Plan focuses on Willard's downtown area

“However, the asphalt parking lot can be used to house such things as food concessions, flea market booths, carnival rides and concert seating when needed.”

WILLARD City officials should develop a focal point for downtown Willard in order to attract visitors' attention or draw them to a certain area, according to a downtown revitalization plan released Monday. via Norwalk Reflector

[Brain]

WE HAVE ENTERTAINMENT JUST DRIVE DOWN TOWN AND WATCH THE BEANERS STARE AT YOU LIKE YOU ARE A PIECE OF PIE!!!!!!!!

[Chris]

Willard Downtown is dead and has been for as long as I can remember. I can remember when I was a kid and there was the Oktoberfest. Cities all around Willard have "special events" that bring money into the city.

ie: Bucyrus: Bratwurst Festival

Even Plymouth has a mud volleyball tournament that is the highlight of our summer. Greenwich has the Firemans Festival!Why cant Willard host anything like that?? Surely if these smaller towns can, Willard can.

Even our Hoopfest has been taken away. Willard has a lame festival every summer that is geared towards young kids ages 1-9 and older adults 35-65. Where is the attraction for the rest of the demographic?

It is no secret that there is a serious drug problem in Willard and you wonder why? THERE IS NOTHING ELSE FOR THESE KIDS TO DO! This is a problem that has been going on for years. When will things change? How many kids have to DIE?

I have not lived in Willard for years now. My family still lives there and I love to come home. It is still a place that I call home. I just dont understand why no one does anything to change things.

Rebuild downtown??? Downtown is a corpse six feet under. Start by rejuvenating the community!

[brian]

well Chris I Guess you have not went to the air port and watched the 3 airplane's take off and land!!!!!!

[Lumina]

It's the same in Bettsville. The school is about the only place that even tries to find ways to entertain and raise money at the same time. We have several events at the school for Relay for Life right now but school will soon be out and we will have a whole summer of kids roaming the streets with nothing to do.

[joatmon]

Oh, I would'nt worry too much about the kids. I am sure the new police chief will get things in good order...

[mee]

First off the polica chief Gary Holland resigned because of a better job in Kentucky and recently Don Mason resigned due to Gary returning. Second off LUMINA! why are you worried about us kids when Bob Bob sends Tyler out to buy him pot. We all know the stories and you may not know about this but now you do. Bob Bob is a pot head who is using Tyler as his source, so maybe the po pos should look into that to huh????

[joatmon]

I was fully aware of the two resignations. I also have it on pretty good authority that there are more to come from that department.

[Lumina]

It looks like Bettsville will soon be down to 1 police officer.

[joatmon]

Yes... the "small town" politics at thier best.

[joatmon]

What happened to my post?

[Lumina]

Sometimes a post will disappear into the never-never land of computers.

I was fiscal officer for a state agency. This kind of budgetary mess is inexcusable.

[joatmon]

I dont think it is just about the budget... When it comes to a police department, good leadership and communication skills are essential. And these skills need to be uniform from the top to the bottom and back to the top. There is no room for politics in this area.

[Lumina]

You can separate out politics as long as the village council does the hiring and firing. We had good officers and the political system ran them out because they didn't play the "good old boy" game.

[Lumina]

OOPS..that should have been "You can't separate".

[joatmon]

The village needs a police department... not just one or two officers, but the money just is not there. When the department had 8 officers, things got handled in the village in a timely fashion with very good results for everyone concerned. when the department suffered cutbacks, things went into a downward spiral very quickly. The village needs a police chief that is willing to take a personal interest in the village as a whole and not just be there for a paycheck. The chief needs the village to be behind him as much as he is behind the village. It must be a 2 way street.

[Lumina]

I will stand behind anyone who gets the job done. One person can't do it alone. I tried to start a Block Watch program and a Light Up the Night program. I gave the information to the Chief a year ago.

It's not just Bettsville or small towns in general. Apathy is a disease in our country. People are all too busy or just don't want to be bothered.

[grave]

They sure have the money now. I hope you paid your R.I.T.A. town tax!!! If not you are looking at penelties, and could even be taken to court. See what your town can do for you! Pass a tax without a vote on it. Raise your sewer rate without notifying you. Most people live in a small town to get a break from taxes whitch justifies the extra drive to work. Oh but gas is really high too?? What do you think will happen. This town will die out, and no one will want to move here. Thank your town council for that.

[Lumina]

I own a small home business in Bettsville. I'm doing my city taxes this week. The village council is made up of anybody who will do the job. They care about Bettsville but they have no idea how to run a city. Money should be spent to fix up the downtown area and try to bring some businesses into the area.

[get r done]

The voters are to blame. Where are you? City council should be made up candidates voted in by the people, with an educational or same experienced background to get the job done. Anyone doing the job should be focused on the betterment of the community and its people. I too know Willard has not placed any effort into providing positive activities for our children. Very sad situation. Come on city representatives. Lets finally get the job done. Help our kids!!!