LaVergne in Five Years

Here's an editorial piece that was printed in today's Daily News Journal. I agree with so much of what was said in the piece, especially the following:

"Part of the problem is that La Vergne sits on Rutherford's northwest border and is so close to Hickory Hollow it hasn't been able to attract any large retailers. With more than 27,000 residents now, though, it should be one the brink of bringing home some shopping opportunities.

"Residents want the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to focus on commercial development instead of maintaining the trend of residential construction. We agree. La Vergne needs an outlet for people to shop in their own city, without going out of county."

Personally, I don't always "go out of the county" to shop - I skip over to Smyrna and Murfreesboro. But I would like to see more retail come to LaVergne - and no more auto parts stores. I don't really want to see more discount-type stores like Dollar Trees. Those ARE GREAT to have, but we have plenty already. I want to see a major catalogue-type store like Penney's or Sears. Here's an idea... there are no Meier's anywhere in this area. Maybe we could try to get one of those. It's a combo grocery clothing and other stuff store like Wally World.

I'd also like to see us open more restaurants and this time the community back it. I feel so badly for the little barbeque place that keeps opening under different names, then closing again. I am just as guilty as everyone else of not going there. I don't know why I haven't gone, but it's been at least two years. That's no way to support our small businesses in this community.

I applaud our leaders' efforts to attend the retail conventions. Some people may view as wasting tax dollars, but I completely disagree with that view. I think our leaders need to also attend conferences hosted by the national League of Cities. These organizations bring communities together to share ideas that work. We don't need to reinvent the wheel ... we need to identify what programs we really like that other cities have and learn how to bring them to our own community.

I would suggest that our community leaders hold a "brainstorming" meeting. Invite people from LaVergne to come with suggestions on where they want to see LaVergne in five years or ten years. Call it "Grow LaVergne" or something. When residents come, don't spend all your time talking with your buddies. Instead, open the floor and give everyone a chance to step up to the mic and share ideas. I think you'll be amazed at the scope and grandeur of what people will suggest. We have a lot of talent and intelligence in this town and I challenge our leaders to tap into it.

You could do a follow-up meeting on how to fund these ideas. Again, you'd be amazed at the ideas people come up with. For example (and I hope the answer is yes), does the city have a full-time grant writer?

So let's support our city's leaders. And I want to the leaders to also support the ideas and suggestions of the members of the community. You can start by looking to the people who didn't win the elections - they should obviously be your first choices to head up our committees and commissions. They had some fantastic ideas for our city and you need to listen to them. Let's come together as a community and embrace commercial growth and sensible development!

Remember: Skate for the Children, October 10th, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m., Smyrna Skate Center. Or contact Kathy T. at 491-2161 to make a donation to the Christmas for the Children fund.