Pointing toward Fremont’s future

By Don Bowen/Fremont Tribune
Saturday, Jan 03, 2009 - 02:00:03 am CST

"Skip" Edwards has served as the Fremont’s mayor since 1988, having served on the city council for 11 years before that. So, he has been around long enough to know the ends and outs of the city.

The Fremont Tribune recently sat down with the mayor to ask his opinion about different matters pertaining to the city.

Tribune: What do you see as the biggest accomplishment for the city for 2008?

Edwards: I think we have a number of projects that are very important to this community. One of them was the vote on the viaduct on 23rd Street. That will really hook this community together. There’s residential development out there. They deserve a way get over those railroad tracks. It’s a complicated project, but they’ll have that viaduct. We have a complement of residential, business and industry out there, and I think that’s important to get us some growth in that sector.

It’s always a concern with people about getting caught by the railroad tracks and having to go around if there’s an emergency.

Another item is the water park. I spent some time on weekends and holidays and going out there to check license plates. It just really surprised me the number of non-Dodge County cars that were out there. It’s done really well. Recreation is very important to a community when it comes to growth.

People don’t just come here for the water park. They’ll go other places in town, too. They’ll go downtown. They’ll go to Menards or Walmart or to our restaurants. It exposes our community. I think that’s huge. People want a balanced, healthy lifestyle. This is part of that.

Tribune: Looking ahead with that same thought, what do you consider to be the top priority in 2009?

Edwards: I think we need to continue to move forward. We need to expedite the data center and work with the Greater Fremont Development Council, the county, the state. I think we have a real opportunity before us there. I’m not saying that we need to put all of our eggs in one basket.

We’re anxious to get the viaduct doing, but that’s going to take a couple of years. Downtown is going to be important to us. That won’t be the only focal point. We need the 23rd Street corridor. We need downtown. They all work together to draw people to town.

Tribune: Why is downtown so important?

Edwards: For years it was the business tax base in town. It’s still a viable tax base. It draws people in and gives them a place to shop and gives them a place to eat. People coming downtown may do other things in the community, too. They may go to the Main Street Theater in the mall. That’s competitive with what Omaha has.

Tribune: When you consider the biggest challenge of 2008, how can that be turned into an asset?

Edwards: There are several challenges that I see. Growth to your community whether it’s housing or industry. We need to continue to strive to make that happen. The immigration issue was a big issue. There’s no question about that.

I think the task force has done a good job trying to research and put something together that we can work with the state on. We need to move this forward. There needs to be strides taken. We need to go step-by-step with the state if possible. We’ve been contacted by a couple of state senators about this. We still need to move forward. That’s going to be up to the city council with what they want to do.

The flood plain issue is another area. It just seems like it takes so long. I know things need to be studied, but it can be frustrating. We need to get the west and south quadrants out of the flood plain. That’s essential.

Tribune: Realizing that nobody has a crystal ball to look into the future, what area or areas worry you the most?

Edwards: I am concerned about the national economy. We need to make sure that where we put our dollars is good for the future as well. We don’t want to go off the deep end and waste our money. They talk about layoffs all over the country and throughout Nebraska. That’s concerning. I’m thankful that agriculture is as strong as it has been. Agriculture is still the lifeblood of this state.

Tribune: With anticipated growth, what areas of the city need the most work to be prepared for that growth?

Edwards: I feel that we’re in pretty good shape in most areas with infrastructure. We’re short on good industrial locations. That’s something that’s going to have to be addressed.

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fremonter
Jan 3, 2009 8:39 AM
you've got to be kidding me. these are his priorites? he just proved that we need, not new leadership, but we need leadership. we have had no leadership for many many years. skippys priorities seem to be things this city dosent need to grow. the data center should have been in place years ago. but as usual, i guess there just wasnt much of an incentive, pocket filling, to get it done. looks like the downtown and the viaduct is going to be a real money maker for some in fremont. lets see how the people, i mean the followers, react to this one. have a nice day foolish people.
No Answers
Jan 3, 2009 8:45 AM
The Mayor says "FREMONT NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD" . . . But fails to say where it is going and how he will get it there (wherever that may be). Most Fremonters would agree that Fremont hasn ot been moving forward.
Skippy needs to spend less time looking at license plates and more time on really moving the community forward - economically, governmental efficiency, industrial growth, jobs, housing tax relief, and the items that make a community grow.

Fremont needs competent leadership anda vision.
No Leadership or Vision
Jan 3, 2009 12:23 PM
Fremonter hit it on the head AGAIN. It is very SAD what has happened to Fremont.
Skippy just does not get it. It is time for a REAL leader to take the reins of gevernment and move the town FORWARD. Skip thinks an overpass and a long overdue data center, plus taxpapers pouring their hard earned money downn the black hope of downtown are accomplishments.
the owners of downtown buildings are aiting for the taxpayers to bail them out. What is in it for Skippy?

Fremont is adrift in a sea of no leadership.

Skip should give his full time efforts at reading license plates in Omaha of Fremont residents shopping there.
laughing
Jan 3, 2009 4:29 PM
Skip---You should get in your car and look at cities the same size as Fremont such as Kearney, Columbus, Norfolk, Grand Island and etc and see how far ahead of us they are. Fremont has nothing compared to what they have but the old politics is we are to close to Omaha. Give me a break.
Joseph P. Sokolovsky
Jan 3, 2009 10:03 PM
I hesitate even making a post regarding this article. Yet...after talking to several Fremonters today who have lived here all their lives, and love this town ... I feel that I must voice some of their thoughts.

I am not trying to degrade or take a cheap shot at anyone, and I do not mean to this as a personal thing.

The responses to the questions sound like that of a Mayor of a small town of perhaps 2 - 3,000 citizens. Fremont is a city of 25,000 plus sitting on the door step of the largest metro area in the State of Nebraska, and Iowa. The Mayor of Fremont 'should be' thinking big, and the decisions on the direction of Fremont should involved 'the people,' not just a select little group of people.

Bottomline, the article is a embarrasement and borders on rediculous, and I am speaking of the
responses to the questions. The responses would like someone reading the answers as given to him by someone else.

Thanks for listening, and a very healthy and Happy New Year!!
Tired of Morons-Used to be Bobo
Jan 3, 2009 10:42 PM
Poor Skip. I have no doubt he's sincere about wanting Fremont to progress. But he's handcuffed.
Fremont has:
An old, bigoted, uneducated, and ignorant populace that would rather have a colorectal exam than any sort of change.

No compelling reason for people to visit.

No compelling reason for talent to stay.

Overpriced housing.

Stinky air.

Noisy trains.

And of course, a reputation for being incredibly racist. Fact is, the US has an aging workforce and will have to have immigrant workers in the future. Legal or otherwise. And Fremont more so than other cities. But thanks to Bobby Warner and his pinhead cronies, an employer of any substance won't give Racist-mont a sniff. Yeah, maybe a message was sent to the immigrunts. But a message was also sent to employers: Stay away. Because here in Racist-mont, you won't find enough employees. We ran 'em off. Legal and illegal.

I'll give Skip this: He didn't have to vote. The ordinance failed without his vote. But he sent a message-that he, for one, wants businesses to locate in Fremont. To me, that was leadership; taking an unpopular stand when he'd have been better off to keep quiet.

That being said, I'm all for younger leadership for Fremont. But the blue-hairs didn't want it.

If I were mayor, I'd annex Inglewood. Best chance to grow. Since nobody wants to move here.
Tired of tired of...
Jan 4, 2009 12:55 PM
I would love to know where all the complainers and anti-Skippers were when Schaller was running for Mayor. Insanity is: voting for the same person over and over and over again, expecting CHANGE. And I don't post here often, but do read the posts from time to time. I have to say that "fremonter" and "tired of morons" and a couple of others are the most vicious, negative people. Stop calling people "foolish" and "idiots" and get your butts out in the community to spread something POSITIVE and make some good things happen. Otherwise, I hear Kearney and Columbus are great places to live.
fremonter
Jan 4, 2009 3:27 PM
to joseph:
of course they are responses written for skippy. he hasnt the ability to think for himself, he wouldnt dare.
to tired of tired of:
if you have read past posts i have addressed your comment about getting out there and doing something. i am not going to post it again. did you ever stop to think why skippy always wins? could it be voting corruption? are ALL votes really counted? do any votes get conviently lost? any voting in fremont, any politicians words, any stupid ideas that the politicians of fremont have, stinks of corruption. but as tired of morons said,"the blue hairs dont want change". in my opinion the money people like dunklau, sheppard, brabec, and others dont want change either. they, along with certain others in fremont, control everything that goes on in fremont. i dare anyone to prove me wrong. if i am proven wrong, i will never post here again and eat my hat. i'm waiting.
Tired Of Morons Used To Be Bobo
Jan 4, 2009 4:35 PM
Studies have shown that uneducated people remain as such simply because they're uneducated. And since they're not smart enough to know they're dumb, someone has to point it out to them. That's where I come in. Just trying to help. So then, in my own way, I am doing something positive for the community.

And even if I did move somewhere else, I think I could still post. I think the internet works outside of Fremont. But I'm not sure.
WestO
Jan 4, 2009 4:56 PM
I live in Omaha, work in Fremont. I drive in on 23rd street everyday. 23rd street has two strikes against it. 1. 'Sign Pollution', too many signs and signs for business that aren't even in business--'Pearl Vision' for example. 2. and this is pretty much an issue for most of Fremont, when the wind is out of the south--you guessed it, the smell. Fremont could be so much more, but the citizens hold it back by voting in Skip, time after time.
Young Democrat
Jan 5, 2009 11:39 AM
Tired... you asked the question Where were the complainers when the election took place... Well I was here and I eve had signs in my yard for Scott however being a registered DEMOCRAT I couldn't vote for Scott... Hopefully soon it will be a NON-PARTIED office.

thanks...
fremonter
Jan 5, 2009 2:20 PM
to young democrat:
maybe someday, it will be an honest election too.
fremonter
Jan 6, 2009 11:44 AM
to west o:
i read your post and towards the end you said the people in fremont keep voting in skip. did you ever stop to think that maybe the votes were not there? i know the blue hairs and the wealthy want skip in office as their puppet, but what about the rest of the people of fremont? i have said before that all votes were probably not counted, that votes were somehow lost, that ONLY votes for skip (for the most part) were counted. think about it.
Snoop
Jan 6, 2009 11:52 AM
We'll see how many douglas county people are still coming to the water park after the new is built near Lake Zorinsky in Omaha. Bye bye out of town waterpark profits.
deb
Jan 6, 2009 12:33 PM
I grew up in Fremont. I work at a large company in Omaha. A co-worker from out-state NE decided to move to Fremont and live the "good life". It took him and his family about 4 months to realize they wanted out of Fremont. Nothing to do, nowhere to shop, no quality restaurants and the SMELL. He told me there was no reason to stay in Fremont. The facts are - Fremont will never win the Omaha/Fremont battle. Never. The majority of the people that stay in Fremont have families there - or grew up there and are hesitant to leave. My husband and I are finally moving to Omaha within the next few years. Fremont simply has nothing to offer us. I can honestly say it has gone straight downhill since the 60's. It's just not the same city any longer. And keeping the same "good ole boy" mentality has not helped. When I speak with (educated) people in Omaha they look on Fremont as a city to pass through on their way somewhere else. They are glad for the bypass. Scott would have helped Fremont out of this rut. I voted for him. It's sad more voters didn't take a step back and dump Skip.
Tired of Morons-Used to be Bobo
Jan 6, 2009 8:47 PM
Hey, deb:
I'm jealous. And you're exactly right.
On all counts.
Keep your eye on the prize!!
fremonter
Jan 6, 2009 9:18 PM
to deb:
your post hit it right on the head. as far as why skippy is always re-elected is because of corruption. the voting is rigged, its controlled by the blue hairs and the wealthy. they dont want change. skippys their puppet boy. has been for many years. skippy says he want change, but never makes it happen unless that what his cronies want.
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