The economic survival of America's isolated small towns

264 Pages·2015·5.212 MB·English

by  Gordon, Gerald L

The Economic
Survival of America’s
Isolated Small Towns
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND PUBLIC POLICY
A Comprehensive Publication Program
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
DAVID H. ROSENBLOOM
Distinguished Professor of Public Administration
American University, Washington, DC
Founding Editor
JACK RABIN
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The Economic
Survival of America’s
Isolated Small Towns
Gerald L. Gordon
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The dictionary defines community as a group of people
who live in the same area, such as a city, town, or neighborhood,
and who have the same interests (www.merriam-webster.com).
In seventeen of the fifty-one case studies in this research,
the interviewees were asked what lessons they had learned from
which others might benefit. One-third (seventeen) immediately
said that economic growth in a small town is a team sport and that
everyone must be in on the planning and execution of the plans.
This text is dedicated to the elected and appointed officials
of America’s small, isolated cities and towns—and all of their neighbors
who get involved. Indeed, they all have the same interests and
they all take part—because they are part of the community.

Contents
Preface ..............................................................................................................xiii
Acknowledgments .............................................................................................xv
About the Author ............................................................................................xvii
1 Introduction ...........................................................................................1
Previous Research ........................................................................................1
What Is a Small City or Town, and Who Lives in Them? ............................6
What Does It Mean for a Small Town to Be Isolated,
and Why Is That Important?......................................................................14
Selecting the Case Study Cities ..................................................................17
Similarities and Dissimilarities between the Economic Forces
and Solutions Facing Large Cities and Small Towns ..................................35
2 Fifty-One of America’s Small and Isolated Cities Examined ................41
Northwest Region .....................................................................................42
Emmett, Idaho .....................................................................................42
Interview with the Honorable Bill Buttucci,
Mayor of Emmett, Idaho ..................................................................43
Rupert, Idaho ........................................................................................45
Interview with Kelly A. Anthon,
City Administrator of Rupert, Idaho ................................................47
Lewistown, Montana .............................................................................50
Interview with Kevin Myhre,
City Manager of Lewistown, Montana .............................................50
Lincoln, Oregon ....................................................................................53
Interview with David Hawker,
City Manager of Lincoln, Oregon ....................................................54
Ephrata, Washington ............................................................................56
Interview with Wes Crago,
City Administrator of Ephrata, Washington .....................................57
Cody, Wyoming ....................................................................................59
Interview with the Honorable Nancy Tia Brown, Mayor,
and Jenni Rosencrance, City Administrator of Cody, Wyoming .......60
vii
viii ◾ Contents
Douglas, Wyoming ...............................................................................62
Interview with Tony Tolstedt,
City Administrator of Douglas, Wyoming .......................................63
North Central ............................................................................................65
Algona, Iowa .........................................................................................65
Interview with Keri Navratil, City Administrator of Algona, Iowa .....66
Detroit Lakes, Minnesota ......................................................................68
Interview with Bob Louiseau, City Manager,
and Larry Remmen, Community Development Director
of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota .............................................................69
International Falls, Minnesota ..............................................................72
Interview with the Honorable Bob Anderson,
Mayor of International Falls, Minnesota ...........................................73
Montevideo, Minnesota ........................................................................76
Interview with Steve Jones,
City Manager of Montevideo, Minnesota ........................................77
Holdrege, Nebraska ...............................................................................79
Interview with Robert Rager,
City Administrator of Holdrege, Nebraska .......................................80
Sidney, Nebraska ...................................................................................82
Interview with Gary Person, City Manager of Sidney, Nebraska ......83
Valley City, North Dakota ....................................................................86
Interview with David Schelkopf,
City Manager of Valley City, North Dakota .....................................87
Great Lakes ................................................................................................89
Carmi, Illinois .......................................................................................89
Interview with Sandra Irvine,
City Administrator of Carmi, Illinois ..............................................90
Kingsford, Michigan .............................................................................92
Interview with Tony Edelbeck,
City Manager of Kingsford, Michigan..............................................92
Ashland, Wisconsin...............................................................................94
Interview with the Honorable Bill Whalen,
Mayor of Ashland, Wisconsin ...........................................................95
Rice Lake, Wisconsin ............................................................................97
Interview with Curt Snyder,
City Administrator of Rice Lake, Wisconsin ....................................98
Northeast .................................................................................................100
Caribou, Maine ...................................................................................100
Interview with Austin Bleess, City Manager of Caribou, Maine .....101
Titusville, Pennsylvania .......................................................................104
Interview with Larry Manross,
City Manager of Titusville, Pennsylvania .......................................104
Contents ◾ ix
Southeast .................................................................................................106
Arab, Alabama ....................................................................................106
Interview with the Honorable Bob Joslin,
Mayor of Arab, Alabama ................................................................107
Hamilton, Alabama .............................................................................109
Interview with the Honorable Wade Williams,
Mayor of Hamilton, Alabama .........................................................110
Thomaston, Georgia ............................................................................112
Interview with the Honorable Hays Arnold, Mayor,
and Patrick Comiskey, City Manager of Thomaston, Georgia ........113
Kosciusko, Mississippi .........................................................................116
Interview with the Honorable Jimmy Cockroft,
Mayor of Kosciusko, Mississippi .....................................................117
Brevard, North Carolina .....................................................................119
Interview with Joe Moore,
City Manager of Brevard, North Carolina ......................................119
Roxboro, North Carolina ....................................................................121
Interview with Stephen Steese,
City Manager of Roxboro, North Carolina .....................................122
Covington, Tennessee .........................................................................124
Interview with the Honorable David Gordon,
Mayor of Covington, Tennessee......................................................125
Lexington, Tennessee ..........................................................................127
Interview with the Honorable David Jowers,
Mayor of Lexington, Tennessee ......................................................128
McKenzie, Tennessee ..........................................................................131
Interview with the Honorable Jill Holland,
Mayor of McKenzie, Tennessee ......................................................132
Galax, Virginia ....................................................................................135

Interview with Keith Barker, City Manager of Galax, Virginia .......135
South Boston, Virginia ........................................................................138
Interview with the Honorable Ed Owens,
Mayor of South Boston, Virginia ....................................................139
Elkins, West Virginia ..........................................................................141
Interview with the Honorable Van Broughton,
Mayor of Elkins, West Virginia ......................................................142
South Central ..........................................................................................144
Pocahontas, Arkansas ..........................................................................144
Interview with the Honorable Frank Bigger,
Mayor of Pocahontas, Arkansas ......................................................145
x ◾ Contents
Colby, Kansas ......................................................................................147
Interview with Tyson McGreer, City Manager,
and Christy Preston, Director of Economic Development,
Colby, Kansas .................................................................................148
Fort Scott, Kansas ...............................................................................151
Interview with Dave Martin, City Manager of Fort Scott, Kansas .....151
Charleston, Missouri ...........................................................................153
Interview with Richard Goode,
City Manager of Charleston, Missouri............................................154
Chillicothe, Missouri ..........................................................................157
Interview with Ike Holland,
City Administrator of Chillicothe, Missouri ...................................157
Perryville, Missouri .............................................................................159
Interview with the Honorable Deborah Gahan, Mayor,
Brent Buerke, City Manager, and Scott Sattler,
Director of Economic Development, Perryville, Missouri...............160
Breckenridge, Texas .............................................................................162
Interview with Andy McCuistion,
City Manager of Breckenridge, Texas .............................................163
Elsa, Texas ...........................................................................................165
Interview with Joe Contu, City Manager of Elsa, Texas .................166
Pecos, Texas ........................................................................................168
Interview with the Honorable Venetta Seals,
Mayor of Pecos, Texas .....................................................................169
West and Southwest .................................................................................171
Winslow, Arizona ................................................................................171
Interview with Stephen Pauken,
City Manager of Winslow, Arizona ................................................171
Fort Bragg, California .........................................................................174
Interview with Linda Ruffing,

City Manager of Fort Bragg, California ..........................................175
Yreka, California .................................................................................177
Interview with Steve Baker, City Manager of Yreka, California ......178
Delta, Colorado ...................................................................................181
Interview with Justin Clifton, City Manager of Delta, Colorado ....181
Gunnison, Colorado............................................................................183
Interview with Ken Coleman,
City Manager of Gunnison, Colorado ............................................184
Lamar, Colorado .................................................................................186
Interview with the Honorable Roger Stagner,
Mayor of Lamar, Colorado .............................................................187