Municipal elections will be held on June 4th with a mayoral race and four City Council seats up for grabs along with the ballot issue regarding Lake Mitchell. Three men are running for mayor: current Mayor Bob Everson and challengers Terry Sabers and Jordan Hanson. In Ward One, incumbent Councilman Dan Sabers is being challenged by Sarah Deakins and Jesse Stroud while in Ward Two, incumbent Councilman Kevin McCardle is being taken on by Shaun Davis. Meanwhile in Ward Three, incumbent Marty Barrington is unopposed with Ward Four featuring a contest between incumbent Councilman Jeff Smith facing off against Don Everson and Montana Walcott.
I understand that the lake is the hot topic in the election, but it really shouldn’t be an issue for the mayoral and City Council races. That’s because there is a $25 million lake restoration plan that is already before the voters. The voters will decide the fate of the lake. That means what the incumbents and other candidates think about the lake issue is a moot point at this stage of the process. Of course, those candidates are welcome to vote on the lake ballot issue and express a view, like any other voter, but at this stage a candidate’s opinion has no bearing on the issue. It’s up to the voting public to make the decision. If the voters pass the lake project, then all of the “what if’s” and “I have the answer” as it concerns the lake are out the window. If the lake project doesn’t pass, then it becomes a different question. If voters reject the plan several factors will come into play, such as: was the plan defeated in a blowout or by a gnat’s eyelash, what were the numbers for voter turnout, were all the incumbents reelected (at the one extreme) or were they all defeated (at the other extreme), how will a defeat of the lake ballot question be interpreted – as do something else or do nothing at all?
I’m tired of hearing about the lake in general. Conversations about what to do should be put on the shelf until after the people make their views known about the lake by voting on the ballot issue. If it passes, that should be the end of it. The People will have spoken. The reelected and newly elected civic leaders should accept the vote of the people regardless if they were personally for or against the lake ballot proposal. That holds true if the People reject this plan too. A “no” vote is probably indicative of a desire by the voting public to do nothing about the lake until forced to do so by the EPA or a court order. That ballot outcome should be respected by those in city government as well.
What I want to know is, what are you for? What else are you concerned about? What is the plan for a town that seems to be losing businesses, retail and restaurant choices and vitality? What is the vision for Main Street and the downtown corridor? What are the solutions for aged buildings, empty store fronts and leveled properties that dot our municipality? What are the candidates’ assessments of the adequacy of our police and fire departments? Do we have enough personnel? For example, should there be satellite fire stations in other areas of town, as in other cities, rather than just the one central location that we currently have?
How about a City sales tax holiday (the State will still have to get its share) during the “shop local” weekends that Mitchell periodically has in order to promote and support local businesses? Is the City doing enough to promote itself, in the correct forums and formats, to tourists and people potentially looking to relocate themselves and their enterprises to a different locale?
Is the mix of fees and taxes for City services (park and rec membership, garbage fees, water rates etc.) the correct one and are taxpayers getting the maximum bang for their buck? Do the candidates have innovative ideas to keep tourists in town longer? What are the candidates’ proposals for concepts that would potentially get tourists to see more of Mitchell, maybe spending some money at other places besides the Corn Palace and keep them in town longer thus generating additional revenue at other retail outlets and restaurants as visitors eat another meal here etc.?
Are the candidates happy with City policies on things like sidewalk installation, nuisance properties and enforcement, plowing procedures and the like. If not, why not and what alternatives are they suggesting? Is the Corn Palace being utilized to its maximum advantage? Are there changes that need to be made to the Festival and other entertainments that grace the Corn Palace throughout the year? Is the Sports Authority doing a good job? Is the level of support for the Sports Authority at the right amount or too high or too low?
These and other issues are of paramount importance to all the citizens of Mitchell. The question of the lake is out of the hands of the candidates running, at least for now, so give it a rest until the voters have spoken. Yes, the lake is a problem, but it shouldn’t be an obsession. For the vast majority of voters, the lake isn’t the only subject of interest, and I would argue it’s not even the most important one for most folks.
Are we committed to updating and expanding the Corn Palace? If so, where is that money going to come from? Is the City interested in working with the Chamber of Commerce to establish a business incubator? What are the candidates’ ideas along those lines? What are candidates’ views on Tax Increment Finance Districts and their use? Is the City doing enough and the “right” things to encourage more housing in Mitchell, which is crucial to business recruitment and growth of the town?
There are more topics I could raise but you get the picture. I want a City government that recognizes there are other challenges, problems and concerns that don’t myopically center around that body of water north of town. I don’t think I’m alone in the desire for candidates that display an interest and competence across a wide range of municipal topics.
Be sure to be registered to vote so you can express your preference on the lake, the Mayor and your City Council person on June 4th and please vote for the candidate you feel has a grasp of the big picture with an agenda for the betterment and prosperity of the entire town.