LAHARPE — Sure, there are plenty of issues plaguing LaHarpe, and countless other small communities.
Some streets remain in various states of disrepair. The city’s aging infrastructure has been addressed in spots — electric upgrades, for example — but the cost of top-to-bottom infrastructure rebuild is overwhelming.
The lack of a police presence means some motorists have chosen to ignore speed limits through some residential areas, one attendee complained Tuesday.
City employees are hard to keep. Market forces have made it virtually impossible for the city to hire a licensed electrician as a full-time employee, so LaHarpe instead has one working on a contract basis.
And Main Street remains largely bereft of business activity.
But there remain glimmers of hope, and even progress.
City Councilwoman Sharlyn Floyd noted three houses have been built over the past year, three more are under construction, and at least two folks have purchased vacant lots with an eye on development there as well.
The ups and downs were discussed among a crowd of about 20 during a community conversation, hosted by Thrive Allen County.
ONE OF DON Knavel Sr.’s biggest concerns was the city’s inability to keep qualified workers on staff.
“That’s something the Council needs to address, he said. “It seems like every two years we have new people. Some stay long enough to get their CDL (commercial driver’s license) and then they’re gone. It seems like we don’t want to put in the extra effort to come up with extra money to keep them.”
There’s a problem with that, Thompson responded. LaHarpe already pays more for some workers than do neighboring communities. But in order to keep specialists on staff, it’s more than the city can afford.
A licensed electrician, for example, nets a pay of about $45 per hour.
Instead, the city has a contract agreement with an outside worker for repairs or maintenance issues, although that can lead to delays.
Lisse Regehr, Thrive CEO, noted LaHarpe is hardly alone as other communities are struggling to secure licensed professionals.
Resident Craig Trester pointed to LaHarpe’s roads, noting some have been repaired in recent years, but many more have not. And in many areas, the lack of drainage and clogged ditches can hurt the integrity of nearby roads.
The city relies on the county for much of its road work, Thompson agreed.
