Three candidates vie to fill two vacancies on New Albin Council
New Albin residents George Blair, Joshua Dreps and Michael Zeimet have declared their candidacy to fill two vacancies on the New Albin City Council up for election in the Tuesday, November 3 City Election. The responses from candidates Blair, Dreps and Zeimet to questionnaires issued by The Standard in the interest of informing voters appear below:
Please provide some background information about yourself.
Blair: My wife, Angela, and I moved into town on Third and Elm four years ago. We lived outside of town on a farm in Sleepy Hollow for over 30 years. Prior to our move to town, I retired from my business in Dorchester. Blair-Fuehrer, Inc. manufactured packaging machines primarily for the food industry. We came to Iowa in 1981 primarily because we loved the beauty of the Driftless Area.
Dreps: My family has owned and operated the City Meat Market in New Albin since 1882, so I have very strong ties to the community and surrounding area. Shortly after high school I joined the Navy and was an Aircrewman for VQ-1 for about four years. When my contract was over in 2013 I moved back home and will be the next generation at the store.
Zeimet: I grew up in and was raised in New Albin. I’m retired after 20 years of military active duty.
As a potential City Council member, what do you feel would be your ultimate responsibility to the citizens of New Albin?
Dreps: Providing someone that is going to genuinely listen to their concerns and their ideas of how to solve said concerns and then take it to the council to make the best judgment which is best for the town.
Zeimet: To cut wasteful spending of taxpayers’ money.
Blair: I have been on the City Council for a year now. I believe my first responsibility is to listen to the wishes of people of this community and then help make common sense decisions toward making this town a better place to live while serving the common good. I want to represent the majority of this community.
If elected, what would be your issues of highest priority in helping direct city government?
Zeimet: City sewers and streets are in need of repair.
Blair: My highest priority has been and will continue to be (if elected), helping to decide how to build the best and most durable waste water plant at a cost the city can afford while meeting the requirements of the Department of Natural Resources for now and into the future. This project, which is required by the State, has the highest cost of any improvement to the City. Therefore, careful consideration must be exercised.
Dreps: As someone that is always around at the store, I offer someone that can be contacted as soon as something comes up or other high priority issues that come up. I don’t pick sides or only listen to issues depending on peoples’ last names, we all live here and we have to work together to make this the best place it can be and a destination for people looking to move into the area.
What are the current issues, good and bad, that you see facing New Albin, and what does your candidacy offer in addressing those issues?
Blair: Besides the waste water treatment plant, the primary issues with the highest expenditures are related to our streets and the water and sewage pipes. We also need to improve and expand our fire department facility when funding is available. Beyond the necessary utility improvements, we need to continue to build a positive spirit of cooperation that is at the heart of a beautiful and happy town that makes us proud to be members of this community.
Dreps: Our most positive and attractive item that we have to capitalize on is that we live in one the most beautiful areas in the United States. Traveling around in the service and seeing all the country and world have to offer I truly believe this is a must-see destination. And with that note we have to offer more to people to change it from a must-see to a final destination where they want to raise a family. In saying that, we have to clean up around the edges to get rid of the “eek look” that people give you when you say you live here.
Zeimet: (no response).
In your view, what will it take to allow New Albin to not only survive, but thrive in the future?
Dreps: Like with the previous question, we have to expand the opportunities for people here in the town to make it a destination to put down roots and grow a family. We can’t survive as a retirement destination alone, we need to provide foundations for younger people to not only want to come but to stay here and thrive with the community.
Zeimet: New ideas on what’s needed and what is a waste of taxpayers’ money.
Blair: I think I answered this question earlier, though I wish to emphasize the importance of coming together to reach solutions. Helping neighbors in need is a big part of New Albin - it is that spirit that helped persuade Angela and I to move into this town. I sincerely believe that most people in this town are good people that want to do the right thing. I think that spirit will endure and though the town is small in number the cooperative heart of New Albin is big and will continue to survive into the future.
