The JimCates radio show online archive

About Jim Cates.

Jim Cates has been a Topeka resident for more than 30 years, moving here from his hometown of Liberty, Mo.
Cates worked as an insurance consultant for the National Credit Union Association for 25 years. It was during that period he became involved in politics. His career in radio began in 1997 and last May, he joined The Topeka Capital-Journal to kick off online radio in Topeka.

And here are his radio shows up to the point of the post.

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City Wide Voting

At-large council suggested

Mayor says setup would be less provincial

By Tim Carpenter

The Capital-Journal
Published Friday, June 20, 2008

Topeka Mayor Bill Bunten raised the possibility Thursday of electing the city council through at-large voting rather than by district.

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  • Travis Gooden
  • June 20th, 2008
  • No Comments    
  • Articles, Getting Involved, Topeka News
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Visioning Meeting Pt.3

Process narrows visioning priorities

After 3 meetings, developing the local economy tops the public’s list

By Tim Hrenchir

The Capital-Journal
Published Friday, June 20, 2008

Economic development should be Topeka and Shawnee County’s top priority while better governance should come in second.

Improving the community’s quality of life, education and self-image are third, fourth and fifth, respectively, on the priority list.

Mike Burley / The Capital-Journal

Jerry Farley

That was the consensus of more than 650 people who took part in three community "visioning" meetings this week to share ideas for making Topeka and Shawnee County a better place.

Read more here http://cjonline.com/stories/062008/bus_292968006.shtml

  • Travis Gooden
  • June 20th, 2008
  • 1 Comment    
  • Getting Involved, Topeka News, Vision
  • , ,

Riverfront Development

This past Monday, I attended the Masterplan for the Topeka Riverfront Development. Going into the meeting, it was difficult not to be skeptical considering so many things that has happened in Topeka. From bad attiudes to bad planning, Topeka has seen a fair share

The Masterplan was impressive. If you did not go to the meeting, you missed out. The information should be online. It was clear that a lot of thought and care had been put into the Masterplan. The group Sasaki Associates has provided other Masterplans in the United States. It was evident why.

I was disappointed the next day to read so many comments posted a local website dismissing the idea. The majority of those who posted were not at the meeting.

What does Topeka want?

Heartland Visioning, Round 2

Heartland Visioning, Round 2
By Mike Hall
The Capital-Journal
Published Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Sometimes, little things can make life better.

For 9-year-old Jhailyn Johnson, teachers who make learning fun would do it.

Jhailyn was among 145 Shawnee Countians who offered ideas Tuesday night on how to make Topeka a better place to live. The gathering at Seaman High School was the second of three community meetings leading to a plan to be completed in November.

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A Younger Vision

I didn’t get to hear/see all of the people elected to the Task Force at last night’s Heartland Visioning Community Meeting, but I definitely saw a trend - we were young, and we were professional!

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Our competitors are moving forward

Annexation may pave way for industrial development

Neighbors oppose plans for site near Lecompton interchange

June 17, 2008

Each morning and evening the most suburban of scenes takes center stage in this rural “neighborhood.”

Commuters with foam coffee cups, flip phones and backseat carpoolers travel up and down the ramps of a turnpike interchange that pops forth from a rolling pasture land. Larger-than-average homes with fences of split rail instead of chain link punctuate the landscape that mixes suburban expatriates with men who still make a living from the land.

Depending on your view of geography, you are either in rural Lawrence or rural Lecompton. But for the time being, it is still clearly rural.

Lawrence city commissioners at their meeting tonight may clear up the geography considerably, but may muddy the rural question. Commissioners are being asked to annex about 155 acres just north of the Lecompton interchange on the Kansas Turnpike. It would be the first step in a plan to convert the property into an industrial park.

Developers — including Lawrence businessmen Duane and Steve Schwada — contend the site has better potential than most to attract a major employer, such as a distribution center or other business that relies on good interstate access. The property is less than 1,000 feet from Interstate 70.

Some city commissioners agree.

“I certainly believe industrial can be an appropriate land use out there,” City Commissioner Rob Chestnut said.

Read the rest of the Article

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/jun/17/annexation_may_pave_way_industrial_development/

  • Aaron
  • June 17th, 2008
  • No Comments    
  • Topeka News
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