It doesn't take an MBA......

All right, all right, I'll weigh in on Walmart saga -- but next week it's back to the usual undecipherable drivel. Here's what I don't get: How come we always wait until something happens and then go berserk instead of planning ahead? ...Let's be reasonable and look at some facts. Other than the tree cut thing, game point goes to Walmart. ...In a way, the city invited them by writing its law, code, whatever, the way they did for the commercial zone. ...That can be changed easily by...oh wait... doesn't the city already have at least four master plans done by various professionals over the last couple of decades? ...Anyway, there's a case to be made for getting on the stick and doing some well-informed code and ordinance writing that specifies what kind of development happens inside city limits other than the Historic District including the contingency that certain business types can only be replicated so many times based on population. That makes it more flexible for growth if/when there's a boom.

But now, already circling the bowl out on 62E is a gajillion-room hotel with a restaurant, nightclub, auditorium and pool, the Victoria Inn; a big family-oriented play center, the Fun Spot; and two restaurants -- one large, with enough parking for, say, a Walmart Express; and one already set up with curb service. Vacant, one and all.

Down on 23S is the vacant Magic Theatre or whatever that was. ...Sadly, all were businesses our town could not support.

New stuff has come in and stayed, though. Lumber and hardware, a plumbing supply ...things people actually needed to have here. ...Get the drift?

What to tell the poor sods from Walmart who have to face public comment on the 23rd when BOZA meets is not how awful Walmart is, but how awful the economy is. "Look around guys," I'd say, "there are properties and businesses for sale everywhere and we already have everything you're selling. Are you sure you want to do this?" ...Okay, someone's going to accuse me of being anti-development...it's not true. We can lure some cool businesses with the unique enticements Eureka has to offer, but why weigh ourselves down with stuff we've got in spades? Especially if you count the fact we already shop at Walmart. It just doesn't make business sense to spend millions of dollars building another store to save people 8 miles worth of gas. Okay, 16, roung trip.

Besides, by my count on Tuesday, almost twice as many people voted against having Walmart Express in town as voted for it in the online poll. If that's a true indication, that should be what the Walmart guys think hard about. ...And if the spirit of Sam Walton lives on anywhere in the corporate cerebrum, they will walk away. And we will thank them for hearing us.

...And if that happens, we need to buy those Walmart guys a beer and help get the George Brothers another buyer for their land.