Efforts to improve Francis' tax base delayed

(Park Record) Lee Snelgrove, the new mayor-elect of Francis, said Wednesday that his town's efforts to add more commercial space to their skyline have stalled.

Last March, then-mayor John Bergen bragged that two business-park strips were under development: one on S.R. 32 heading toward Kamas, and one near the cemetery and new church. Both were to be tied to housing developments.

The one on S.R. 32 was to have a gas station and several leaseable spaces similar to the complex in Kamas in which the liquor store is located. The other was going to be Western-themed and host an ice cream parlor.

The motivation for the projects was to have more taxable businesses, Bergen explained. Francis is too residential for its own good, and the businesses that exist there are largely home-based.

An increased tax base is the only way to continue providing necessary services such as water and sewer lines without raising taxes, Snelgrove explained.

Unfortunately, due to economic pressures, the gas station development is in receivership and the other never got started.

"Whenever you think you've got commercial coming in, and it's obviously something we're in need of it is a disappointment when it falters," Snelgrove said. "We need it to develop our community."

The mayor said he originally moved to Francis because he wanted to live in a small town. He doesn't want to change that; but an additional 300 people have moved in since then and the community needs to upgrade.

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