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Utilities, city’s future debated by candidates |
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Friday, October 19 2007 |
By TJ HEMLINGER
Staff writer
Editor’s note: This is part one of two covering Thursday’s candidate forum. A story regarding city council races will appear in Saturday’s edition.
Mayoral candidates Jim Fleck, the Democrat incumbent, and Ron Glassley, the former Republican mayor, faced off in the only debate between the pair before the election Nov. 6.
Each emphasized their strengths and experience without directly attacking the other, except for one occasion when Fleck sharply challenged Glassley’s work on upgrading city utilities.
Glassley led off the debate, speaking of his 20-plus years on the city police department, including serving as chief from 1985-96 before retiring in 1999. He was mayor from 2000-03.
He said taxpayers need to know who is responsible for government accounting. Glassley also said government needs to provide a good environment for local businesses and safety and security for its citizens.
“I see empty buildings while our city does nothing. There has been a 33 percent increase in utility rates without any (new) projects. This does not reflect good management.
“Why do we have three city attorneys? I would get this back under control. We hire outside consultants, while I would form a task force of local citizens to set goals and measurable standards. We have excessive expenses, rising taxes and rising utility costs.
“I would also return to community policing by requiring them to be in the community and getting out of their cars. And I feel we should restore leadership in the city departments.
“We would work on economic development by working with the Chamber of Commerce.”
Fleck outlined his experience as an attorney, a judge of the county’s superior court and a consultant and author, saying as a judge he learned to do consulting. He has worked with schools, libraries and rehabilitation centers.
“I asked, ‘Where do I serve?’”
He said in his term the city faced two federal mandates that would eventually double the city’s wastewater capacity, costing the city $20 million in the biggest project the city has ever undertaken.
Fleck also said the city lost its electrical substation, which had to be replaced at a cost of $1 million. The water pressure north of U.S. 30 was inadequate for fire protection, he pointed out.
“We’ve had the normal problems with infrastructure, and sidewalks had not been replaced. We undertook the most extensive sidewalk renovation in Columbia City history.”
As for downtown development, Fleck said the city hired a consultant who helped the city focus on what it should pay attention to.
“We made a list of priorities, and I’d like to have the opportunity to fulfill those.”
The candidates then answered three questions that had been presented to them in advance of the debate.
The first, from Pat Hatcher of Chamber of Commerce, concerned economic development in Columbia City.
Glassley started by saying new houses were being built in town, adding, “The economy is in pretty good shape. There is some unemployment.
“I would review all utilities to see what could be eliminated. I would work with the Economic Development Corp. and the Chamber of Commerce and examine the tax base. And I would work with the county for bulk purchases of supplies.”
Fleck said the city is growing by 3 percent to 4 percent a year, and unemployment is at 4.1 percent, which is lower than the state average.
“There’s no question we have a soft economy,” Fleck said. “We have way too many empty buildings. The mayor has to work every day on economic development. Working with the Chamber, the EDC, the county — I have done all those things.”
The second question came from Andria Anderson, a representative of Columbia City High School. She asked what could be done to improve the health of city residents.
Fleck began by saying a ban on smoking should be studied within the next four years of the mayor’s term.
He also said United Way formed a task force that looked at losing weight, exercising more and promoting health.
“That needs to be implemented,” he said. “We need another participant, and that’s the school.”
Glassley said the city should provide more opportunities for people who want to exercise and lose weight.
The third question came from Doug Brown, the publisher of The Post & Mail. He asked what characteristics each candidate brought to the job.
Glassley said, “I’ve been a blue-collar worker all my life. I’ve been on both sides of the budget process, as a manager and as a mayor. As mayor we started the rainy day fund, and in the first year we put in $163,000. I saved the city $400,000 on the substation. I negotiated the water and sewer rates for Steel Dynamics Inc. when they came to town. I saw that they would expand.”
Fleck took exception, saying, “It will cost us $1 million more because we didn’t do what needed to be done. Not spending money does not mean saving money. We can pay now or pay later, and this is later.”
Asked about the development of the downtown area, Fleck said the Redevelopment Commission has been working with a consultant to determine what is in the best interests of the city and what the priorities should be. He cited the facade projects as one positive development, and said there has been some cosmetic additions to the downtown, including flowers.
“I talked with (business) owners and got their input. The downtown is the heart and soul of the city.”
Glassley said there is room for improvement and that he would work with the Redevelopment Commission and the EDC.
“We need incubators to start up businesses and to promote more events and activities.”
Anderson asked about creating alternative places for young people to go, and Glassley said there are parks, the swimming pool, the YMCA, schools, churches, 4-H and the skating rink.
“As economic development continues to grow, so will opportunities. The mayor should meet with (youth) groups.”
Fleck answered, “We worked with Chris Jones and it took three years (for a theater to open), though it does sit in a remote area. We need to bring in a restaurant, and we need to get those interested parties together and form a task force.”
Brown asked about the impact of moving the high school outside the city.
Fleck said the economic impact would be in excess of $1 million but that a new school would enhance economic development.
“It would encourage people to move to the city and businesses to invest in themselves. We can recover a lot of those costs if we tear the old school down. I would continue to ask the school board to consider the real costs involved so the short-term loss would be minimal. We need a dialogue between the EDC, city government and the Chamber.”
Glassley said, “Once the (school) board made a final decision, I would work with the school board and the administration to keep the impact to a minimum.”
In his concluding remarks, Glassley said he would be a communicator and available to constituents.
Fleck, in turn, said, “This election is extremely important. Please don’t less than 20 percent (of the voters) determine who leads the city. We must step up and solve the federal mandates.
“We have reduced the cost of serving citizens. We have held the line on taxes. We have had 16 percent growth, but we have reduced the cost to you. We have brought in more than $50 million in economic development, and with the assistance of the county have attained more than $350 million in economic development. We have received more than $650,000 in grants. We have worked very hard to keep the costs of government down.” |
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Last Updated ( Monday, October 22 2007 )
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