Randall Aragon: An investment in our city's future

After many years of leading and managing personnel, including teaching business management and other business-related courses at the college level, by osmosis I have succumbed to aligning some of these key concepts even into my personal life. For example, when I consider the term personal investment, for Randall Aragon and my family and relatives, I immediately consider three keynote principles:

1. Comparative value.

2. Goals and objectives.

3. The return on my investment.

Using these principles, I hope to relate and apply each in an analysis of my consideration of the one-cent sales tax investment, which will come to a vote on Aug. 28.

Applying the proverbial "yardstick" to one's place of residence and its quality of life, many fail to compare what it was like prior to residing in their current community or actually how bad it could have been for those that have never resided anywhere but at their current location. Ramona (my wife) and I fall into the former category as Conway became our home earlier this year. However, a keynote theme at my frequent speaking engagements or discussions with officials, colleagues, and citizens seeking assistance, I consistently impart some deep feelings that both Ramona and I hold dear to our hearts: That Conway is perhaps one of the best-kept secrets in these United States.

Sometimes such personal convictions are only apparent to those that have "taste tested" other worlds.

Ramona was born, raised, and taught school in what most call the Deep South: North Carolina. She never lived in any other state until we relocated to Arkansas. But hear this, she happily and continually boasts to all we meet, to include our families, who live in yes, North Carolina, Florida, New York State, to name a few, that Conway is her Shangri-La.

She is not alone in such feelings. I have traveled the world as a career soldier, worked in South and North Carolina as a police officer and police chief, and I, too, continuously brag about Conway's kind and caring culture, personable citizenry, scenic beauty, and quality of life. The only regret that both Ramona and I have is that my career did not bring us to Conway many, many years ago.

Back to principles, the second of which is goals and objectives; or stated another less business-oriented way ... where is this investment leading us? Because of such deep feelings about Conway and its future, most realize that cherished institutions or entities thrive, perpetuate, and improve only via physical and financial investments from its citizenry. The success of its many systems involves continual maintenance and improvement, and our residents must be kept safe and secure.

Additionally, such maintenance and security will not emanate without qualified and committed human resources: the key element in this success equation. Specifically, the desired result is improving the conditions of our streets and also allowing a greater capacity on existing roadways. Yes, fixing what is broken and increasing the flow of traffic: what an investment.

We must not forget the never-ending story of attracting and retaining public safety and city service employees: police officers, firefighters, and sanitation employees. Without an investment, this will not materialize and personnel turnover will continue to flourish.

This leads me to the third principle: Return on our investment. Already the glowing rewards of the upcoming sales tax vision has cast unprecedented and powerful leverage toward shoring up our Police Department's loss of qualified officers to better paid police agencies. Two officers that "jumped ship" within the past year have recently been rehired. Additionally, three other departed officers are requesting to return. However, due to the positive aspects of the sales tax theme, the Police Department is again at full-strength. These three veteran officers -- whom we did not wish to lose in the first place -- will have to await openings. Unfortunately for them with this upcoming investment it may result in an extended waiting period.

Ramona and I have chosen the option to invest in Conway's future not only from the physical side, i.e., working with civic groups for the betterment of our lovely city, but our monetary investment by supporting the one-cent sales tax. Our "yes" investment in the Aug. 28 sales tax vote assures us that Conway will continue to win bragging contests at family and business gatherings. Additionally, the investment of the sales tax initiative will allow me to continue to use this simple yet thought-provoking adage, "you have seen the rest, come join the best: Conway, Arkansas."

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(EDITOR'S NOTE: Randall Aragon is chief of police for the Conway Police Department.)