I also see these Maquoketa CAN Stickers all over town.
Are these Stickers meant to instill some sense of betterment of our community?
Maquoketa CAN , what?? Find and Spend lots of money on lots of special interest projects ?
But Maquoketa CAN(T) locate money to spend on Fixing our Streets and Sidewalks and has anyone seen how BAD our SIGNS made of Beautiful stone have been so neglected that thay are all black with mold or such....
Makes me wonder how many look at the Maquoketa CAN Sign/Sticker/Button campaign and feel its more like Maquoketa CAN(T) ????
I do applaud the Idea and Effort of coining a new Phrase and Mentality like Maquoketa CAN. Surely with best intentions, but CAN what?
Look what Maquoketa needs to fix, if they CAN... or CAN(T) they?
What are your thoughts. and please keep them constructive and clean, no need for rude comments and profanity and name calling
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Isn't the reason taxes went up was so that the roads could be fixed ? Well fix the roads Jackson County
ReplyDeleteI am from Maquoketa but no longer live there. I recently spent 4 days at home visiting family. Here is what I'm wondering. CAN Maquoketa turn things around? It seems to me that the City as a whole has been in a downward spiral for quite some time now. What do I believe will fix the problem? Bring in white colar industry. Bring in those higher paying jobs to bring new people to town and in turn those people will spend money, build new homes, fix up existing homes which increases tax revenue. What Maquoketa SHOULD do is bring in better paying jobs. I am have my bachelor's degree and higher educated people is what we need to keep in town. Had these jobs existed, I might still be calling Maquoketa home.
ReplyDeleteThe Maquoketa Can! campaign is focused on furthering the POSITIVE momentum that the city and the chamber have created surrounding the downtown revitilization project. The infrasturcture and streetscaping is top priority to kick off this project, but there are some preliminary things that need to be completed before some of these other cosmetic things can be done. Within this year, you are going to start to see many changes within the downtown, including building facades and streets. The "special interest projects" that you are referring to are also intergral to this project. These projects increase tourism to the area which creates more revenue within the community, facilitating some of these streetscape repairs. So, I encourage you to be a voice of POSITIVE change, and stop by the chamber office or ask someone with a Maquoketa Can! button/sticker how YOU CAN help with this project, and be a part of the projects that are important to you.
ReplyDeleteI think part of the program is to remember what Maquoketa has accomplished over the years and that list is long. I look at it as an opportunity to look for things which might need to be fixed and that list is long. It might even be the kind of thing where people get a chance to compare Maquoketa with other communities and find some differences, both negative and positive. But I do not believe the "Maquoketa Can!" campaign wants to focus on people who have no intention of trying to be part of the solution. Maquoketa Can! means "what can I do to help?" For many years I told my children that it didn't matter if they thought they could do it or thought they could not do it, they were always correct.....
ReplyDeleteThis town also needs to focus on activities for kids. Our outdoor pool being taken away was the worst mistake that was made and should be a priority to bring back! For crying out loud people have to drive to another community to have swimming lessons (me) or to just take their kids swimming outside it's not everyone wants to H o to the Y!!!! You say the streets will bring in tourism? There's nothing here for young middle class to do or their children. Children run the streets and that in my opinion is where we need to start. This was once a nice and clean community and it is quickly becoming a not so great place to live. I'm sorry street project is nice and needed but too much has been done away with and ignored! Yes ..higher paying jobs an outdoor pool/splash pad, roller skating rink, clean parks where lids can go and not hear profanity.....there's a lot to do! You say compare us to other communities? We are definitely lacking compared to Bellevue, preston, dewitt, monticello, etc.
ReplyDeleteI live near Maquoketa, and my son graduated from Maquoketa, and this means a lot to us. However, to drive down Main street and to look at the town, well, it isn't much to look at. I know the county does not have a lot of money, but it seems as if there could be a park or a nice fountain or something to replace the burned down building area that now sits empty. Little things around the town would make a big difference. It's drab. There is nothing to catch your eye. It could be a neat little town. It's been around for a long time. There's the caves that bring tourism, and if there were more to do, it would generate more money. There's nothing. I have never understood this.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh-please look at your community-we have a Fine Art Center called Ohnward Fine Art Center with great shows-also the Farmers Market is going strong-We have the Hurstville Kilns with the Hurstville Interpretive Center-We have the Clinton Engine Museum along with the Jackson County Historical Museum, We have the Jackson County Fairgrounds with Flea markets, car shows, the International Wood Carvers Congress-here for the whole week and love Maquoketa-the Jackson County Fair with its great parade which also brings people into the community-We have an international known artist at the Old City Hall Gallery whose 180 portraits of the town were seen by 700,000 visitors at the Smithsonian in
ReplyDeleteWashington DC-We have the Maquoketa Art Experience which has workshops for adults & children and regional artists exhibiting-We have new stores-Make A Splash, Peddlers, Worn Again Western, McCoconuts Clothing store-Trading Post-and many more--We have 10 buildings on the Historic Register in downtown Maquoketa and we have a lovely Historic District with a Beautiful Bed & Breakfast-there are 30-40 more buildings on Historic Register and hope to recognize them soon-We have a YMCA with an indoor swimming pool with swimming lessons-exercise area for young and older adults-and great programs throughout the year-we have ball diamonds that children play at-We have Little Bear Park that has been built again by volunteers-there is soccer, softball, basketball, baseball, canoeing on the Maquoketa River, hiking in the Prairie Creek Park, fishing, hiking at the Maquoketa Caves, -the youth can join Boy Scouts, 4-H clubs, use the Library and its programs-We have a Drive-In-theatre along with a 3 theater venue in the downtown-the Peace Pipe Players for acting-the Timber City Band for music-We have Stock Car Races-Bingo--Just had a great turnout for Taste of Maquoketa and the band that played in the Event Space-Firemen Pancake breakfast-Fly-In Breakfast on Fathers Day-Clubs(Lions, Rotary, Optimist--Chinese, Mexican, Bistro, Decker House Restaurant-American Restaurants-etc. --There are many more things to do or join-so if you look around you will see that we do have a lot more in our town than we think-and many events are run by volunteers -so if you wish to help make a difference in the Maquoketa Community-join the volunteers and the Maquoketa Can
Those are all nice and valid and surely overlooked and under appreciated by so many. I get that. Many also may have differing views on aspects which you point out.
ReplyDeleteMy question is what exactly is the Maquoketa CAN? Ive spoke to some businesses downtown and they had no idea about this Maquoketa CAN! .
Can't Maquoketa CAN! do a more effective attempt to raise more awareness??
I stated in my article I get the gist of the idea ,and know its an idea with great intentions.
I just see so many aspects of our town Maquoketa that needs addressing, the kind of stuff that makes one think that the Maquoketa CAN motto , literally comes across as hypocritical.
We cant fix our streets. We cant fix our sidewalks. We cant Upkeep our Signs were just a few points I felt were worthy of addressing.
And I did so in a NON ANONYMOUS way.
If these issues CANT be resolved, what does it say about Maquoketa CAN?
CAN , What???
Back to the , please inform us on on definition or mission statement on what it is.
Very interesting that NO ONE chooses to use their real Identity except ME.
DeleteAnonymous , Anonymous, 7 times so far.
At least , I , being open , and creating dialog on issues, CAN do so without hiding behind anonymity.
Perhaps on going supporters or non supporters will consider such, and honor the Maquoketa CAN mentality with a CAN DO, and CAN post without using anonymous means.
CAN you? or CANT you?