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City of Kechi (KS)

www.kechiks.com

The quaint City of Kechi, known as the "Antiques Capital of Kansas," is concerned about its future and is doing something noteworthy about it. Instead of limiting conversation to casual encounters at the Creek House Kitchen or formal discussion at its City Council meetings, this city of just over 1000 citizens has opened up its website to civic discourse. And, believe it or not, people are actually using it to talk about important issues in a frank and civil manner, or at least to listen in.

Kechi's very unassuming home page immediately attracts one's attention because its most intense use of color is a bright blue banner on the left side that invites the visitor to "Take the Latest Poll." The current poll asks residents for advice on priorities for the new city hall that will break ground in mid-July.

Forum registration is required for survey participation. That's one way people are drawn into the forums. Another is a box on the right side of the home page that lists topics recently discussed on the forum with links directly to forum comments.

Only 27 residents have signed up to participate in the forums, which were initiated about a year ago. However, some topics or comments have had close to 300 views, many from interested or curious citizens, one assumes. Topics have included:

• Economic development
• The antiques swap meet
• Snow removal
• Salaries of the City Council and Mayor
• The local playhouse's season
• Fireworks
• The city's billboard

The current forum topic is "Is Kechi Dying?" No words minced here! Although only 5 people have commented, there have been 235 views of the topic as we post this item to SLGN Notes. One has to conclude that the forums must in some way influence offline discussion in Kechi. Most of the topics are begun by someone in the city administration, although others have started topics as well.

Involvement was also the purpose of a recent scavenger hunt, announced on the city's website. The task was to provide the actual locations for 15 different signs with the city's name printed on them, all posted on the website. A 14-year-old boy won the $50 cash prize.

Likewise, Kechi's website design seems to encourage civic involvement. Visitors' attention is drawn to the three main sections of the site:

• Important city business, including forthcoming City Council meetings, are right on the front page
• Detailed city history is on another main navigational link
• The third section links to Chamber of Commerce, which is hosted by city, instead of the other way around

The city is using the site, including the forums, somewhat as a newsletter. Headers and links lead to minutes and agendas of key planning bodies and all the contact information residents need.

Located just 3 miles northeast of Wichita off of State Highway 254, Kechi is not an average city by educational standards. According to the 2000 Census information provided on the site, 66 percent of the population holds a bachelor's degree and 25 percent an advanced degree. These facts may bode well for more active online forum participation in the future.

In addition to 15 antique and art shops, Kechi now supports some 35 other businesses. It has every reason to be thriving, but, following the forum conversations one learns that the antiques business may be on the decline and an economic development committee has been established. Neighboring towns have been growing faster than Kechi. With its slogan of "A Place To Call Home," Kechi, like many other small cities, is struggling to maintain its small town character and independence while needing to attract business to build its tax base.

The city may currently be in a quandary on how to jumpstart economic development efforts, but it certainly is on target with the use of its website to engage citizens in issues and foster a sense of belonging.