Nevada City Council candidates

Herald-Tribune

Four candidates are seeking election to two seats on the Nevada City Council. Incumbent Jim Rayburn and challenger Mike Hutchens are seeking election to a three-year term; Joe Kraft and Tim Wells are vying for the remaining year on the unexpired term left vacant when Dick Meyers resigned in December.

The Herald-Tribune asked each a set of questions. Here are their responses:

Jim Rayburn

What should Nevada do to encourage economic development in the future and what types of development should the city try and encourage?

There are several things we have to think about when we talk about Nevada's economy. First, we have to make sure the industry and business that is here already is healthy and growing. Whatever we can do to help them grow should be our first priority. After that we should try to bring in industries and businesses that create jobs and expand the community‚s tax base. I think several businesses that create a few jobs each is better than one large business that brings a lot of jobs. If the economy goes bad and a large business has to close it‚s real hard on the entire town. In a bad economy some of the smaller businesses will survive and the town won't be hurt as badly. In either case we can't have industrial growth until the sewer plant is rebuilt and expanded. We have hired engineers who are designing the new plant. It should be completed next year. This will help our economy a lot.

Nevada's population has been stagnant for many years. Do you think the population needs to grow and how large do you think it should become? What can the city do to help reach that goal?

I think our population will grow if our economy grows. We don't need more people if there's no place for them to work. I want to keep working as hard as I can to grow our economy. If we're successful the population will grow. I don't think it makes sense to set a population "goal" if it isn't a prosperous population.

The city is awaiting a decision from the Vernon County Prosecuting Attorney about a potential Missouri Sunshine Law lawsuit. Briefly, what does this law require governments to do and do you think these requirements benefit the public?

I fully understand the Sunshine Law and strongly support the public's right to know what their governments are doing. I can't comment on the lawsuit, but I can assure the voters that I will never knowingly violate the Sunshine Law. Not only the council, but also all of our boards and commissions are very aware of our responsibilities of being open to the public.

When the city established its 1 percent general revenue sales tax in 1977 the city council decided that the park department should get 25 percent of that money for the first five years. After that period the city continued to appropriate money from the tax to the park department and in a budget memo to the city council in 2000 then city manager Craig Hubler said that the park department should receive about 21.85 percent of the sales tax revenue and it was approved in the 2001 budget by the council. The city government removed that $300,000 in tax money from the park department budget in the 2007 city budget saying that they council, saying that they could find no authorization for the money to be allocated to the park department. Should some or all of that money be returned to the park department budget and if not what do you think should be cut from the park department programs to make up for the loss of revenue?

I've served on the council for three years and two of those years we included a part of the general fund sales tax in the park budget. This year we didn't and that was a very tough decision. In 2006 we made an even tougher decision when we had to cut almost 20 jobs and put some very good, hard working people out of work. If you're going to be on the council you're going to have to make some hard decisions, but if you have a heart, you won't sleep for a long time if you have to cut someone's job. If we continue to give general fund money to the parks we're going to have to cut more jobs and this time it's going to get in to the Police and Fire departments. I don't want to have to balance the people's safety against parks and I believe we can tighten our belt in the park fund and make it work. The park board is already working on ways to do this and I will weigh and consider every recommendation they make that will help our parks without hurting the Police and Fire departments.

What other issues or areas of concern would you like to address?

I've served on the council for three years and I think I've learned to be a good council member and to hear the voices of the public. Any new council member is going to have a learning curve just as I did. I learn something new every day, but maybe I'm three years better off than the other gentleman on the ballot is. We have a lot of projects in the mill right now and I'd like to be on the council to see them finished. I mentioned a new sewer plant; we're also going to be opening bids for a new terminal building and runway reconstruction at the airport and a new building at Davis Park. I‚ve served the last year as mayor and I've been able to work closely with the city staff. We've made a lot of improvements and the financial questions of the past are taken care of. I'd like to think Nevada is a better community because of the time I've served on the council and I'd like to serve for another three years.

Mike Hutchens

1. What should Nevada do to encourage economic development in the future and what types of development should the city try and encourage?

There are already some good things at work such as the Enhanced Enterprise Zone offering tax incentives and abatements to new businesses; however, we still need an active recruitment of business.

I personally would like to see an assessment or reassessment completed on the strengths and weaknesses of Nevada as well as the surrounding area. What do we, as a community, have to offer to attract new industry or additional small businesses? What do we need to improve or develop that could help support our strengths?

Also, we need to develop a plan based upon the findings of this assessment with realistic goals and objectives that will bring more jobs into the area. We need to be honest with what we have to offer as a community and work together to build and strengthen that image as we grow.

In addition to the city council, we have to have the involvement of other individuals within the community. We need a group of community leaders past, present, and future who will come together with a common goal of making Nevada a healthy, thriving community. We need their experience and expertise to continue what was started. We need to strengthen the partnership between the city and county leadership to build and move forward together. One area will not effectively grow without the other.

As far as what type of economic development should be encouraged, that depends on what is assessed that the city and the local area have to offer.

Nevada's population has been stagnant for many years. Do you think the population needs to grow and how large do you think it should become? What can the city do to help reach that goal?

Yes, I would like to see the population of Nevada and the surrounding area grow but in a healthy way. While I do not have any particular size in mind, I do think there are other factors that have to be considered before any population growth would be beneficial. I don't think our focus should be on increasing the population but on the health of the community and the surrounding area. That means focusing on the needs of the present population first while setting objectives and goals to bring in more business to create more jobs. This will bring a natural increase to the population and also require a need for more housing in the area. If we improve the quality of life in our community, there will be a corresponding increase in the population. What we need is a healthy community that attracts not only new business but new people.

3. The city is awaiting a decision from the Vernon County Prosecuting Attorney about a potential Missouri Sunshine Law lawsuit. Briefly, what does this law require governments to do and do you think these requirements benefit the public?

The Missouri Sunshine Law is basically about "openness in government". Section 610.011 of the sunshine law says, "It is the public policy of this state that meetings, records, votes, actions, and deliberations of public governmental bodies be open to the public unless other wise provided by law".

Although there are exceptions, the sunshine law also says, "- - - these exceptions are to be strictly interpreted to promote the public policy of openness". If government is to be of the people, by the people, and for the people; then it must be open to the people. Open government creates public trust.

Yes, this law does benefit the citizens of Nevada as well as the government that serves them. This is why the citizens have to make sure that the requirements of the sunshine law are followed.

When the city established its‚ 1 percent general revenue sales tax in 1977 the city council decided that the parks department should get 25 percent of that money for the first five years. After that period the city continued to appropriate money from the tax to the parks department and in a budget memo to the city council in 2000 then city manager Craig Hubler said that the parks department should receive about 21.85 percent of the sales tax revenue and it was approved in the 2001 budget by the council. The city government removed that $300,000 in tax money from the park department budget in the 2007 city budget saying that they council, saying that they could find no authorization for the money to be allocated to the park department. Should some or all of that money be returned to the park department budget and if not what do you think should be cut from the park department programs to make up for the loss of revenue?

I believe some of the money should be restored to the park department budget in 2008. How much depends upon the overall financial situation of the city at the end of this year as well as the specific needs of the park department. If it difficult to expect the parks department to operate efficiently without any portion of this money after having received it for so many years. The parks are a very vital part of community life and deserve more than a low budget priority.

If it is necessary to consider cuts from the park department programs, those recommendations should be made by the parks board and sent to the city council for further consideration.

What other issues or areas of concern would you like to address?

Any government entity has several issues and concerns to deal with. Our city is faced with economic development, budgetary financial concerns, financing capital improvement projects, etc. I am as much concerned; however, with an issue that I believe can be more harmful than a shortage of finances. There seems to be a real disconnect between the government and the people. There also appears to be a divisiveness at work, which is fueled by the self-interest of a few individuals. Division within any organization, government, or community never produces anything worthwhile or lasting.

If the city of Nevada is going to prosper and thrive, then self-interest will have to be set aside so the city council and the citizens can work together for the future. There has to be a common vision that works toward what is best for the city. A thriving community requires unity to face the future.

Joe Kraft

What should Nevada do to encourage economic development in the future and what types of development should the city try and encourage?

Nevada has serious image problems in and out of the state of Missouri. This not just my opinion. It is the opinion of others who I have talked to, including business executives and a former resident associated with a national news agency. The things that have happened in this town in the last six years have not been kept a secret from others. We must work hard to overcome these adverse opinions and it can be done.

People are looking for locations for new and old businesses. My experience over the years has given me the ability to answer their questions and to ask the right questions. We can get the development we want and can handle, but it has to be done in a professional manner, which they will respect.

There are sources that we can contact to find start-up businesses and those which want to locate here. I can make one phone call and start the ball rolling. Over the years, as an entrepreneur, I have made contact with business men, bankers and investors who can give me possible leads which I would share with the city and pursue to the best of my ability.

Nevada's population has been stagnant for many years. Do you think the population needs to grow and how large do you think it should become? What can the city do to help reach that goal?

My answer to your second question is also my answer to the first question.

Of course, all but a few of the citizens want to see the population grow. All the market studies in the world will not get national retail chains interested in Nevada until we have more growth and raise our average income. People get mad at me when I tell that, but marketing studies by national retailers will bear me out.

If you are in business in Nevada your income and growth depends upon Nevada's growth. Several people in the past actually lost money in their own businesses in order to take their time to help Nevada grow, but in the long run their efforts paid off handsomely. This spirit of unselfishness has to be revived.

Our residential area must always look its best. You never know when a business or industrial prospect might drive around Nevada just to see how much pride people have in their town.

There have probably been times when "locator scouts" have driven around town and no one ever knows about it. Large companies hire people to do this type of work for them and report back.

One of the most unattractive features of our town has been brought to my attention by travelers. Approaching the Camp Clark interchange and looking west on Austin St., the brightest lights you see are a truck stop. West Austin is so poorly lit that it is not much of an exaggeration to say that you need some one ahead of you with a flashlight to show you where to turn off. How about beginning a dialogue immediately with MODOT and the buyers of Aquila about the problem? Let's light up Austin St. from the interchange to Cottey with the same type of enhanced and energy saving lighting that Cottey uses. This will take phone calls and meetings, but by the time everyone agrees we will probably have the money to do it.

The parks department has an item in its budget: From General Fund-Main Street Mowing $10,000. If this is to remove grass from the sidewalks around the square and North Osage the parks department should be sure it is done; especially on North Osage. City parking lots need attention, too. Communicate with the property owners and tell then what the city will do and what the commercial property owners are expected to do. Most businesses will probably cooperate as long as they know what the city is responsible for and what they are responsible for. It only takes polite communication, which has been woefully lacking for the past several years.

The city is awaiting a decision from the Vernon County Prosecuting Attorney about a potential Missouri Sunshine Law lawsuit. Briefly, what does this law require governments to do and do you think these requirements benefit the public?

All candidates, when filing for city council, receive a copy of the 80 page Missouri Sunshine Law. It is very easy to understand and no one will have trouble interpreting the law. Copies are available at City Hall for anyone who wants to read the law and become well informed as to its requirements. There is no reason for me as a candidate to take the time and space to explain it. Of course it benefits the public.

When the city established its 1 percent general revenue sales tax in 1977 the city council decided that the parks department should get 25 percent of that money for the first five years. After that period the city continued to appropriate money from the tax to the parks department and in a budget memo to the city council in 2000 then city manager Craig Hubler said that the parks department should receive about 21.85 percent of the sales tax revenue and it was approved in the 2001 budget by the council. The city government removed that $300,000 in tax money from the parks department budget in the 2007 city budget saying that they could find no authorization for the money to be allocated to the park department. Should some or all of that money be returned to the park department budget and if not what do you think should be cut from the parks department programs to make up for the loss of revenue?

In 1977 the citizens passed a 1 percent sales tax. The revenue was for the GENERAL USE of the city. The ballot did not mention the parks department. The city did allocate 25 percent of this tax money to the park department for five years beginning in 1978.

In 2000 Craig Hubler allocated 21.85 percent of the 1 percent sales tax as additional revenue for the park department. Due to the city teetering on the brink of bankruptcy the 2007 budget deleted the 21.85 percent allocation of the 1 percent sales tax from the parks revenue. All of the 1 percent general use sales tax stayed in the general fund and was used to fund the Fire Department. From 2001 through 2006 the parks department budget exceeded the Fire Department budget by $765,999. This does not include the parks department 0.5 percent capital improvement sales tax.

In the years 2004 through 2006 the park department budget added a facilities management expense which totaled $392,842. About 90 percent of the expense was for salaries. Why did they add a $392,842 expenditure that had nothing to do with parks? This money should have been used to improve the parks. Last week my wife and I inspected every park in town and all but two are in deplorable condition.

The state of Missouri Cash Receipts Audit discovered misappropriated funds in the amount of $39,971 (including $270 of Coca-Cola commissions that could not be accounted for). Of the $39,971 that was misappropriated, $37,622, or 94.13 percent, was park department revenue. The park department must have had so much money that they didn't even know they had a hole in the dike.

There was a $61,420 balance in the Friends of the Park Trust Fund as of Jan. 1, 2000. The city treasurer cannot find the accounting records between November 16, 1993, when the trust fund was started, and Dec. 31, 1999, which should show the transactions that resulted in the balance of $61,420. Evidently the trust records were destroyed. Why? As of this date Coca-Cola has not provided the records that would help reconstruct what happened. Would you say that the parks department was a good steward of your tax dollars?

My answer to the returning of the money to the park department is no. Not unless you want to do away with the Fire Department. As I have said before, it is a matter of priorities.

As far as what should be cut from the park department, city manager and park director Robin McHugh and the parks board are in the process of making those decisions and that is the proper procedure. This is not a decision for a council candidate to make.

When the time comes for the 2008 budget the Charter requires the treasurer and the city manager to produce a balanced budget and the city council to approve it or change it. Either way it has to balance. I can't answer the question: "Should the $300,000 be returned to the parks department?" I don't know what the financial condition of the city will be. But I do know that if you give back the $300,000 to the parks department some other department(s) has to give up $300,000 and if it is a choice between the security of the citizens or the parks, I will vote for security every time.

I know that the members of the parks board are aware of the problems in the parks department. I appreciate their efforts to solve their financial dilemma and at the same time improve the parks which they realize are in very bad disrepair. I don't think this was a fair question to ask the candidates at this time, because it puts them in the position of wanting to give a positive answer to a question which there is, to tell the truth, only a negative one.

(Note: all figures in these answers are taken from city records or State of Missouri audit records.)

Tim Wells

What should Nevada do to encourage economic development in the future and what types of development should the city try and encourage?

When I talk to young people about the type of employment they are looking for, I hear things like, I want to be a nurse, a paralegal, I want to work in construction, I want to get a job welding, or work in landscape. These answers don't reflect the nature of economic development as most of us see it. Not many people talk about "When I grow up, I want to work in a factory." Yet, manufacturing is one of the largest employment opportunities in our community. We do have a large health care industry. We offer employment in education. Economic development has to cover many areas. I believe that we as a community must look toward the future of employment in areas of high-tech. We need to cultivate a climate where Biotechnology and research find our community attractive. We have to improve our relationship with the state level department of economic development. These things can be accomplished only if we begin to work together as a city and our council is unified. The days of fighting and grandstanding have to come to an end, and we must work as a team. The future is bright, we can grab on to it with gusto if we put differences behind us, and move on toward that future.

Nevada's population has been stagnant for many years. Do you think the population needs to grow and how large do you think it should become? What can the city do to help reach that goal?

The key to population growth lies in quality. As we move toward the future, we must increase the quality of education, job's, entrepreneurial opportunities, environment, homes, and services. When any of these areas are neglected, population growth suffers. Nevada lies geographically in the optimum location for an explosive growth. We are halfway between two major cities, and offer the perfect place for business, industry, vocational education, and higher education. As quality moves forward into the future, so will our population. We will have to be prepared to meet the growth.

The city is awaiting a decision from the Vernon County Prosecuting Attorney about a potential Missouri Sunshine Law lawsuit. Briefly, what does this law require governments to do and do you think these requirements benefit the public?

The Missouri Sunshine law was written to make sure that the people who are governed know what is being done in their name. According to section 610.011 of the sunshine law, "It is the public policy of this state that meetings, records, votes, actions, and deliberations of public governmental bodies be open to the public unless otherwise provided by law. Sections 610.010 to 610.200 shall be liberally construed and their exceptions strictly construed to promote this public policy." The law prefers open meetings. Closed meetings have to meet very strict exceptions as stated in section 610.021 of the law. These include legal actions that might contain privileged communications between client and counsel, leasing, purchase or sale of real property where public knowledge would adversely effect the transaction. Hiring, firing, discipline, or promoting of particular employees state militia etc. I could go on but there is too much to deal with here. Suffice to say, the Sunshine Law allows closed meetings, but doesn't demand them. They are only to be used to protect confidential issues that might cause harm. The law favors open meetings. The public is definitely benefited by openness. Decisions made in "smoke filled rooms" should be a thing of the past, and open government for the citizens should be the rule. When citizens are allowed to know and to give input to decisions, the community benefits because the decisions are made with better information.

When the city established its‚ 1 percent general revenue sales tax in 1977 the city council decided that the parks department should get 25 percent of that money for the first five years. After that period the city continued to appropriate money from the tax to the parks department and in a budget memo to the city council in 2000 then city manager Craig Hubler said that the parks department should receive about 21.85 percent of the sales tax revenue and it was approved in the 2001 budget by the council. The city government removed that $300,000 in tax money from the park department budget in the 2007 city budget saying that they could find no authorization for the money to be allocated to the park department. Should some or all of that money be returned to the park department budget and if not what do you think should be cut from the park department programs to make up for the loss of revenue?

I believe that moniess can be allocated from the general revenue sales tax for parks if that's what the citizens want. Authorization for the allocation of the 25 percent is within the scope of decisions that can be made by the City Manager in conjunction with the City Council.

Cities have a responsibility to the people who live in them to provide quality of life. Our parks are a wonderful part of that quality. The original tax allocation was for park maintenance and improvement. I believe that funds should continue to be made available for parks and recreation for our citizens. The city finances will continue to improve, and we will move forward into the future. We will continue to maintain, improve, and develop parks within our city. The citizens of Nevada are proud of their heritage of quality. The city fathers who provided parks in the beginning of our development were visionaries, and we cannot allow that vision of quality for our city to be taken away.

It is ultimately the desires of the Citizens of Nevada that count.

What other issues or areas of concern would you like to address?

I continue to affirm that Nevada must move in a positive direction toward the future. However, we must not forget the past. There are many individuals who have contributed their time, intelligence, energies, and love of community to our city. We must recognize these people for their contributions. As we continue to expand, names for streets, and parks should be used to show our appreciation as a memorial to these individuals. My opponent in this race, Joe Kraft is one of these individuals.

We must regain our focus on the future. We must encourage industry of the future to locate in our city. We must be fiscally responsible. We must learn from the past as we move toward quality in our lives. This includes law enforcement and public safety as well as emergency services. We must not settle for just getting by. To be the best, we must demand the best.

I offer a fresh approach and new spirit to our community. Working together as a team, the city council and city management can make our chosen place of abode the best in the state. We have the ability to be open, honest, progressive and caring in our government and in the direction our city is heading. I encourage you to "Kick up your heels" and make a change in the direction of our city, vote on April 3