Oregon Observer: Town of Oregon Supervisor Candidate Questionnaires
The Oregon Observer published its Town Board Supervisor questionnaire during the week before Election Day.
See the entire article on the Observer site:
Read the Observer article: Town of Oregon Supervisor Candidate Questionnaires
And for more Q & A replies, see the OAP site for its post:
Know The Oregon Town Board Candidates
Here are my answers to the Oregon Observer questions:
Why are you running?
My motivation for running for Town Board Supervisor comes from several angles: dissatisfaction with some current and past Board actions, a desire to contribute to shaping the future of the Town, and a feeling that the voices of some Town residents are not fully represented on the Board and should be. I worked for a combined twenty plus years at two of Madison’s largest credit unions in management positions that involved staff, budget, and project responsibility. My experience in these areas would well serve our Town Board and the residents that the Board represents.
What is your position on revising the Town’s comprehensive land use plan? What specific changes would you advocate for including in any revision to the plan?
Land use is one of the nine elements in the Comprehensive Plan and it’s vitally important because we care about our natural spaces, environmentally sensitive areas, quality farmland, and the rural character of the Town. My concern about land use and the entire Comprehensive Plan is that we should carefully re-evaluate it in light of expanding Village annexation, budget constraints forced by tax levy limits that are tied to the rate of growth in new construction, and the lack of a refreshed Vision for the Future that captures the desires of today’s Town residents. We need to tie this together.
Would you favor increasing taxes to keep up with the necessary repair and resurfacing of all roads, or hiring a road engineer to evaluate the Town’s roads?
Stretches of Town roads are failing, cracking, and crumbling. The first step is to conduct a thorough evaluation of Town roads. Doing this regularly and developing a maintenance and repair schedule is critical. Resident feedback must be solicited to determine what degree of wear is acceptable compared to budget constraints.
Should all residents of the township have a say in whether additional vehicle traffic is added to town roads? Do you think ATVs & UTVs should be allowed or not allowed on all town roads? Which ones?
ATV/UTV riders shouldn’t have recreational access to Town roads, especially in subdivisions and where their traffic would be unsafe for people using the road. If the small group of enthusiasts continues its attempts for access, then we must ask all residents: Allow ATVs/UTVs on our roads, yes or no?
Are you in favor of a potential change in garbage collection and recycling for the Town of Oregon?
A combination of Town-wide curbside pickup and TORC services could be a win-win for residents, but the benefits and costs are still being analyzed. Budget limitations and increasing costs are at the heart of issues like this and others. The Town should solicit resident feedback to prioritize spending.