Posted on Fri, Jan. 09, 2009

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Skelton wants council to focus on basic needs

BY BRENT D. WISTROM

The Wichita Eagle

Jim Skelton thinks the city should use most of its money and energy on the core aspects of government -- things like streets, sewers, police, animal control and code enforcement.

He said that the 47th Street South bridge over I-135 could spur the city's fourth-largest shopping center and that he will continue to push for the bridge renovations.

"It's not going away," he said. "I'm not going to put that hammer down as long as I'm a councilman."

That's one of many reasons Skelton said he is seeking a second term as council member for District 3, which covers southeast Wichita.

He said he is most proud of his push to get a new fire station near the corner of Denker and Hydraulic. Fire officials have said the station should ease the call volume at the city's second-busiest station.

Skelton also plans to push for an elevated railroad corridor between Wassall and Kellogg, which he and others say would eliminate some of the city's most dangerous railroad crossings.

He said he is also working with County Commissioner Gwen Welshimer to study and then build a senior center and library in the Planeview neighborhood. That area has many low-income residents and several social service agencies that Skelton hopes could operate, at least in part, out of the center.

Skelton, 40, owns and operates Hendrickson Painting Co. with his wife, Sarah, a former Wichita school board member.

He has a bachelor's degree in international business from Wichita State University and spent eight years in the Army managing fuel supply for a battalion.

Before becoming a council member, he was on the district advisory board and several other committees that seek public opinion and advise city officials.

Skelton also said he'd like the city to use arts funding to remove the concrete chunks that line the Arkansas River south of Kellogg and replace them with nicer rocks as the city has done in other areas.

"You've got a major highway running right through there, and you look down and see junk," he said.

Reach Brent D. Wistrom at 316-268-6228 or bwistrom@wichitaeagle.com.

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