Claremore Daily Progress

Our View

Related Photos

  • Randy Cowling

    7.30-Randy-Cowling7-2010.jpg
August 17, 2010

Gap across the wide Missouri completed

Randy Cowling Managing Editor

CLAREMORE — After much speechifying and positioning the crossing of the wide Missouri Street closure has been completed. Claremore City Councilors unanimously voted to close the street, which is east of the current Rogers County Courthouse, to make way for construction of a new $23 million facility.

Claremore’s Ward II Councilor Mick Weber outlined from his perspective the timeline the council and county have traveled in reaching the closure, attempting to “set the record straight.” Weber, who was critical of Rogers County Commissioner Kirt Thacker, when the county asked for the closure, believes the city has received unwarranted criticism.

He told the capacity crowd at the Monday evening meeting that the city followed its guidelines and the notification of property owners within 100 ft. of the street was to be done by the county. It was Weber’s last shot at the county, who he wants to suggest is the bad guy in this entire public relations debacle.

It’s over and the Claremore City Council and Rogers County Commission should move on — together. Without continued cooperation between the city and county, Claremore and Rogers County cannot become a premiere city in Northeast Oklahoma. This all depends on the attitudes of current city councilors and commissioners.

As long as there is a continuous battle to show who has the bigger stick, this region will be the loser when it comes to economic development. These school yard skirmishes not only give councilors and commissioners a black eye, but they injure the reputation and credibility of Rogers County as a whole.

Now is the time for leadership — open-minded, creative and responsible leadership on behalf of both governmental entities. Our community faces challenges that need attention and sound judgment in bringing creative ideas to achieve solutions to make Claremore and Rogers County a place where businesses will want to bring their headquarters and employees.

Quality of life, great educational resources, easy access to transportation, reliable infrastructure and utilities are essential to attract new businesses and development. However, that all goes by the wayside if Claremore and Rogers County is not a development-friendly community. All one has to do is look 20 miles west and see an example of a municipality that has put the future of its community first to see great results. It didn’t happen overnight, but it did required teamwork of its governmental and business leaders, something that needs shoring up here in Claremore.

It is time to forget about the missed opportunities which other communities capitalized on and begin to work together to build the proper foundation here in Claremore and Rogers County to be prepared to receive the next wave of economic development. It will not be easy. It will not be without more bumps in the road, but it can be without schoolyard skirmishes and blackeyes.

The decision to close Missouri Street was the correction on from the start and should have been done with minimal grief. Hopefully, the council and commissioners can learn from this situation and find ways to work together in harmony in the future.

Randy Cowling is editor of the Claremore Daily Progress. 

Text Only
Our View
  • Burrage, Sean.jpg Senate Review

    This past week we learned a group of Jenks parents donated $1.1 million of their own money to their school district—not so the students could have “extras” like new computers or electronic note-pads, but to hire and keep teachers so they could reduce class sizes in their children’s schools.

    May 19, 2012 1 Photo

  • randyc3-28-12web.jpg Oklahoma Turnpike Authority technology not so accurate

    Technology is supposed to allow production to be easier, smoother, even reduce stress.

    April 12, 2012 1 Photo

  • Burrage, sean.tiff Senate review by Sean Burrage

    Hailey Mathis is studying political science and history at the University of Oklahoma. She’s one of a very select group of college students each year who have the opportunity to learn about government and public service through an internship at the State Senate.  

    April 4, 2011 1 Photo

  • randyc3-28-12web.jpg Should Rogers County follow Delaware County?

    Rogers County commissioners are awaiting legal counsel on how to proceed in paying a $22.5 million judgement to Materials Services Inc.

    April 5, 2012 1 Photo

  • randyc3-28-12web.jpg Spending money at home not a priority for commissioners

    Spending money money at home is a priority for any municipality. When a dollar is spent in Rogers County the sales tax accrued help provide services to every citizen.

    March 29, 2012 1 Photo

  • Randy Cowling Smith gets it done when people are not watching

    Excellent leadership is identified by concrete results.  In some instances it is difficult to determine who should receive credit for a success, when no one comes forward to accept the accolades.
    Claremore’s Jim Smith is one of t

    March 25, 2012 1 Photo

  • BAILEYDABNEY8-2009.tif Terry no kook, he is committed

    Randall Terry is no kook, he’s committed.

    March 7, 2012 1 Photo

  • Randy Cowling Garth may have done something Big!

    Our own Garth Brooks may have set the humanitarian world abuzz.
    In January, he won a lawsuit against Integris Canadian Valley Regional Hospital of Yukon for not using his $500,000 gift.

    February 16, 2012 1 Photo

  • Burrage, Sean.jpg SENATE REVIEW: What kind of state do we want?

    What kind of a state do we want Oklahoma to be?  Do we want to continue to be a state that ranks among the very worst when it comes to the resources we dedicate to education?

    February 11, 2012 1 Photo

  • Randy Cowling Courthouse security applies to everyone there

    District Judge Dynda Post has elevated a serious issue at the Rogers County courthouse — security.

    February 8, 2012 1 Photo