By CRAIG BUSWELL | Kendall
On Nov. 15, Schroeder Lumber in Kendall is scheduled to close its doors. Another failed business in a town of failed businesses. Business failure is a multifaceted list of causes. I will address one of the causes: lack of support from the community. Businesses need volume to keep inventory up and prices down. Community loyalty is critical to make these two things happen.
This is what we stand to lose: a place to fix your broken windows; a place to sharpen your chainsaw; small-engine repair; siding, shingles, paint and lumber; and a weigh scale. With their closure comes Kendall’s loss of choice in the aforementioned services. Now it will be a trip to Tomah or La Crosse no matter the inconvenience.
Local jobs are necessary to support small-town emergency services providers. With the closing of the lumberyard, the Kendall Fire Chief will most likely have to seek employment away from town. This will have a crippling effect on emergency personnel. The nationwide struggle to support emergency providers with employment has now come to Kendall. Once providers leave the community, the village will suffer and struggle to fulfill vacant roles. We will have too few people to do too big of a job.
Lastly, empty buildings eventually become empty lots. Empty lots with no prospect of sale become worthless. Empty lots end up as county property. The county pays no property tax. Not only Kendall’s, but also the Royall School District’s tax base will shrink.
I urge voters and community members to support Kendall and stem the loss of local business.