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Source: The Hutchinson News, Hutchinson, Kan., | Regional News

Public can voice their opinions online about Dodge City issues
By Tim Vandenack

The Hutchinson News

tvandenack@hutchnews.com

DODGE CITY - When Walter Hermreck wants to get the skinny on what's happening around town or sound off on the controversy of the moment, he doesn't go to the local coffee shop.

Rather, he turns on his computer and surfs to www.dodgeboard.com, a local message board.

"It's a forum where people in the community can exchange ideas," he said. "Really, we call it an experiment in democracy."

Terry Adams, another user of the site, says the issues addressed run the gamut. Sometimes it's the first place to reveal what's going on, he said, particularly when it comes to police activity - some members pay close attention to scanners.

"It's a really good way to keep up with what's going on right now in Dodge City," said Adams, a computer technician.

Dodgeboard.com, a nonprofit, member-run venture that is unique in southwest Kansas, started operating a little over a year ago and now has around 270 registered users, not to mention many more who browse without signing up.

Adams said the message board may not be on track to displace other media - not now anyway - but it offers a means for many to air their opinions, grievances and other thoughts on local happenings. Topics have ranged from a proposed public smoking ban and use of cell phones by on-duty police to lost pets and the timing of traffic lights.

"We talk about political things from the city all the way up to world political stuff," said Hermreck, a U.S. Army recruiter by day.

Still, users remain anonymous, going by made-up handles, and though members say they monitor what ends up on the site - filtering out personal attacks, for instance - some bristle at the possibility of unidentified critics taking potshots. Dan Reichenborn, president of the Dodge City USD 443 school board, is a particularly fierce foe.

"If it's an idea worth listening to and having, it's worth signing your name to it. Otherwise it's idle chatter," he said. He won't pay attention to anonymous messages.

Mayor Jim Sherer said he values constructive criticism above all, however it's expressed. But he'll take an opinion more seriously when it has a name attached to it, and he encourages constituents to call him directly.

Nonetheless, signing your name to an opinion can cause problems at work, Adams said. Moreover, he said, some are shy about sounding off in public.

Immigration in the heavily Hispanic city is a recurring issue, but more mundane topics pop up - like the departure and arrival of fast-food restaurants. Whatever the topic, though, Adams says members keep their exchanges clean, at least pretty clean, and many times they're able to clear up misunderstandings or clarify the points at issue just by hashing it out among themselves.

"We've got on there and had some good debates," he said. "But everybody stays civil."