Life in the West

A personal column by Jim Headley
Citizen Publisher and Founder

…that is the question.
Over the past few years, a proposal has been on the table to merge the three cities of Gering, Terrytown and Scottsbluff together.
As a community newspaper editor, it is my responsibility to my readers to investigate such a dramatic change and weigh the pros and cons.
After digging around on this subject and finding a lot of misinformation, lack of information and discussing other people’s views on the subject, I cannot support such a silly concept and here are some of the reasons why.
Gering and Scottsbluff city governments run in entirely different ways. Gering’s government has stuffed away about $8 million in short-term reserves to replace equipment, fix problems and develop new ideas.
These funds are easily accessible and ready to pay bills if needed. If the cities were to merge, that $8 million in cash would be gone forever.
On top of this, Gering would lose the ability to apply for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) as they are intended for communities under 10,000 in population.
Gering applies for and receives a lot of CDBG grants. In the past five years, the city has received about $685,000 from these grants.
It is also a fact that Gering city employees are paid less than their Scottsbluff counterparts.
Gering employees (and probably those in Terrytown) would have to receive a sharp wage increase to level the playing field.
Scottsbluff Police officers receive a base pay that is $2 per hour more than Gering Police officers, meaning that each Gering officer would immediately receive a $4,160 per year raise.
The idea appears to be great for our city’s hard-working employees but this concept of merging our cities is supposed to save money, not cost us more in the long run.
On top of this added cost factor, plans include the elimination of employees through attrition. While those leading this movement are saying that no one will lose their jobs - that’s not entirely true.
For instance, in the recent merger of the Scottsbluff/Gering Police Department, plans include the elimination of eight police officers through attrition. Gering currently has only 12 police officers and if eight officers are lost in the Twin Cities, who is really better off?
We will be losing officers and ultimately paying more for doing so.
As Scottsbluff has a shortage of police officers, stealing them off the streets of Gering does not seem to be a logical solution to the problem.
Employees might make more per hour but will Gering’s city employees still have their jobs if the merger happens?
Since 1900, Scottsbluff has never actually treated Gering as an equal neighbor and it remains doubtful that would change.
In speaking with several people who are knowledgeable about the planned merger, I’ve learned that none of the current Gering municipal buildings or offices are slated to be utilized.
Instead the plans are to govern the three cities from over the river in Scottsbluff, leaving the “outlying” citizens with lessened services, including police, fire and parks.
The concept of merging the cities might injure Gering’s status as the county seat. What is involved in changing the county seat status? Map makers, state and even national legislators will be scurrying to make this change.
The old Scotts Bluff County Courthouse might even fall into abandoned disrepair along with the present Gering City Hall. Thankfully county government leadership is currently sane and would likely stay in their existing facilities.
What about the fire departments?
Gering has a volunteer department while Scottsbluff’s firefighters are paid. How would that shake out?
Paying firefighters in Gering would cost a lot more and fire response from eight miles away won’t work very well either.
Merging the cities together does not seem logical as Gering and Terrytown will lose capital, services and representation. Scottsbluff might get some quick cash but then be burdened with attempting to serve more citizens who live further away from the epicenter of their government.
If this idea is ever to float with local voters, someone has to prove that the taxpayers of all three communities will save money and be better served.
Many of us are still hunting for even the smallest acorn of common sense in this proposal.
Gering is a great place to live, and I’m sure the people of Scottsbluff and Terrytown have the same idea about their communities. Why fix what is not really broken?
At least show our citizens what needs to be fixed and not just spout off that this is the best idea since sliced bread without documentation or planning.