Marian College Students Help Speedway

(posted Oct 31)

Professor Robert Schuttler of the Marian College School of Business of Creation and Development is planning a second survey to help the town of Speedway. Schuttler noted that Redevelopment Commissioner Steve Bishop found the first survey to be very helpful last year and requested a second survey.

Schuttler explained last year's survey involved two questions. Why would a person want to make Speedway their home and why would a business want to locate in Speedway. The students did not make proposals recommending future development, but the survey examined the town's current assets and what makes the town a community

He said the A-Team, referring to the students, canvased the area in and around Speedway and even slipped down into Gasoline Alley. For the most part, the students received good responses, but he did note that the survey made some of the respondents uncomfortable "They saw the students as "change agents", not somebody gathering information."

He noted from that experience last year they are revamping their technique as not put respondents into a fear mode that change is coming.

Charlie Patterson, developer of Gasoline Alley, said he was defensive about the survey because he felt like the survey was designed to lure his tenants to Speedway. He was so concerned about the survey that he tried to contact some town officials and the Indiana Motor Sports Association, but the parties he contacted could not offer him answer. He noted that he has lost some racing companies that have chosen not locating on Gasoline Alley because he is not receiving tax breaks. "They are receiving abatements while my taxes keep going up," he said. Patterson owns five buildings on Gasoline Alley.

Schuttler said he is hoping to forge a long term partnership with Speedway because of its proximity to Marian College. He also noted that the Indiana Motor Sports Association is located here, and IMS President Joie Chitwood teaches introduction to motor sports class twice a week.

Bishop said this year the students are orchestrating a survey to help the parks and recreation board gather data to obtain grant money. He said the timing could not be better

Bishop indicated it is important to develop relationships with the young professionals to see what attracts them to a community. Bishop thinks part of the redevelopment effort should include marketing to young professional as well as current residents and businesses.

Speedway Parks and Recreation Board President Tim Ramion said approval from the Department of Local Government Finance of whether or not the board can bond for parks improvements is pending until Nov. 25. The estimated bond amount is $1,995,000. He said the DLGF delayed bond spending approvals for all government entities across the state because the tax crisis.

Ramion said the park board started looking into grants for 2008 and discovered a public survey is required for most grants, which they don't have. He said the students volunteered to design a survey that asked questions about Meadowood Park and Leonard Park and the programs. Ramion said it would be a door to door random sampling survey that he expected to begin in November.