Sat, May 17 2008
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Stillwater citizens will go to the polls Tuesday to elect City Council candidates for seats 3 and 4. Following the League of Women Voters Forum of Feb. 26 there were a few unanswered questions. The candidates agreed to respond to these questions in writing. Following are the responses from Gladeen Allred and Chuck Hopkins for seat 3 and Darrell Dougherty and Hank Moore for seat 4.
The City Council candidates Forum of Feb. 26 will be replayed on Channel 23 on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
1. How can the relationship between OSU and the city be improved?
• Allred: We can improve the relationship between Stillwater and OSU by emphasizing the mutual benefits that each provides the other, focusing on cooperation, not competition. The city provides OSU needed services and support while Stillwater benefits economically from the university whose students and faculty shop at retail stores, dine at restaurants, buy homes and utilize our many business establishments. Representatives from OSU and the City Council need to meet on a regular basis to discuss interrelated goals and develop cooperative ventures.
• Hopkins: Communications is always the best way to improve relationships. Nothing is more important than having meaningful dialog on mutually beneficial or conflicting issues that are being planned between the parties involved. With a new university president and public relations vice president, the climate is conducive to entering into discussions between the city leadership and the university officials. The university and the city need an excellent working relationship and the most important element is to have open communications in regards to their respective plans.
• Moore: The university and city relationship type issues have improved substantially within the last three years. Understanding the financial restraints and consequences is necessary to moving forward in a positive direction. That has been achieved.
Evidence of that is very evident with the reclaiming of Hall of Fame by the city, our shared financial commitments to redo University Avenue, and the passage of the voter approved franchise tax on OG&E electric sales to the university.
Many doubted such achievements could be accomplished. Yet, they were addressed to the mutual agreement of both sides. President Burns Hargis has deep roots in our community. He understands both sides equally and pledges to be open to working through issues. The future for both sides holds much promise for the continued positive changes.
• Dougherty: The relationship between OSU and the city of Stillwater is very important to the success of each as an entity and to the pair as a team. We must offer the best support of time, energy and resources to the university; as we realize the livelihood that OSU brings to our community. OSU brings dollars to our community, offers an educated workforce for future growth, and brings excitement and entertainment to our town. As an OSU alumni and a longtime citizen of Stillwater, ultimately my desire is for the success of our future partnership.
2. As an elected official, what would be your three highest priorities to the citizens of Stillwater?
• Allred: As an elected official, I first prioritize an honest, ethical government in which the needs of all citizens are considered and sound decisions are made to benefit the common good without dominance by any special group or individual. Secondly, I would emphasize citizen input in decision-making, with respect for open-meeting laws. A final priority is to make our community a place of comfort and safety with support for police and firefighters, well-maintained parks for recreation, mass transportation and social services for people of all ages and economic levels.
Hopkins a. The city infrastructure is a priority I place at the top of the list. The priority within the infrastructure is the Kaw water pipeline and a backup water supply in the event of a major failure of the Kaw water pipeline. The city must continue to maintain and improve the existing water and sewage distribution system. The streets and roads must be improved and maintained. We must provide our citizens with fire, ambulance and police services.
b. Recruiting new business and industry and a plan to retain existing businesses.
c. Development of a plan to implement controlled annexation.
• Moore: Single highest priority to the citizens is financial accountability. A dedicated focus to assure that city revenues and expenses are protected from wasteful spending. Too often, city had become adrift with paying services for those who do not pay for their fair share.
Goal of our City Council must be to hold every person, company, organization or state entity accountable to the citizens of Stillwater for their financial activity with the city.
Second and third priority is a mixture. We must strive for the city to continue its growth potential without losing the quality of life appeal. That will require balancing of city finances that is fair to the taxpayers and utility payers of the city.
• Dougherty: I would discriminately use city resources to provide the best safety and security available by listening to my fellow citizens. We need to carefully review the expenditures of our city government to make sure that we are being the best stewards possible when it comes to our community’s resources. We must make sure that we are providing the best services and safety available. Our citizens must feel that they live in a safe and organized city. And finally, we must make sure the voices of ALL of our fellow citizens are heard and combined for the good of the community.
3. What do you consider to be the most important asset of the city of Stillwater?
• Allred: The most important assets of the city of Stillwater are its citizens with their multitude of talents. Whether in scientific research, creative arts, education, or entrepreneurial business, our citizens’ influence is felt nationwide. Additionally, we are blessed with caring teachers who nurture our children, with skilled healthcare professionals and with volunteers who provide meals for the homebound, protection for abused children, build homes for the homeless and offer social services for a variety of needs. Our citizens are our greatest asset.
• Hopkins: Diversity is our city’s greatest asset. Stillwater is blessed to have a very good business and industry base. We have a great university in OSU and one of the best public school systems in the state. We have college and high school sports. We have parks and recreation sports for our youth. Stillwater has diversification in churches in which to worship. The city has available many fine art and cultural activities. Stillwater Medical Center is an outstanding medical facility and we have excellent doctors and well-trained support personnel. Our city is the home of numerous government organizations.
• Moore: The most important asset of the city of Stillwater is the geographic location. Stillwater is ideally placed to be a regional provider in many areas. They include; retail, tourism, medical services, career education and higher education, and a variety of professional services.
Leveraging the regional concept is a visionary necessity for the city’s continued growth and preserving the quality of life aspects. Resources and energy must be focused, leveraged and devoted with creative cooperation that would maximize existing specialized entities into regional strengths.
By blending vision into a higher regional perception provides the best opportunity to add jobs of varying levels, increase visitors spending and improve overall sales tax revenues. All of which the city of Stillwater would benefit from.
• Dougherty: The most valuable asset to the city of Stillwater is, very obviously, our people. I love working with the public in Stillwater on a daily basis. Each day I get to see the friendly spirit and camaraderie that all different types of people can have in a city where safety and community offer a unique social unity. By harnessing the potential from our individual populations: professionals, service workers, academics, volunteers, and various other groups we can capitalize on our best resource.
4. What would be the best solution for funding Stillwater’s many needs?
• Allred There are an abundance of resources to address Stillwater’s many needs to be explored. These include federal grants to stimulate our economy. For example, Housing and Urban Development’s initiative for renewal communities provides tax incentives to encourage businesses of all sizes to open, expand or hire local residents. HUD also administers programs to address the shortage in affordable housing. Increased staffing for our police force could be funded by a public safety increase in our utilities. Establishment of 522 Emergency Medical Service districts has been proposed as an option to cover costs of our ambulance service.
• Hopkins: Several revenue sources are available to the city. General Revenue Bonds would allow the city to receive the most revenue. These bonds are for capital expenditure projects and the citizens must vote approval. Another source is an increased sales tax, also requiring a vote by the citizens.
The city can increase revenue by using Utility Revenue Bonds. Construction grants and loans may be acquired from the Water Resources Board. An additional source would be to increase utility rates.
• Moore: The best solution for funding Stillwater’s many needs has been started with the current council. Regardless of difficulty, thorough ways of generating and spending revenues must be examined and adjusted. Process must be not allowed to be complacent.
Recent financial effort has been done with renewed sense of partnership. Goal is to find ways for our services and their associated costs to be fair and balanced. It is important to adequately address the service needs from those who demand city services with those who pay for services.
This is one of those difficult tasks that require solid and experienced community leadership skills. True leadership requires making tough decisions.
• Dougherty: There is not a single solution for funding the huge needs that growth is bringing to our town. However, there is opportunity to evaluate current spending, incorporate outside funding and use our continued growth to reach beyond our current budget restrictions. Hard work and cooperation seem cliché and simplistic, but we are going to have to work together as a community, be creative and each be willing to sacrifice for the community as a whole.
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