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Saginaw County Commissioner Candidate Forum By Robert E. Martin In Saginaw County there are fifteen seats for the Saginaw County Board of Commissioners that are up for election in the Primary Election on August 6th. In the interest of providing a better-informed electorate, The Review submitted questions to all candidates in five of the districts that face opponents in the August Primary. The remaining 10 districts involve incumbents running only against one challenger in November, and therefore were not included in this survey. What follows are responses received from candidates in the 13th, 14th, and 15th Commissioner Districts. Republican candidates Joe Lier and Larry Thomas in the District 3 contest against Democrat Cheryl Hadsall did not respond to our survey. Similarly, the three Democrats running in the District 6 Commissioner race, Eddie Fox, Terry Sangster, and Calvin Williams also did not respond to our survey. 13th Commissioner District Race This contested spot on the Saginaw County Board of Commissioners pits three Republicans and two Democrats against each other in the August primary. Of the five candidates, only Connie Cameron (REP) did not respond to our survey. Review: Briefly state the key qualifications that distinguish you from your opponents in the context of how they make you a more effective candidate. Ruth Averill (DEM): My key qualifications are experience as an elected local official. I've served as a Tittabawassee Township Trustee for 12 years, on the Zoning Board of Appeals for 12 years, and as a Parks Chairperson for 10 years. I am a graduate of Freeland Community Schools and have been a Tittabawassee Township and Saginaw County resident for 40 years, so I know the area. Plus I am an effective problem solver and a common sense person. I follow through and get the answer for residents. Moreover, I have been involved for 23 years with my career in financial institutions.
Roger Kahn (REP): I attended my first Saginaw County Board meeting over three years ago and have been looking at county government since then. I have been to committee meetings, talked to the controller and former controller and many department heads. I am unaware of any other candidate doing so. I have also discussed issues and solutions with several key city managers such as Mr. Borello and Mr. Bailey, to name two. I built the Heart Group, initiated both Saginaw heart programs, have been president of the Medical Society, and been active in state medical issues. I was looking at what is now the newly initiated Saginaw Health Plan over a year ago. At the county level health issues include access, affordability and quality. I understand these key issues and will help our citizens. I am a team player and endorsed by all the sitting Republican County Commissioners, George Olson, Jim Howell and Jon Cisky among others. Moreover, I have walked my entire district listening to the concerns of the people. I believe I am the only one to be so endorsed and to walk the entire district. Mary Kay Knoerr (REP): My key distinguishing factor is being fiscally responsible. I am current treasurer of Tittabawassee Township and know the local people and their issues. I was raised in Kochville Township and have been resident of Tittabawassee Township for 34 years, spending 8 years as Township Trustee and a former President of the Freeland Chamber of Commerce. I am dedicated to the 13th District. Our businesses, farming, and homes are both here and here to stay! Review: What are your three top priorities in terms of improving Saginaw County? Ruth Averill: My top priority is having key people available to balance the budget. I would take a closer look at where to eliminate waste in departments and not always look first in cutting needed jobs! Secondly, we need to elect leaders who will punish abusers of our natural resources and propose ways to protect Saginaw County and Michigan's beauty whether it be our rivers, lakes, or our green space & parks for future generations. Finally, the safety of all residents of Saginaw County is a priority. The Saginaw County Sheriff's Department always needs to work closely with the local & state law enforcement's to provide the patrols and security our residents deserve. Vince Castellanos: First would be timely implementation of traffic safety improvements for children around schools and parks. Second would be the availability of potable drinking water for all families that need it at affordable hook-up charges and fair monthly rates. Finally would be the resolution of the dioxin concerns in the Tittabawassee flood planes. Roger Kahn: My priorities include health care, balancing the budget and cooperation. For example, we need to work with our state and federal representatives to return our tax dollars to us. We are receiving only 80 cents back on each tax dollar we pay. That is unacceptable. For example, we need to talk to each other to solve local issues like water & land usage. We need to have providers and health care advocates on the board of the Saginaw Health Plan. Mary Kay Knoerr: We need better communication and cooperation between all government bodies. As a county commissioner, the loss of revenue to the county must be addressed. Some cuts are necessary but we need to maintain a reasonable and equitable service to all the people of the county. Saginaw County is a great place to live, go to school and do business. We need to guarantee all these. Review: With recent findings of dioxin levels exceeding the recommended levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency by as many as 80 times along areas of the Tittabawassee floodplane, what do you propose to do in order to insure the health of residents within Saginaw County? Ruth Averill: The Tittabawassee Township Board formed an Ad hoc committee of which I am a member to keep the board abreast of any new information so it can be passed on to the residents quickly. I also have attended the workshops and meetings offered by the U.S. EPA and State of Michigan Community Health Department. As I have stated before we need to strive if possible to have the abusers of our Natural Resources be accountable. And do clean up if necessary. Vince Castellanos: The commissioners need to first step up front and center and become fully informed on this very serious concern. They should be requesting the DEQ to make ongoing township updates a regular DEQ agenda so that citizens can also get their questions answered in a timely manner. Roger Kahn: The Saginaw County Health Dept. under the leadership of Mr. Niederhauser has developed independent and cooperative guidelines that were recently discussed among the county board members at an informational meeting. I have talked extensively with Mr. Niederhauser on this issue. I support postings at our parks and other recreation areas and making fact sheets readily available. I support state and federal involvement. Mary Kay Knoerr: The best method of insuring our citizens' health is to be informed. Tittabawassee Township has formed an ad hoc Dioxin Committee to aid its citizens in this direction. I'm on the committee and was present at the organization. We are awaiting the results of the Phase II study - hopefully the end of July or early August. This information will be shared with our citizens. Review: Each day Saginaw County loses acres of fertile farm land to urban sprawl. Even the much touted 'Vision 2020' land-use plan largely failed to address the cost of on-going sprawl and the considerable costs entailed by building on the fringes of the infrastructure. Do you support this trend or would you favor working closer with the City of Saginaw to develop and create incentives for making better use of our land and marketing new developments for housing and business within the city and existing areas of Saginaw township? Ruth Averill: In Tittabawassee Township this has been addressed by the new Zoning Ordinances that were enacted in January, 2002. The Greenbelt Conservation District should be retained and utilized to help define the open space fabric of the township. The Agricultural District should encourage preserving and enhancement of agricultural land and farming practices together with non-agricultural activities. I have mentioned the new Zoning Ordinances because I have been a Zoning Board of Appeals & Township Trustee for the past 12 years! Vince Castellanos: Urban sprawl is like a runaway freight train that can be disastrous for everyone in the township when it is unplanned. For example, providing drinking water a mile at a time results in extremely high hook-up charges, and the same goes for other infrastructure needs like septic lines. Yes, the commissioners need to work closer with the city council representatives to also help develop better and more affordable housing in Saginaw. Roger Kahn: I favor working closer with the City of Saginaw. A good second step (the first occurred when the out county assumed the Civic Center debt) would be the provision of unrestricted water to the out-county by the city. If the city believes in mutual cooperation then it is their turn to demonstrate it as the out county already has. We are balancing the city budget in part with out county dollars. Now we find the city reluctant to cooperate on water issues. This is unhelpful in developing cooperative land use plans or plans to eliminate abandoned houses. Mary Kay Knoerr: Loss of fertile farmland is a major concern of mine - my husband and son are full time farmers. I would support working with al entities of the county, not just the city, in an effort to reduce the loss of land used for farming. Review: In Saginaw County we have one unit of government for every 5,000 people, more than a couple dozen school districts, and 17 police chiefs and fire departments scattered all over the parameters of the County. With budgetary cutbacks throughout Saginaw County and reductions in staff and service permeating many departments throughout Saginaw County government, are you in favor of cutting the waste of duplicated services by developing a 'Metro Government'? Ruth Averill: Small town feel and make-up is what makes America great! Our police and fire chief's are necessary because they know the residents and the territory best. Actually, the Mid Michigan Waste Authority of Saginaw County is an example of this format of suburban townships working together to cut cost collecting our garbage. In the future a 'Metro Government' might be the way to go, but as of now our residents are not open to the idea. Remember we are elected officials and the residents are the ones we serve. Vince Castellanos: I do not believe that we should jump into a 'Metro Government' structure without firs t testing the development of regional plans were the county and townships and the city can share equipment and maintenance needs. Perhaps parks & recreational departments might be able to go forward with such a regional plan that could save potentially tens of thousands of dollars in both the county, township, and city budgets. I believe the American way is neighbor should help neighbor. Therefore, we should practice this approach with townships and the city helping each other in a more formalized structure. Roger Kahn: I am a fiscal conservative and of course in favor of waste cutting. And there is plenty of waste to cut. I favor cooperation and some consolidation but believe in maintaining township independence. Mary Kay Knoerr: I would certainly favor neighboring townships, villages and cities entering into mutual agreements as is currently done with Fire Departments. The Metro Government concept has merit, but coming from a smaller population district, I'd be very concerned that the larger population areas would get the lions' share of attention. 14th Commissioner District Race This contest pits Democrat Tom Koski against Democrat Francisco Borja, both vying for the seat held by Republican Ray Bartels. Mr. Borja did not respond to our survey.
Review: What are your three top priorities in terms of improving Saginaw County? Tom Koski: In my opinion to improve Saginaw County we must develop our riverfront, stop the crime in our inner city, and work to get more of our tax dollars back from the state and federal government in Saginaw County. Review: Each day Saginaw County loses acres of fertile farm land to urban sprawl. Even the much touted 'Vision 2020' land-use plan largely failed to address the cost of on-going sprawl and the considerable costs entailed by building on the fringes of the infrastructure. Do you support this trend or would you favor working closer with the City of Saginaw to develop and create incentives for making better use of our land and marketing new developments for housing and business within the city and existing areas of Saginaw township? Tom Koski: I am not in favor of giving incentives to developers until after they have shown what they have done with their developments at least 12 months after the completion of the project. Review: In Saginaw County we have one unit of government for every 5,000 people, more than a couple dozen school districts, and 17 police chiefs and fire departments scattered all over the parameters of the County. With budgetary cutbacks throughout Saginaw County and reductions in staff and service permeating many departments throughout Saginaw County government, are you in favor of cutting the waste of duplicated services by developing a 'Metro Government'? Tom Koski: As for a Metro Government, I think more of a study than I am aware of should be done but am not opposed to trying this type of government in the smaller communities in Saginaw County. 15th Commissioner District Race
The race for the 15th Commissioner Seat pits Republican Bernie Payne against Democrats Monica McKay and Tim Novak. Review: Briefly state the key qualifications that distinguish you from your opponents in the context of how they make you a more effective candidate. Monica McKay (DEM): I was born and raised along with my sisters and brothers in Zilwaukee, where my parents still live. I now live in Carrollton where I am raising my three songs, Mitchell, Jacob and Channing. I not only live in my district; I work there as well. My family has lived and contributed to this community for generations. I have a vested interest in this district, as it's my home. I have lived my life here and have chosen to raise my kids here. I feel that my years in the service industry have been great training for public service. I know how to listen and respect other opinions and ideas. I am not afraid of hard work and I will work to make sure the voices of this district are heard because this district is my home and the people in it are my family. Tim Novak (DEM): I believe that I possess the key qualities necessary for the job of County Commissioner. I am willing to work with and for the community to strive for a prosperous future. I am a person of great integrity who will work tirelessly for ways to make our community better and to overcome challenges to continue developing a quality community. We need someone who is a good listener, but can also fight for what he or she believes in. We need someone who will stand up for what are the best interests of all of Saginaw County, and for the 15th District in particular. I will come to the board with the interests of my district at heart. I have the ingredients necessary: compassion, trust, knowledge, and willingness to learn and help others. I have been a member of the Democratic Party and attended the introductory session of Saginaw County Vision 2020 and participated in focus groups there to help mold its direction. I attended Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce Public Service Candidate School and have been a precinct delegate. Review: What are your three top priorities in terms of improving Saginaw County? Monica McKay: I can not pinpoint three top priorities. This district is so diverse, from Zilwaukee and the industrialized residential areas to Saginaw Township's Bay Road expansion to Carrollton's drain field problems, and there are many other concerns, not only in this district but also in the county. My efforts are to see all of Saginaw's counties get a voice, but especially in this district. Tim Novak: My top priority is to find ways to balance the budget while continuing to protect the health and safety of the residents. In dealing with the budget are we are spending our money efficiently and getting the return on investment that we deserve. How do we benchmark with other communities that are similar? Are there alternative ways to generate revenue, possibly through an increase in fees? It is essential that we keep an eye on the long term so that our budget problems are only temporary, while continuing to operate efficiently. My second priority would be constituent representation. I promise to challenge myself to learn about the issues that affect our residents. When someone asks me a question, they will get an honest and intelligent answer. My third priority is to build on the positive things going on in our county. The initial view on the County Events Center is that of a success. The South Washington Project and new medical buildings are positive. The new recreational center in Saginaw Township will be a wonderful addition to the community. Saginaw County is a great place to live, work, eat, shop, and visit. We are a gateway to the north and a hub of regional activity exists here. Review: With recent findings of dioxin levels exceeding the recommended levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency by as many as 80 times along areas of the Tittabawassee floodplane, what do you propose to do in order to insure the health of residents within Saginaw County? Monica McKay: The health of this county is a top priority. A preliminary report to the Board of Commissioners is due soon and then the Board along with the Saginaw County Health Dept. and the State's DEQ have to work together to not only find short and long term solutions, but to find out the cause of the dioxin levels, whether it be from industry or other sources. Then we must work together on how to stop and prevent it from happening. We need to make sure that the health of our citizens never be compromised. Tim Novak: In regards to dioxin levels I think all residents should be concerned. I also believe that we should keep a level head on the issue. I don't know all the specifics, but higher concentrations of a substance such as dioxin should be alarming to people. We need to study this issue, and if necessary, hold people accountable for negligence toward the environment and ultimately toward people. Review: Each day Saginaw County loses acres of fertile farm land to urban sprawl. Even the much touted 'Vision 2020' land-use plan largely failed to address the cost of on-going sprawl and the considerable costs entailed by building on the fringes of the infrastructure. Do you support this trend or would you favor working closer with the City of Saginaw to develop and create incentives for making better use of our land and marketing new developments for housing and business within the city and existing areas of Saginaw township? Monica McKay: I think we have to be careful when trying to increase economic growth. We need to look at all aspects of this growth. Can the area handle the fast pace growth? Are we sacrificing too much? We want economic growth but not at the cost of our communities. We have a tendency to go overboard. There is such a thing as too much too fast. Our residential communities are at risk of being industrialized. We need to look at what cost we are paying for this expansion. Are we losing our quiet, safe residential communities? What about our rich farm land? Do we just let these large corporations wipe out small town America? We need a balance. Why not use these empty warehouses and buildings all over our county for these expansions, or have them build in already used industrial areas? Could we make it easier for companies to use this space so we don't have to lose small town America? Tim Novak: When talking about urban sprawl I support initiatives that favor working closer with the City of Saginaw, Saginaw Township, or other areas that are already developed or previously developed. There are wonderful things going on in Old Town Saginaw. Word of other developments in that area proves that with initiative and creative incentives developers will utilize property previously developed. All parts of the county will benefit if we make an effort to address the problem of ongoing sprawl. The corridors of Bay, State and Tittabawassee, along with areas around Downtown Saginaw, have numerous pieces of previously developed land that can be used. It will take some creativity, innovation, and investing, but it is possible to grow in a way so as to keep our county beautiful and successful. Review: In Saginaw County we have one unit of government for every 5,000 people, more than a couple dozen school districts, and 17 police chiefs and fire departments scattered all over the parameters of the County. With budgetary cutbacks throughout Saginaw County and reductions in staff and service permeating many departments throughout Saginaw County government, are you in favor of cutting the waste of duplicated services by developing a 'Metro Government'? Monica McKay: A Metro Government, meaning that we wipe out all boundaries and make the County one body, probably won't happen. But that doesn't mean we can't all work together. Municipalities do a good job of governing themselves and do work together. Saginaw Township, Carrollton and Zilwaukee for example receive water from Saginaw City. And the Saginaw Transit System supplies transportation, so they do work together. As long as we keep the lines of communication open we can run a fair and efficient county government without losing the individual municipalities. Tim Novak: Saginaw County has duplicated services in some areas. I am in favor of examining where these areas may be and in the name of efficiency, possibly move towards a more 'Metro Style Government.' But I would also be cautious. We do not want to risk the health & safety of some residents at the expense of others. We also do not want to risk losing the autonomy that some of our communities possess. Carrollton Township has its own police force, for instance, so maybe the County patrols could spend more time in areas that do not have their own police force. This type of cooperation would help to save money but still maintain the individuality that communities such as Zilwaukee and Carrollton take pride in. Through cooperation of governments, we can find things that are being duplicated that can be trimmed and utilize our resources more effectively.
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