The first returns to the ever-present tax question. The County's solution is to offer major tax abatements to companies that choose to do business or develop in area. This isn't a bad idea, except that a decade-long abatement, which is what many businesses receive, defeats one of the major purposes of bringing in businesses in the first place. One could argue patience if it weren’t for the fact that- according to Wellston's tireless Mayor of 2 months (and City Councilmen of 32 years before that) Frank McNeil- this control means more than a deferment of benefits. In areas whose development the County has overseen, any tax revenue that does come in goes to the County- while Wellston is still providing basic services (that cost the city money) in these areas. Furthermore, because basic management of the development is out of the city's hands, it is much harder to make sure that the city or local businesses see any of the opportunities therein.

This is to say nothing of the major problem. The County has designated a corner of the city of Wellston as 64-acre light industrial development zone. Building three-score acres of light factory will relegate real estate values in Wellston to languish beneath a certain threshold, assuring that any true revitalization and development for the area is nearly impossible. From a County perspective, it can be argued that, if this light industrial has to go somewhere, it makes sense to consolidate it. But if that is the case, then every effort must be made to make sure that the City of Wellston will benefit from what positives these developments will bring to the area- principally in job and training opportunities. When a member of my team asked Wellston officials whether such plans were in place- plans to prepare the community to take advantage of these developments, if indeed their progress is a given- he was met with awkward silence. The city of Wellston should be proactive, surely, but if the County is running the development it must also take responsibility for generating opportunity locally. No one in the city government will say it, for many understandable reasons, but the County must have more extensiv- or transparent- plans for how to make sure that Wellston does not simply become a holding pen for its factories and their negative environmental and community impact.