering easy access to their destination, providing plenty of parking, Kenosha is somewhat at a disadvantage because we have nothing to our east but water.

I intend to bring new and creative ideas that would help bring thousands of people from our I-94 corridor 10 miles east to our lake front. And the most logical route in my view is 52nd street. I intend to commission a study for one year to find out exactly where we are and what we might have to do five years from now. At the same time, I intend to set up a Park-And-Ride somewhere in the Green Bay Road area using two transit buses to shuttle people from there to our down town. Imagine that! A city bus with people on it actually using it for a purpose.

At the same time I would embrace groups such as yours to be involved in this development process so that we might offer our visitors events featuring the arts, and cultural endeavors. We have an excellent band shell that can be utilized with the lake front creating a beautiful backdrop.

The city of Waukegan took twenty years using private sector money to develop the Genesee Theather and the only way it ever came to be was the cooperating efforts from local government. Yes, the city has CDBG funds available but as you know, they are very limited. However, given the right circumstances, I would entertain the possibility of using a portion to further develop our area.

I have worked with many non-profit organizations and the private sector over the last twelve years as the host of the Kenosha Today Show, and I have stated on numerous occassioins that it is Kenosha’s PEOPLE that make us a great city. It’s their dedication of their time and talents to their various causes that has made Kenosha a “City Of Choice”. After all, it was volunteers that helped Noah build his ark. It was the professionals that built the Titanic, AND the Boat Storage Building.

In conclusion, for me as your Mayor to be successful, I cannot do this alone. I must utilize the “Creative Ideas” talents and concepts of organizations such as yours, if we are to prosper like I think we can during the next four years.