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2nd
year Anniversary of Northern
Urgent Care Clinic in
Kinross
A sign of growth in Kinross
/ Kincheloe
By
Joe Paczkowski
It has
been two years since the
Northern Urgent Care Clinic
in Kinross has opened. This
is a significant event since
many Kinross Township
officials predicted failure.
This pessimism has run rapid
through the community
despite positive community
effort.
So what
can be learned from their
success? Did they have a
magic formula that allowed
them to meet the high
standards of Health care
that the surrounding
community now enjoys? If you
remember back a short two
years ago, Kinross had a
severe shortage of general
health care and the
community suffered as a
result. Fast forward to
present day when gas prices
are $3.40 a gallon plus,
Kinross / Kincheloe
residents may have to spend
up to $10.00 just to make a
trip to the Sault to receive
health care. “I can’t afford
that” says John Gaines, an
80 year old longtime Kinross
resident and past Township
Supervisor. “I can breath
easier now since the clinic
is here.” His sentiment is
widespread in this
community. A community that
is committed to growth no
matter what the obstacles.
Obstacles such as a
reputation for gangs and
drugs. This problem is
widespread no matter where
you live. The exaggerations
that have prevailed are a
result of growing pains the
community has suffered from
for the past 30 years.
Remember, Kinross /
Kincheloe is one of the
success stories of closed
military bases throughout
the nation. We have
survived, in part, because
of the ongoing efforts of
retired Military members who
settled here and made a
commitment to develop this
community.
So that
may be the secret. Hard work
and determination. The key
to any success. Kinross and
Kincheloe communities have
survived on it. The citizens
in the community show the
grit that is necessary to
build from the left over’s
of a closed military base.
The community today is alive
and well thanks to the
commitment of the people who
live here. I am proud to say
that I live in Kincheloe. A
community full of potential
for growth not only for new
residents but business
growth as well. After all we
are located on a major
highway with railroad
access, an international
airport, a nearby labor
market in need of jobs, our
own water and sewer plant
and plenty of available land
to build.
So why
have we not met our
potential yet? I believe it
is a lack of positive
reinforcement from local
government. Instead of
tearing down we should be
building up. Instead of
inhibiting growth we should
encourage land sales for
businesses willing to commit
to the area like the
Northern Urgent Care Clinic
has. Here’s a thought that
was originally discussed by
John Gaines. Lets give them
the land at such a price
that they can not refuse.
What do we have to loose? I
will tell you what we gain.
We gain land tax revenue. We
gain water and sewer fees.
We gain additional residents
who may come here to live
and work. We gain services
to the community who already
live here.
So why
can’t we do this. The answer
is WE CAN and we intend to.
The Kinross Business
Association is developing A
Plan for Change. A plan for
the continued success of the
Kinross /Kincheloe
communities. This plan is
available as an open source
project. A project of the
citizens in Kinross and
Kincheloe who wish to have
input into the communities
development. You can view A
Plan for Change below.
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