A message to the Ritzville City Council and chamber of commerce

To the Editor:

The town of Ritzville has been experiencing steady population declines for the past several decades and, to many observers, it is a mystery. If you make a list of the town’s assets versus its liabilities, the list of assets is overwhelming in number.

However, among the liabilities are two significant problems that will continue to push the town into a steady population slide and eventual extinction… water and sewer. These two issues have a stranglehold around the neck of local business, present and future, and threaten the safety and health of local residents.

A lack of water is the most critical issue facing this community. It has been threatening the town’s survival for decades. Without adequate water, we cannot save our downtown business district in the event of a fire. Without adequate water, we cannot entice new businesses and reverse our population decline.

Those filling the seats of mayor and city council, present and future, have one most important mission: to increase the city’s water supply, no matter the cost. The cost of not doing so is substantially greater. It will be the loss of this city.

While we are at it, let’s get the chamber of commerce involved. One principal purpose of a chamber of commerce is to promote the economic interests of its members... businesses, organizations and citizenry. I urge the chamber of commerce to begin a sincere and consistent working relationship with the mayor and council to assist in rectifying this critical water issue and to find ways to effectively promote this city.

Dozens of great promotional ideas have been identified over the past several years. Almost none have been implemented. A functional chamber website is way overdue. It is today’s principle source of information and the major promotional tool for any community.

Let’s get started now. No more excuses such as “Where’s the money coming from?” If you want to save this town, you can! And, many promotional efforts do not require large sums of money. But we have to do it, now!

Miles Athey, Ritzville