Thank you, Bob Cross! Four corners You are right [McKibbin’s Scribblin’s, The Citizen Telegram, Aug. 15, 2013]. Rifleites need to encourage business and industry in Rifle. I was 5 when we moved to Rifle in 1945, where my dad found employment at Union Carbide’s vanadium plant. Then came Anvil Points, the Bureau of Mines oil shale project, followed by Union Oil, Exxon and, lastly, the natural gas production companies. With any small town, there is an effort to keep it small and comfortable, which means fighting against progress or making doing business there expensive. I live in Fort Worth, Texas, and we are not small. Fort Worth gives temporary tax breaks to companies who will locate here. We welcome “outsiders.” Burlington Northern Railroad built its headquarters here, Lockheed Marietta has been here forever, Motorola makes cell phones here, American Airlines, Pier One and Radio Shack have their headquarters here, Bell Helicopter has been here a long time. And, much like Garfield County, Tarrant County has had thousands of natural gas wells drilled (and fracked), many within the city limits. There cannot be an attitude against growth, Rifleites need to be thankful for what the oil shale, natural gas, vanadium, uranium and out-of-state hunters have done to the economic well being of “their” town. Rumor has it that at one time, Cabela’s was looking at Rifle. Rifle should have been talking tax abatements and encouragement. A few years ago, Rifle imposed a bed tax on hotel occupancy, which in my mind says, “if you stay here, Rifle wants a tip.” Visitors and potential businesses can tell if there is a welcome mat out for them or they are an interruption in the daily routine. Usually you have to give and down the road you receive. I’m in the balcony, cheering Rifle on. Bob Cross
Posted on: Fri, 23 Aug 2013 06:49:29 +0000