A
skate park for kids, a franchise fried chicken restaurant, and the ongoing drug
problem in the community were among the topics English students discussed with interim
Scottsville Mayor David Burch last week at the high school.
Burch’s visit to the classroom was more than just a speaking engagement.
The students were given an assignment to craft an email to the mayor which
would include a proposal of a community service or community improvement project
that the City of Scottsville might consider. Burch’s visit not only addressed
some of the students’ thoughts but also served to introduce each student to the
process of becoming involved within a community.
Burch offered a quick biographical sketch, reflected on his first few days
on the job, and outlined his vision and goals for Scottsville.
“It’s
a new experience and I’m enjoying it,” Burch said. “It’s a great opportunity
for me to actually make a difference and that’s important to me. I have a stake
in this community. I want our city to be a good place to live. I’m trying to
promote the opportunities locally.”
Burch
was asked to not only to explain how city government works and what would
happen if proposals were presented but also field questions about various ideas
already on the students’ minds.
“Is
there a possibility of getting a skate park in Scottsville?” was the first question
Burch received.
“That’s
an excellent question,” Burch answered. “I think a skate park would be very
interesting because what it would really do is to keep skaters off the places
they don’t need to be skating on. For example, one of the quadrants of the square
is not designed for skating, it’s not safe. A skate park in Scottsville would
be someplace that kids to go. It’s a great sport, it’s activity. If that is
something you would be interested in, we can look at it.”
Burch also asked the student if he would consider getting a committee together
to further discuss the idea. Burch followed
that up by challenging students to be willing to get involved in the community by
presenting ideas now and in the future as well as consider start-up businesses
or lead improvements projects at some point down the road.
“Everything
starts with an idea,” Burch added. “We want to include our youth.”
Burch was also asked about the possibility of bringing a new fast-food restaurant
to the city, such as a Zaxby’s or Chick-fil-A.
“Here’s
the story about that,” Burch explained through a discussion on economic geography.
“If you look at Bowling Green (where they have two Chick-fil-A and three Zaxby’s),
I would say the traffic count at those locations is upwards of 150,000 cars per
day. Our biggest traffic count in Scottsville is coming up East Main Street and
turning left onto South Court Street and it averages about 11,000 cars per day.
In order to get a place like a Zaxby’s or Chick-fil-A, that’s a corporate decision
and its based on pure numbers such as finances and traffic counts. If they can’t
make the numbers work, its not going to happen. There is nothing I can do to
change their corporate policy.”
Burch did note that other smaller-but-similar franchises could be looked
at since their criteria may not be as stringent. He suggested that investors
could approach franchise owners to “find out what it would take” and then pursue
meeting their requirements. The new mayor also offered the suggestion to start
a new restaurant from scratch to meet the need.
“There
may be a good opportunity for you,” Burch added. “You don’t have to be big to
be successful.”
One
student asked Burch what could be done about the drug problem in the community.
Burch admitted that it’s a problem with no easy or overnight solution.
“There
are a lot of drugs here and everywhere,” Burch noted. “It’s not just here in
Scottsville. There is no city or community immune. I have worked with inmates
and they tell me they just can’t quit. It’s tough for them to break that cycle.
I think that education is the key for them to pull themselves out of the
situation they are in. There is a drug problem here but my philosophy is that
you don’t run from a problem, but you try and help address the problem.”
Burch also fielded questions about the homeless, the new Boys and Girls
Club and its community impact, the city transit system, the possibility of a
county transit service, and the wet-dry issue in Scottsville.
Students
will continue to work on their assignments and may have the opportunity to
share more ideas with Burch in the days and weeks ahead.