Terry, Thank You as you have answered my question.

Several sectors experienced job growth in November, including education and health services (3,600), government (3,000) and professional and business services (2,000). Trade, transportation and utilities gained 1,700 jobs, largely due to growth in the retail sector. Sectors losing jobs included construction (-400), natural resources and mining (-200), and other services (-200).
Job vacancies rose 9.2 percent from one year ago, to 64,240 during the second quarter of 2006 (March-June). Over the year increases were most significant in the sales and related, office and administrative support, food preparation and serving and transportation and material moving occupations. The largest increases were in retail trade, manufacturing, educational services and accommodation and food service.
The strongest demand for workers has been in healthcare practitioners and technical, business and financial operations, building, grounds cleaning, and maintenance, and computer and mathematical occupations.
Overall, the state estimate’s there were 5.9 job vacancies for every 10 unemployed people statewide. One year ago, there were about 5.1 job vacancies for every 10 unemployed people in Minnesota.
There are 26,970 job vacancies in Greater Minnesota—or 2.7 job vacancies for every 100 filled jobs—up 6.6 percent from one year ago. In Region 6E, which includes Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker and Renville counties, there were 115 job openings in construction at the end of the second quarter (June), for a vacancy rate of 11 percent.
There were 85 foot prep or serving jobs, or 5.2 percent vacancy. Overall job vacancies in the four counties totaled 1,701, or 3.2 percent of all jobs, at the end of June. For more about the state’s labor market, go to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Web site for more information: www.deed.state.mn.us.
In the local food service field, Hutchinson lost a Wendy’s restaurant recently, but has added Quiznos in the Cornerstone Commons building in downtown, while America’s Pastime Barbecue and Dunn Bros. Coffee are to open there in the coming weeks. There is also talk of a Mexican style, Chipote-like restaurant opening here soon.
Hutchinson companies such as Hutchinson Manufacturing, Warrior Manufacturing (opening in the spring) and American Energy Systems, that manufacture metal products, as well as companies such as Bobcat in Litchfield, have been constantly in need of all types of metal workers, including welders and fabricators, for years. Most are willing to train the right person.
Minnesota has several ways to help job seekers. The following Web site, www.mnworks.org, is a good place to start to look for jobs and help in retraining, as is the Workforce Center at Ridgewater College. Most economists and work force experts believe today’s American workers will have to be willing to retrained for new careers as often as every five years in response to changes in the labor marketplace. Most fields will require additional education or technical retraining.
(Terry Davis is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at [email protected])

Thats a good thing, when I seen what look like bricks. I thought it was trouble.

There are no bricks used downtown. The sidewalks are all poured concrete, including the colored section. The pattern that looks like brick is pressed in the concrete when it is still wet. The slab is four inches thick and the pattern is pressed in a half inch or so.
So, it won’t heave or settle like bricks or pavers. Brick was considered, but it was too expensive. Maintenance from heaving also ruled bricks out.

My worry is, the bricks used on the side of the sidewalks look nice, But how long is that going to last after 3 winters. Something has to give. I used to lay brick for a construction company and they sometimes would give out after a few frosts. We tried different mortars with little success. The city that cleans the sidewalks will have to be careful not to hook any of them bricks with the snowblades. Probably a big broom would work best.
Those old Christmas lights that went across the street on the light poles. I’d like to buy them, I’m positive I can find a place for them.

It will be interesting to see any differences in wear between the color and white concrete. I know the color goes all the way through. The slab is about four inches thick. And,the texture is pressed into the concrete about a half inch.
There was some talk about individual pavers being used, but the cost was too high. I believe pavers also allow water to pass through and can heave after a few years.

I understand that old things sometimes need to be replaced like sidewalk and street lights however I think as far as the sidewalk is concerned This item should be 100% functionality. With the Textured part of it they missed the boat. Making more crevices for Ice and snow and salt to set in was not smart. This will shorten the life of the concrete. Not to say anything about how well it works for people with any type of a High heel.
The opinions and views of Tim Kerkvliet, NOT speaking on behalf of any group or organization.

Since I am a volunteer on Hutchinson’s Downtown Association, I can add some info about the sidewalks, street lights and cost.
The “old” sidewalks and lights were installed downtown in 1965. Made from metal, the light posts rust from the inside out. Forty years was a long life for these posts in Minnesota’s weather. Forty years was also a long life for the sidewalks.
If you remember the Christmas decorations that used to hang across Main Street, you probably also remember them not going back up a few years ago. The old posts were rusted to the point they couldn’t sustain the weight and wind stress from these decorations.
Sidewalks and lights need be done at the same time to run wiring under the sidewalks. There are plastic pipes buried under the concrete between each post with wires running though.
In most areas the curbs and gutters were not torn out to keep costs down. Some people might argue that is being too cheap.
The businesses on Main Street and several side streets paid for 20 percent of the cost of the sidewalks and lights. Downtown business owners were in nearly unanimous — which is rare — and agreed to pay the extra tax for this project.
So, I can tell you firsthand that the sidewalks and street lights were not replaced for appearances. They were replaced because they were old. I’d be happy to respond to any specific questions about this or other downtown projects.

Another thing I looked at is, when I watch the city council on channel 10, is things like the city spending all this money on sidewalks and streets and lights and what have you. Sure they maybe nice, but do I need them? Not really as long as I can get from point A to point B I don’t care even if it’s gravel or whatever. I know for a fact this year they spend so much money on this stuff, and next year they will want to spend that same amount or more. They want to keep that same incentive so they can keep building and upgrading and getting more tax dollars as needed. Too me that’s a waste of money. Put the money towards a school or something worth while. Next year when the same topic comes up, The city will say, wellllll, we spent this amount last year or roads and equipment, so we will need that same amount again or more this year, and the next, and the year after that. With all these tax dollars spent, I’m surprised that Adam’s street is like riding in a lumber wagon with all the pot holes it has.
When I look at or come to a town there’s two critical things I look at, functionality and appearance. Appearance is nice, and maybe nice to look at, But functionality is more important, because that is what brings money in the town. And has jobs to support it’s population. St. Cloud has played it smart and did a little of both. But if you look close at St. cloud it’s more functionality then appearance. Maybe 58% functionality and 42% appearance. (It wouldn’t be a place I would spend a long vacation) You go to the twin cities, I’d say that’s 70% functionality and 30% appearance. So far all I see hutch is worried about is appearance, and appearance alone doesn’t attract companies or people. It only attracts short term visitors. On a scale I’d say hutch is 63% appearance and 37% functionality.
For a town the size of hutch we have hti and 3m, then you have all the other fast food restaurants and small factories. What hutch is missing is at least 1 or 2 more factories. We aren’t talking about little factories either. I’m talking the size of hti or 3m that we currently have. So when people say all these new jobs were created. I don’t believe it much because, it’s either small mom and pop’s stores or a farmers job or other. Years ago, Hutch was more functionality. It had hti and 3m and not so many fast food places and a few little factories. But we also didn’t have as big as population back then. There was jobs to go around and plus other towns traveled here for work. To me the population has out grown the jobs in hutch. There’s not enough to go around. I know a few people today that travel from their town to hutch for work everyday, But they have also worked at the same place for 30+ years. But for newer generations, your not going to get a good job unless you bump someone out of their seat or wait for someone to retire.

Hutchinson’s Tax Problems
I think we have in Hutchinson a group of people that are running our city that are either
A: Not getting input from the working class in town.
B: Or that the city officials are not listening to them.
I would have to bet that is is more of option “A” than option “B”. I feel we have a Mayor that is trying to be responsible with our money but he is getting very little support. If there is money to put in to a tax relief fund it should be put there. We have to take any money we can and put it towards lowering the taxes in this town.
Now I do understand there are some things that we have to have and we need to pay for them with the collected taxes. However we need to be more responsible and we have to realize that there are people in our community that can not afford to continue at the rate we are with the cities spending habits.
I would like someone to correct me if I am wrong but I think if I remember right the voters voted down the Hutchinson Event center. But as we all know it was built anyway with other funds verses funds that were approved of by the voters.
Now it may be that the Hutchinson Event center is a good thing and it may be supporting its self, (I am not up to date on the financial situation of the center), But the bottom line is maybe this money should have ben used to pay other bills to Keep are taxes in line. It was best said in a past issue of the paper by a resident of Hutch (I can’t remember who it was) It took a conscious decision to get to the the high tax situation we are now in and it is going to take a conscious decision to correct the problem. Our city leaders have to make cuts to correct the problem and yes it is going to hurt, But they have to do it, and they have to start NOW.
I would also like to know what the Council was thinking when they allowed the Economic Development committee to have its own Taxing authority? All you did was try to make it look like the Council was not responsible for the tax burden the committee put on the community. Well for one I am letting you know that I still hold the city Council responsible for the taxes they impose on the Hutchinson area.
I feel the biggest reason we don’t have the common working class person trying to make a difference in our city (Example: Running for a seat on the city council) Is because they are too busy trying to Juggle two jobs and a family life besides.
The opinions and views of Tim Kerkvliet, NOT speaking on behalf of any group or organization.

I would like to know what jobs were created? As I have not seen the growth. My husband was laid off last Jan. and of now there is around 600 people on the 292 Electricians book. So I don’t see the growth in that field. And for me one of the restaurants I was working for has closed & the other I lost my hours after I had surgery. Trying to find a job here in hutch with the morning/afternoon hours for me has beed hard to find. As for my husband he had to take a job making much less than he was making. SO I too would like to know in what fields were these jobs created? Then maybe I could look in those fields for a job.