My thoughts on the Candidate Forum & The Questions I Sent to the Candidates

I’ll be upfront and say I’m not a member of Progress for Columbia. I know specifically of a few people associated with the group and do trade emails back and forth with them. I have asked when their meetings are so I could attend and asked who the members are so I could get an idea of what they are about; both questions netted no answer in return. On the other side of things I have traded emails on occasion with the incumbent aldermen. I’ll discuss issues with just about anyone.

Where were all of the candidates? The incumbents were never formally invited? What!? I know for a fact that this is not true, they were formally invited on March 18^th, a bit late in my opinion, and I let two of them know on March 10^th a day after I was made aware of the forum. So for whatever reason Candace, Brad, and Fred had for not coming to the forum I can say that honestly they didn’t miss much.

If you took the time to watch the videos below that I have posted of the candidate forum you’ll quickly realize that while there wasn’t a wide spread smear campaign against the current aldermen there wasn’t really anything said that hasn’t been mentioned by candidates before.

The candidates who came to the forum believe that controlled commercial growth should accompany the residential growth of Columbia. They believe in having a well qualified city staff and that the utility tax should not be eliminated without a new funding source to take its place. They believe that their professional experience makes them qualified candidates. Some believe their life-long connection with Columbia make them a better candidate.

I’m not sure how much more general a question and answer session could have been. I think that these four candidates will work well with the other four aldermen who are not up for re-election this year. They share the same views and have a distinct belief that the incumbents they are opposing are holding things up in some way.

That sums up what I got out of the forum on Tuesday. I sent out the following questions to the candidates. I’ll post their answers to this website if the candidates reply. Hopefully they can get answers back to me over the weekend and people can have a few days next week to look them over. If the candidates would like to point people to this site to not only reference their reply but also their opponents that is welcomed.

1. What is the extent of your education?

2. How long have you lived in Columbia? If not a lifelong Columbia resident where did you grow up and where did you live right before you moved to Columbia?

3. Do you feel that the length of time you or your family has lived in Columbia makes you a better candidate than someone else? Why is this continually an election talking point? Many residents of Columbia, my family included, do not have deep rooted family trees in Columbia, is their opinion worth less to you when compared to others who have lived here for generations?

4. What is your occupation? How will it affect your serving on the city council?

5. Does your occupation make you a good candidate to serve as chairmen of any present city council committees?

6. How have you gathered your information regarding issues facing the city?

7. How many city council meetings have you attended in the last year? Two years?

8. If you support commercial growth in Columbia what specifically will you do to make that a reality? What types of commercial entities do you feel Columbia needs the most?

9. Does commercial growth belong in the bottoms in light of the current issue facing the certification of the levy? If the levy issue is resolved do the bottoms become a good place for development? Why or why not?

10. Alderman Stumpf has proposed the idea of having an economic development committee in order to field questions, comments, and ideas regarding any economic development opportunities that may present themselves to the city a number of times over the last year. Would you support this idea? Why or why not?

11. What types of incentives if any do you support to attract development to Columbia? Get specific, developers will know what they want.

12. Do you support the annual 4.99% increase in Columbia’s tax levy? Is this an “ethical” practice to the community and its residents?

13. Should the city vehicle sticker tax be re-instated? Why or why not?

14. Should city departments be allowed to carry their budgeted balances over yearly, rather than the end of year balance rolling back to the general fund? Why or why not?

15. Do you support the fire department merging with the rural fire district? How will the merger improve the department for city and rural residents? Does it benefit the city?

16. Will you vote for aldermen to receive a pay increase again in the next election cycle in light of the budget issues we face as a city?

17. Are there any pressing issues facing Columbia in regards to infrastructure you feel should be immediately addressed, other than the road by McDonalds leading past Firestone on the way to the Post Office?

18. Do you feel my questions are biased towards any one line of thinking or candidate in particular?

For Challenging Candidates

1. What compels you to run for city office? Do you have higher ambitions in politics?

2. Have you met with other candidates or community groups to discuss issues and the upcoming election? If so which ones?

3. Were you brought up to speed regarding city issues by any certain people?

4. Are you a “member” of Progress for Columbia? Did PFC or any of its members assist you in your candidacy in any way?

5. Have you ever met with or discussed issues facing the city with your aldermen? Specifically the one you may be running against? If not, why? If yes, did you find that conversation satisfactory?

For Incumbent Candidates

1. Name one thing you specifically “took the reins on” as a city council member.

2. What drives you to continue as a member of the city council?

3. Why do you deserve to be given a second chance at facing the challenges of the city given that the city continues to have budget concerns and that commercial growth seems to have become stagnant over the course of your term as aldermen?

4. Do you find my presence at most council meetings an issue?

5. What action or actions if any as an aldermen do you regret and how would you handle things differently in that situation given hindsight?

March 22, 2011 Candidate Forum - Hosted by Progress for Columbia

Here is the first video from the forum last night. It starts out with an introduction and welcome from Mr. Phelps(sp?) and then dives into opening statements from the four candidates that attended. No incumbent candidates attended last nights forum. No reason for their absence was given. I'll wait and post my thoughts once all of the videos are posted.

I have given some time queues at the start of each video in case you would like to fast-forward to points of interest.


Welcome and Opening Remarks by Candidates



Questions for Candidates - Part 1



Questions for Candidates - Part 2



Closing Remarks from Candidates

Candidate Forum

Well it seems we were missing three of the seven candidates at the forum tonight. I'll post videos starting tomorrow of what took place at the forum. I'll also get my list of questions out to candidates this week and see what kind of responses I get.

Update on Email to the Mayor

Update: I received an email from Kevin yesterday afternoon and had a phone conversation with him today as well. Below are the answers paraphrased by me of what he replied. Kevin if I misstate something you said shoot me an email and I'll get it clarified. (A note of reference, I offer this "editing feature" to any city official if I misstate actions they make or something they say to me, not just the Mayor)

What is the city planning to do with the money usually allocated to the fire department if the merger passes?Will that money simply flow back into the general fund or will the tax levy be reduced by the amount usually allocated to the fire department at the earliest opportunity? If the money is to be reallocated for other uses and not "rebated" back to the citizens what are the plans for these newly "freed up" funds?

The city has discussed plans to reduce the total City tax levy by approximately .0611 which is the amount for the fire protection portion of the tax levy. The New Columbia Fire District tax rate will be roughly.09 as previously stated. The remaining difference of .03 will not be removed or reduced from the city tax levy at this time. There is however no absolute guarantee of these reductions as the council as a whole must agree and vote on these reductions, which has not happened at this time.



Am I correct in thinking that for a minimum amount of time while the newly formed district is being setup and they are waiting on their newly levied taxes the citizens will be taxed both by the city and the district for the same thing? Is the time of the overlap that substantial or will it be timed by the city to not overlap in any way?

He explained that this issue is outlined in the intergovernmental agreement between the Rural Fire District and the City. Both entities will work together to prevent overlap and or gaps.



A major concern regarding large scale developments in the past was fire protection, will the city include the newly created fire district in discussions with and or regarding large scale developments and their affects on the districts ability to continue to offer equal protection to Columbia residents?

The mayor explained that the city has in the past and he will continue to require that the city involve all taxing bodies in any future talks regarding large scale developments.

Information Regarding The Candidate Forum Set For Tuesday March 22nd.

Below is the text from an email sent out from Will Trowbridge. It was also sent out to all of the candidates running for aldermanic positions as well as Chief Roediger. The linked text takes you to the .pdf that Will had attached to the email explaining the format for that evening. I hope many people make their way to the middle school next Tuesday.

Good Afternoon,

Attached is an outline of the plan for the forum next Tuesday night. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. At this time we are assuming that everyone is attending as no one has said that they are not.

Thanks and we look forward to seeing you!

Will
Progress For Columbia

Shot Out a Few Emails Today

Three people were contacted for further info on the upcoming forum being held March 22nd being held at the middle school regarding the election. I was wondering if the public would have the opportunity to ask questions that night and what process the forum would follow. We'll see if I here anything back.

I also sent an email over to our Mayor, Kevin Hutchinson, regarding the fire district merger. It read as follows.

What is the city planning to do with the money usually allocated to the fire department if the merger passes?

Will that money simply flow back into the general fund or will the tax levy be reduced by the amount usually allocated to the fire department at the earliest opportunity? If the money is to be reallocated for other uses and not "rebated" back to the citizens what are the plans for these newly "freed up" funds?

Am I correct in thinking that for a minimum amount of time while the newly formed district is being setup and they are waiting on their newly levied taxes the citizens will be taxed both by the city and the district for the same thing? Is the time of the overlap that substantial or will it be timed by the city to not overlap in any way?

A major concern regarding large scale developments in the past was fire protection, will the city include the newly created fire district in discussions with and or regarding large scale developments and their affects on the districts ability to continue to offer equal protection to Columbia residents?

I would prefer an emailed response rather than a phone call. It makes things easier for me to remember months down the line.

I'll let everyone know what the response is that I get one back from Kevin.

Biggest News Story Of The Year

The World as I Know it will never be the same.

My wife gave birth to our first child over the weekend. Campbell Shea arrived at 11:49 am on Saturday March 12th. Carleigh and Campbell are doing well and I couldn't be prouder.

Intergovernmental Agreement Between The City Of Columbia, Illinois and The Columbia Rural Fire Protection District

I have some main points of interest I gathered from the actual document. What the voters really care about is the financial info regarding the situation. That can be best summed up here in an article by The Suburban Journal. I am reviewing two other documents I received from the city regarding the financial breakdown of the situation. I hope to have all of that completed soon and here for everyone to see for themselves. The Suburban Journal article is troubling for one reason.

However, in the city, Hutchinson said, the City Council is leaning toward eliminating the 6.1 cents of the property tax that goes toward fire protection. But he emphasized he can't speak for the council members. He said the council has not discussed lowering property taxes by 9 cents — the amount of the new tax.

I would have to think the council could pass a resolution stating that if this district is formed that the money currently levied by the city for fire protection will not be levied in the future. And by my saying not levied in the future I mean that amount would be reduced once the district is collecting their own levy and is self-sustaining. If that does not take place then the city residents will see no positive effects of this merger.

On to my main points from the signed Intergovernmental Agreement Between The City Of Columbia, Illinois and The Columbia Rural Fire Protection District. The full document can be read and viewed by clicking this link.

• The newly formed fire district board will be comprised of five members appointed by county commissioners, two of which will be from the “city” to start. At a further date the total number may be increased to seven and may move from being appointed positions to elected.

• City will continue to fund district with funds normally set aside for city to fund the fire department until the district begins to receive money from its tax levy in the second half of 2012.

• District will take control of fire department building as part of a $1/year lease.

• All city owned fire department vehicles and equipment will be sold to the district for $1.

• The 100ft platform truck will be transferred to the district’s legal possession at the conclusion of the district paying the current debt of that vehicle at an approximate rate of $70,800/year. This equipment will be used by the district while they are paying the debt. There will be a separate lease/purchase agreement regarding this equipment at a later date.

• Current employees of the city relating to the fire department will continue their employment with the district unless at a point in the future the district decides that releasing an employee is in the best interest of the district.

• The district will pay the city for dispatching fees ($6,229) under the current system already in place with an increase in that fee of 5% each year.

The plan itself seems relatively sound. Two groups that currently share equipment, personnel, and facilities will join into one entity and levy for their own funding independent of the city. Basically the plan puts fire protection into the hands of those who know what it takes and out of any influence/oversight from the city council and the mayor; to an extent the agreement puts the political burden on the county commissioners.

2011 Aldermanic Election

I received the following email from Gene Bergmann. Seems to me that Progress for Columbia only appears every once in a while. The candidate forum in '09 was a little too short I thought to really get a feel for what people's stances were on given topics. The topics covered seemed a little too general as well. I hope for more detailed questions and more detailed answers this time around. Hopefully all of the candidates will be able to make it so they are all represented.

Mayor Hutchinson,

Progress for Columbia will again be sponsoring a Candidate Forum for the April Aldermanic election. As such,
we would ask that you notify the incumbent Aldermen running for re-election of this event so they can mark their calendars.

The forum will be held on Tuesday, March 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the Columbia Middle School. The format will be the same as the previous one and each candidate will receive specific guidelines prior to the event. I would ask each of the incumbents to provide me with an email address to use for sending the guidelines.

We also hope to have a representative from the Columbia Fire District to present some brief remarks regarding the upcoming referendum and be available for questions after the forum. However, the forum itself will NOT be addressing the Fire District consolidation since it is a separate election.

Thank you for your help in communicating this.

Gene Bergmann
PFC

You may recall I sent out my own questionnaire to the mayoral candidates in '09. I was going to do the same for the election in my ward but if I can gather the email addresses of the following candidates I will send it to everyone. So if you know the following candidates let them know to drop me a quick message at levi.ottwell@gmail.com

– Steven D. Reis
– TJ Mathews
– John W. Piazza
- Fred Stumpf - would prefer to have something other than his city email address

Wisconsin and the Past

I try to keep the blog here as specific to Columbia as possible. The city has been relatively calm in regards to small town politics, aside from some interesting discussion on the relocation of Dollar General and the issuance of a $450,000 general obligation bond. I am sure the blog will be more active over the next two or so months. The municipal election is six weeks away from tomorrow and the yearly budget is due to be completed shortly after.

I would like to link to an article from a union website, not so much as to show how one side may be wrong or right on the issue currently facing the state of Wisconsin, but rather to show how we should not forget how we have all gotten where we are.

The link was provided to me by Mitchell Stille who is on the political staff of Iowa Council 61 which represents the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. I played little league with Mitchell and went to high school with him, we don't always share the same views but discussion is always healthy.

Link to the Article.

The point I take from the article is that each party pulls out all the stops when needed and they both find it unfair when the other does. Are these last ditch efforts needed? Do they help any? Do they cause more issues than they solve?

I think sometimes they are needed as they do help to slow the process for even a brief moment and cause some to pause and say "That person seems rational enough & they were elected after all...maybe we should look closer at what viewpoint caused them to jump out a window or flee the state."



As far as causing issues without resolving anything, I feel that's dependent on how your opponents view your actions. Politics do not often allow for your opponent to look back after you jump out the window and say "you know they may be right about something" After all, they must be weak or willing to "cave in" to the demands of an apparent extremist willing to flee the state to dodge a vote.

Resolution to the problem eventually has to be made, the tactic may bring more attention to your cause but not necessarily the attention or resolution you may be seeking. Since if you could have swayed your opponents opinion in the first place you would not embark on a dash to the border, bathroom, or window.

Challenger: President Reagan's Challenger Disaster Speech - 1/28/86

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,

I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air....

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace.

Where never lark or even eagle flew —

And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

-John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

Dollar General Moving? Looks like it.

Variance Request for the Possible Relocation of the Dollar General in Columbia

Link to the Variance Requests includes maps of the location.

I don't see any large issue with the requests made. I suspect Alderman Agne will have an issue with a building of this type being at one of the entrances to town.

It should be no surprise to anyone that a business wants to move away from downtown and get closer to Route 3. It should be noted they're not moving into a TIF district and they are developing a piece of land that makes sense for their business model.

Finding a new tenant for their old space should be a main concern as the council continues to find ways to develop downtown. We should however be glad they are staying in Columbia and hope that the new location attracts more sales, thus increasing the revenue they provide to the city in sales tax.

I did not make it to the meeting last night, this material was provided to me from the clerks office yesterday via a FOIA request I placed. To bad info like this couldn't just be placed on the city's website in the first place.

Just Like Heaven: On Hallowed Ground

Click here to get the caption.



Click here to get the caption.


Good webiste for inspirational bits from around the world. The irony of this submission is that it's in a series titled "Just Like Heaven"

Message from the City Clerk

The last day that the Clerk's Office can register voters for the City Election of April 5, 2011 is Tuesday, March 8, 2011. Two (2) forms of identification are needed (i.e. driver's license or state issued picture ID with current address, utility bill, bank statement, any items that prove residency at that address).

Its always important to have a good voter turnout, regardless of who your planning to vote for get registered if you haven't already. You shouldn't complain unless you cast a vote.

Income tax increase

Illinois tax hikes have passed.

Something had to give, higher taxes or some serious cuts in spending. Since no one in Illinois politics seems to have the ability to reduce spending of any kind then the tax hikes seemed inevitable. The real issue here is that Quinn was elected based on his claims of a tax hike, but nothing with this magnitude was ever discussed on the election trail for one reason, he would not have been elected.

The slanted view of Progress Illinois states what should be obvious to everyone. Read the whole article here.

"To get this through, the Democratic leadership needs the support of lame-duck lawmakers from both parties who can take a tough vote without considering electoral repercussions." –Progress Illinois

Voters should go ahead and interpret that as everyone who did not get re-elected in November and was unable take a stand and demand something be done for any number of years leading up to this point should act now since they don’t have to face any voter in upcoming elections. (ie. men are weak)

With Republicans gaining seats in both the house and senate this was the last ditch effort Quinn had. I am sure the partisan politics will go one for the rest of the year.

I think the Republicans have two options. Cut Spending and get the state where it needs to be, take some notes from what’s happening in New Jersey and put that lesson to action. Will it make some people mad, sure, but a great number of people in your electorate will take notice and with the extra revenue coming in we can pay down the debt and get out of this very very dark hole.

The second option which is more haphazard and disastrous is to bust the budget & spend like crazy.

"In addition, the measure would attempt to limit spending in each of the next four budget years — $36.8 billion in the 2012 budget year, $37.5 billion in 2013, $38.3 billion in 2014 and $39 billion in 2015. The state’s auditor general would determine if lawmakers and the governor exceed those spending limits. If the limits are exceeded, the higher income tax rates would revert to current levels." – Chicago Tribune

The whole article from The Tribune can be read here.

If the state breaks its budget in 2012 the higher tax rates would revert back to the previous levels and we would be back to the same problem again, only worse. I don’t think it will be a goal of the Republicans to accomplish this feat of budget busting but I also don’t think the state can throttle the budget to 2% increases, they have not proven themselves capable of reducing or regulating spending up to this point, why should that change now.

In addition to all of this what should have been the none issue decision of the whole package, the cigarette tax hike, did not pass. That’s easy for me to say since I don’t smoke but its common knowledge that smoking is bad. If it’s more expensive then maybe less people would and thus many people would have a higher quality of life and more money to spend on things they need.

I think Columbia is due over a half million dollars. Once the state gets their bond we'll get our check. I'll believe that when I see it.

April Election Update

I received an email back from the City Clerks Office this morning. I had sent an email yesterday afternoon asking Ron Colyer if he could let me know who turned in their petitions on Monday for the April Election. Here is the list I was sent back by the Deputy Clerk.

Alderman Ward 1 - Steven D. Reis
Alderman Ward 2 - TJ Matthews
Alderman Ward 3 - Jeffery D. Huch
Alderman Ward 4 - John W. Piazza

I had a hunch that TJ Matthews would be on this list. He has come to a few Monday night city meetings over the last few months.

Jeff Huch was alderman in Ward 3 before he lost to now alderman Oberkfell in '07 by 12 votes in a three way race.

I have included a Ward Map in case your not sure which ward you live in.

Elections in '11

The first date to file petitions is today Monday, December 13, 2010 and continues through Monday, December 20, 2010.

Today we may have our first glance at who will be running in the Spring.