Polson city commissioner candidates discuss issues
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POLSON — Polson has a fully packed election for city commissioners.
In Ward 1 for a four-year term, incumbent John Campbell faces Joslyn Shackelford. A two-year term for Ward 1 drew candidates incumbent Todd Erickson and write-in candidate Rory Horning.
Running for a four-year seat in Ward 2 are Murat Kalinyaprak and Stephen Turner. Dan Morrison and Cheryl Wolfe square off for a four-year term in Ward 3.
When asked how they would deal with growth if they were a city commissioner, the candidates responded;
“I guess I would go to the existing growth policy we have right now. I believe we need it,” John Campbell said. “We need it to be controlled with all the proper services such as water and sewer."
Campbell added that annexation doesn’t always pay for itself. The property taxes from an annexed area don’t always pay for the services provided.
With growth would come jobs, Campbell noted. Many Polson concrete workers, framers, carpenters and electricians are going to North Dakota to get a job.
“I guess it depends on the kind of growth. I would like to see more economic activity on the lines of production,” Todd Erickson said.
He’d like Polson to have jobs that would attract families to Polson so they could earn an income and stay here plus filling any vacancy on Main Street;
”I’d like for Polson to be more of a destination, not only for tourists but for companies,” Erickson explained.
Write-in candidate Rory Horning said as long as the growth was quality growth, “we would assist it in any way possible.”
“Growth in this valley means a wider tax base,” Horning added.
An unfortunate trend for naturally beautiful areas like Polson is that as wealthier and older people move in, property prices and the cost of living go up, forcing younger descendents of long-time residents to sell out and move to bigger cities just to find work and survive in lesser quality of life, according to Murat Kalinyaprak.
It’s difficult to create jobs in areas like Polson without outside investments and with profits going back to where the investments came from. Nor there are guaranties that jobs created here would not be snatched away from the locals by outsiders who would be drawn to the area by those jobs.
“Local governments can’t alter these dynamics but as a commissioner I would at least make an effort to favor and protect the locals by measures like property tax freezes and local employment incentives,” Kalinyaprak said.
Morrison said Polson needs growth, and he understands this because he is a business person. Growth should be managed, however.
Shackelford believes Polson should in an equal and protective manner for the current community with proper planning and strategy from all parties.
“Well, I think that growth needs to support itself in a sustainable way so as not to put excessive burden on the existing taxpayers,” Cheryl Wolfe said.
Candiates were asked if they believe time limits should be enforced when citizens speak at city commission meetings.
“You know, we had this conversation when we started (with this set of commissioners),” Campbell said, and added that there still is an enforceable ordinance on the books. “We chose not to enforce it. …No, I don’t want to limit them.”
“Yes, I do because I think a time limit if it's expressed and applied fairly,” Erickson said, “We need more public participation.”
With a time limit people could cruciblize their comments and more people would feel comfortable approaching the commission, Erickson added.
“No, we don’t need that (time limits),” Horning said. “We (Polson) are not that big a city.”
Kalinyaprak agreed saying Polson is a small town with short commission meetings. Rarely are there issues attracting more than a few commentators and when that happens, the commission can set time limits as needed. Otherwise, the commission should be able listen to informed citizens, for as long as they can usefully contribute to the subject.
“The current council who was seated in 2010, wisely decided and openly expressed that they would not enforce the infamous “three-minute-rule”, but they did not repeal it either…,” Kalinyaprak noted.
Time limits should be enforced so certain people do not monopolize the public comment time, Morrison said. If the time limits are done in a fair manner, everyone will get a chance to speak and no one will be afraid to come to meetings.
“I do believe time limits should be enforced," Shackelford said, “so everyone can have an opportunity to speak upon the agenda or an item of public interest.”
“I think time limits might be necessary,” Wolfe noted, “But I don’t see them being imposed in a fair manner and so if time limits are going to be imposed, it needs to be done fairly.”
Infrastructure, parks, people — the candidates commented on what needs the most work in Polson.
“I think anybody would agree — roads — after this last winter,” Campbell answered. “We had three hard frosts that just beat up roads that had never been a problem before.”
He’s really in favor of SIDs. That way people can approve or disapprove them and pay for it over 15 to 20 years.
“The budget just isn’t there to rebuild Polson streets. We’ve got to look at other ways,” Campbell said.
“The parks department has done a job because Polson’s parks are in good condition and there is space available for recreation,” Erickson said.
He’s interested in supporting Mission Valley Aquatics, even though it not near his ward.
He loves the tenacity of Polson because things that were talked about 13 or 14 years ago are coming to fruition. Proud of Main Street, Erickson said he is open to suggestions and there to listen.
“The entire city needs work from the infrastructure on up. It’s been neglected,” Horning explained. “We spend time patching instead of rehabilitating. The older parts of the city all need work.”
“Streets,” Kalinyaprak said. “This has been a chronic elections issue for ages. Every past candidate promised but failed to do something about it.”
Agreeing with Shackelford, Morrison thinks one of the things missing is communication with the public. He’s a good listener and is approachable, Morrison said, and he never makes up his mind before he goes to a meeting. He listens to all sides of an issue.
“In my mind, I believe we are missing some communication between the city and its community members. A lot of people have been talking to me about this issue,” Shackelford noted.
She said one of her main goals was to go back to her ward and communicate.
In other cities, such as Missoula and Bozeman, Shackelford said neighborhood meetings are held once a quarter or once every six months. Then folks have an opportunity to ask questions and it’s less intimidating than a city commissioners meeting.
“I have two real things,” Wolfe said. “Our existing streets are in terrible repair."
Downtown looks beautiful, Wolfe noted, but the street that goes past the courthouse and Linderman School is horrible. It makes a bad impression.
Wolfe added that the most important thing that needs to be done is to secure water infrastructure for the future. It’s an urgent and pressing need.
“I really think we need to make sure we have enough clean water for our need in the future,” Wolfe said.
Stephen Turner was not able to be reached via telephone before press time.
