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PARTICIPANTS
Seated on f ront row, left to right:
Don Navinsky, Leavenworth County Commission
Dean Oroke, Leavenworth County Port Authority (Chair)
Terry Andrews, Leavenworth County Port Authority (Chair)
Seated on back row, left to right.
Bill Petrie, Commerce Bank
Curt Clinkinbeard, KU Small Business Development Center
John Suwalsky, Leavenworth Main Street
Debbie Breuer, Community National Bank
Mayor Dave Taylor, City of Tonganoxie
Mayor Lisa Weakley, City of Leavenworth
Karin Dougherty, Basehor Chamber of Commerce
Clyde Graeber, Leavenworth County Commission
Mark Werthmann, City of Leavenworth
Joey Studnicka, Cushing Memorial Hospital
Jim Gleisberg, Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center
Michael Smith, City of Lansing
Mayor Chris Garcia, City of Basehor
Standing, left to right:
Scott Anglemyer, Workforce Development Board
Robert Hatch, Cereal Ingredients
Michael Yanez, City of Tonganoxie
Jeff Dema, Hallmark Cards
Richard Erickson, Tonganoxie USD #464
Jack Walker, Ft. Leavenworth Garrison Command
Tony Kramer, DeMaranville & Kramer
Randal Bagby, Lansing USD #469
Chris Donnelly, First State Bank & Trust
Sr. Diane Steele, SLC, University of Saint Mary
Greg Madsen, Saint John Hospital
Christopher Dunn, Leavenworth County
Cheryl Hanback, Tonganoxie Chamber of Commerce
Mayor Kenneth Bernard, City of Lansing
Michael Spickelmier, Leavenworth County Public Works
Chuck Peterson, Citizens National Bank
Clay Guthmiller, Leavenworth USD #453
Jill Hackett, Basehor-Linwood USD #458
Charles Gregor, Leavenworth-Lansing Chamber of Commerce
Harley Russell, MidAmerican Bank & Trust Co.
Lynn McClure, Leavenworth County Development Corporation
Gary Ortiz, City of Leavenworth
Marisa Gray, Kansas City Kansas Community College
Roger Pickerign, USD #449
Joe McAfee, McAfee Henderson & Strick
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Spelling Success: Sewers, Streets and Schools
The solid, Leavenworth Justice Center was a fitting site to host the 2006 Leavenworth County Economic Development Assembly. In a region that contains one of the nation’s most important military bases along with numerous federal, state and private correctional facilities, the justice center was an especially appropriate location for 40 leaders to discuss the future of the county.
The Justice Center was fitting for other reasons as well. Voters several months prior renewed a significant, capital-oriented sales tax with the same kind of landslide vote of support that helped fund the Justice Center in 1996. The meeting also involved collaboration typical of Leavenworth’s successes: co-sponsors for the event were the County Commission and Leavenworth County Port Authority. Chairing the ED Assembly was Presiding Commis-sioner Dean Oroke and Port Authority Chairman Terry Andrews.
Opportunities, Not Challenges
The meeting started in typical Ingram’s Magazine fashion: participants were asked to introduce themselves and address the first question: what are the greatest challenges impeding the county’s progress? It didn’t take long for an obvious consensus to be reached.
I am going to say infrastructure,” opened Joe McAfee with McAfee Henderson & Strick. “I would center that on airports or air transportation and then the links to the I-29 corridor through Missouri.”
Tony Kramer of DeMaranville & Kramer CPA, agreed, but added that infrastructure development should target projects that increase the tax base. “Leavenworth has historically focused heavily on the fort, the Veterans Administration and the prison systems,” he said. “We need to attract business and industry to improve that tax base to the community.”
Basehor-Linwood School Superintendent Jill Hackett also felt that job opportunities should be broadened. “So many of our parents live in our communities, but drive to Overland Park or someplace else to work,” she noted. “So enhancing the tax base within the school boundaries is a major priority.”
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