Comments on: What does Sheldon need?

By: Red

Red — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 14:26:27 +0000

YES! If Andy had delivery, business would go through the roof!

By: J E

J E — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 02:38:06 +0000

Chinese delivery. More delivery options period!

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 05:42:37 +0000

Dave,
I appreciate your willingness to work for a truck stop, but the city has poured so much money in “consultant” fees for this sports, camping, fishing area, (and if it gets any dryer the little pond will dry up) park area, how much has the city done to attract any truck stop into this town? If that is going to be something the city really wants, they best get it right!! Maybe they have done this, but why not contact some major truck stops that really know how to run them, ie. Loves, Travel Center of America, Pilot…etc. They seem to know how and what a trucker wants.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:56:47 +0000

hey dave guess what i can drive to sioux center to walmart and buy stuff so much cheaper there and it is the same exact thing that i could purchase from sheldon bussinesses and i only have one stop not ten. my savings cover my gas and then some. so sheldon is not a money saver.

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:08:20 +0000

All very good points TJ, I don’t have the answer. When we had some of the specialty shops, they were run by smart people, yet could not attract the business. Or could not loosen the wallets of the local consumer. It is sad that big companies like JCP Clothing have pulled out on small towns. Look at Sears, big company, yet why do you hardly see more than two cars at a time parked out on its parking lot. It seems in this day and age, our purchasing activities have changed. Yes it would be great to have those specialty shops located in the city of sheldon, but, what draws them? Specialty shops of any kind need “bodies” physical “bodies” to walk thru their doors or stop at their counter to buy. It is sad, but for a lot of folks, if they want some “specialty” item they seem to go two places, the internet, or out of town. How you change that mentality, is a million dollar challenge, I don’t think it will change anytime soon.
The last topic we both touched on, growth in the last 40 years. You are correct we need to use our infrastructure, our location, and our positives, to draw people here. We have such a fantastic school system, (public and private) with so much to offer. We are located on a major highway. so yes we have some very great positives. YET, outsiders sit back and sorta laugh at some of the silly things that our city leaders do. ie…. Sidewalk issues, why would I want that headache, I know of a party in sheldon that was forced to fix a sidewalk that went nowhere. (really invites people to move here). Business expansion: a young lady told me a couple years ago she wanted to start a sports bar out by the bypass, this was shortly after the hotel was built, excellent idea, but wait, the city said no. why? they had other plans out there. I understand Cenex by the by pass had ideas of putting a truck filling station of some sort between the bypass and them, but wait, I understand the city turned that down, is that really true? Then there is the guy that wanted to put a landscape business on the old Schemper property, he was told it would be an eyesore, give me a break, a landscaping business being an eyesore, seems that he would not be in business very long if that was his advertisement. Then there is this downtown development, asking the business to pay a perfoot charge to update the street scape. who do you think in the long run pays that? I also heard of a case where a person wanted to put a business in town, but was discouraged in doing so, why you ask, he said it was b/c there was a certain city council man that had a competing business and it would hurt his business.
I could go on and on…..as an outsider looking in to making a move to either relocate here, or start a business, what would convince me?

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 01:07:54 +0000

After reading this and re-reading and thinking about the issues at hand all while my travels take me to places such as OC, Sioux Center, Hull, RV, Sibley and think first we need to focus on travel. With that being said we have two great motels that offer a nice place to stay, pool, food, nice, clean etc. What we dont have for those folks is a place to A. Park trucks, RV’s, and pickups with larger trailers. With that group of people comes FUEL!!!!!!!!!! So there – truck stop, parking, etc. We have the room -ie the “sheldon crossings”. I dont understand why we dont offer one, have one or want one. I took the liberity to find out who owned the McDonalds/gas station. This person said to me over the phone that he has on numerous occasions asked about the lot behind McDonalds about a future fueling/parking area. He said the powers that be didn’t want anything of the such. I wonder why? B. A family style sit down eating place. No offense to the ones here in town but I think the location is ripe for one out by Holiday Inn. HAs the marketing committe in town tried or or they too focused on the uptown renovation project to spend a million plus dollars??

Second bigger retail. Yes we have it now but I am not in favor of a walmart but we need something of the such. A larger GM dealership, a truck dealership, Cat is here and progressing nicely. Not only is this good for me and you but what about bringing people in.

Third. I understand the town hired a new rec director. Why not utiltize our assets? More terminants! Be this youth leagues, basketball, baseball, soccer etc. Maybe this is done already but we have the places, the fields and I understand the school is workiing with the city in conjunction with new playing fields. This brings people in to spend money on food, gas, maybe (FUEL) maybe stay over night, shop, etc.

Fourth. A greenhouse/garden center. I think there is one in town that sells flowers in the spring. There is a place to get flowers in town. I think there was a new place this year along the hiway but I think in regards to other towns this would be a great asset to the town. No offense to those I listed above and maybe your adding on or re-doing for next year and no offense to the others in town like HyVee, Bomgaars etc but I am speaking of people that understand the business, maybe can implement by ideas to a landscape or simple sell me quality stock.

Fifth. A more progressive city council. Maybe it is time for new blood. I realize the “old” guys have experience but I also gather they have there weight to throw around.

Sixth. Better foresight into future developments. That includes road designs, water pressure issues, sewer, type of houses, etc.

Seventh. Our own utilities. Nothing wrong with Mid America but I see other towns and yes tomorrow is not in sight but in 20 years our children and maybe even you and I will be better off.

Eighth. Why can’t our city crews do there own digging for service work? Seems that they are knowledgable with street work, concrete work, etc but why not get there own backhoe? I am sure they can use it for snow, summer work etc.

Nineth. Utilizies NCC. NCC is kinda out there as far as out of town but there equipment division, let them do or work or gain job time doing our city work when they can. I see one thing they could work on and maybe they will as I am just talking here – how about using them to do our new sports field grading work, electrical work, and whatever else NCC students could provide. Sheldon has a great asset there vs Dordt or NW college, we can get these classes to help our town grow, while those colleges are more geared to the “office” work force.

Alright enough for now!! Thanks for reading.