I’ve been here 11 years now and I’ve seen this town double in population without a significant growth in jobs. My husband drives down to Mesa every day. I’m fortunate enough to be able to earn my living anywhere, so I don’t have to make that grueling drive.

I’ve spoken to a few people who wanted to open businesses — including manufacturing businesses — in Wickenburg. When they talked to the powers that be, they were given so many requirements and restrictions that they went elsewhere. I guess they just didn’t know who to bribe.

I tried to lease land from the town to put an office for my business at the airport. It took them close to a year to finally offer me a lease — but that was after I contacted the FAA and complained about discrimination at the federally funded airport. If I hadn’t done that, I’d still be waiting. And no, I wasn’t stupid enough to take a lease that allowed them to kick me off the land at their whim. So the town misses out on lease revenue from a business that could also contribute to the sales tax base. Do they care? Obviously not.

I won’t go into detail about the plans I had drawn up for a new terminal at the airport — one that included space for a restaurant, pilot shop, and offices. After the way I was treated by the town, I wasn’t about to put any more money into its facilities. They certainly forgot all about the improvements I made to the existing terminal building, including brand new furniture and landscaping.

And can you explain the business failure rate in town? It looks to me like the average new business goes out of business within a year. I can’t tell you how many businesses have closed down since I’ve been here — dozens, I’m sure! What is the failure rate? 50%? Or more? How long do you give the new clothing store that went in where the pool service shop was after the flower shop closed down? How long before Movie Gallery’s space is occupied? Will we get a pawn shop before we get another check cashing place? And why is our “historic downtown” retail space filled with “not a retail outlet” private offices? Talk to the people who lost their leases when their landlords realized that Remuda Ranch would pay more rent. I know three business owners who were pushed out of their space to make room for tenants with deeper pockets.

I’ve also seen beautiful open space land formerly designated as “horse property” turned into subdivisions that don’t allow horses. That’s okay, because the lot sizes are so small, a horse couldn’t live on them anyway.

I’ve seen subdivisions for favored individuals rushed through the zoning process and approved despite numerous people speaking up against them. I can’t wait to see what happens when those 34 houses are built at the approach end of runway 23 and the jets start overflying them.

And no, I don’t read the Wickenburg Sun. If I wanted to hear the Chamber’s take on things, I’d call the Chamber.

You’re wasting your time trying to tell me about Wickenburg’s glorious future. I’ve been here long enough to know that it’s only the good old boys (and girls) and their friends who get what they want in this town.

I am the Director of the Wickenburg Economic Development Partnership, a group made up of 26 local businessmen/women and the town, dedicated to create economic change in this area. I am currently working on some economic development projects that will have a profound effect on the Wickenburg community (Aguila, Congressm Yarnell, Wittman and Morristown) and the entire State. These projects will produce many new jobs, not secondary or hospitality but primary jobs. Jobs that people can buy homes, cars with and also create many new retail opportunities. I am also working with existing local companies to help them expand and possibly hire more people and make use of the business incentive programs offered by the State to lower operating costs. I have already applied for and it was accepted by the State, to create a State Enterprise Business Zone at the Wickenburg Business Park – next door to the airport. We have projects on Town owned property outside of town limits. We have many retail and manufacturing developers calling my office to inquire just what is all the hub-bub about in Wickenburg. I receive new projects weekly, if not daily, from the State Department of Commerce, Greater Phoenix Economic Council and ones that I generate personally. Leave now and you will be missing quite a bit – Wickenburg is on the move. Might not look like it from the outside-yet – but it is – dramatically.

Have you read the Wickenburg Sun articles regarding WEDP in the Business Section of the July 16th and July 30th newspapers?? Give me a call or e-mail and I will gladly talk to you about what we are doing. – Tim Kanavel 928-684-7700.