Candidates in Waukon City Council At-Large run-off election share views

A run-off election to determine the winner of the At-Large Waukon City Council seat is scheduled for Tuesday, December 3. The run-off election is the result of neither At-Large incumbent candidate Joe Cunningham nor write-in challenger Darrold Brink receiving at least the simple majority (50% plus one) of the votes cast in the Tuesday, November 5 City Election, a requirement mandated by the Waukon City Code.

All voters living within the Waukon city limits are eligible to vote for this At-Large Council position and will vote at the Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Center, Room 109 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Absentee voting is now available in the Auditor’s office Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. up through Monday, December 2. The last day to request an absentee ballot to be mailed is Wednesday, November 27.  The Auditor’s office is closed November 28 and 29 for Thanksgiving.

In the interest of informing voters prior to the Tuesday, December 3 election, The Standard issued candidate questionnaires to both Brink and Cunningham. Those questions and the candidates' answers appear below:

Please provide some background information about yourself.

Brink: I grew up on a farm in rural Waukon and graduated from Waukon High School. I have four children, Beth, Garrett, Keith and Dacia, and two grandchildren, Dominic and Tegan. I have been self-employed since 1987 in the seamless gutter business and pool & spa business. For 14 years I was also co-owner of Arrowhead Lanes, Inc.

Cunningham: I was born and raised in Waukon, graduating from St. Patrick’s High School in 1964. After graduating, I was gone for about nine years during which time I got a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy Degree from Drake University and then spent three years as a pharmacy officer in the U.S. Public Health Service.

Returning to Waukon in 1973, I joined my uncle, Dan Regan, in his pharmacy practice as a partner, and then as owner from 1980 to 2000. I then sold the pharmacy to Hartig Drug and worked for Hartig until 2006, when I retired. With another area pharmacist, we established and ran Monona Pharmacy for about 20 years, until about 2001, when it was sold to the pharmacist who managed the store. Also during that time, I was Director of Pharmacy at Veterans Memorial Hospital for about 30 years.

My wife, Mary, and I have been married 41 years and have four adult sons. Currently, I am serving my third term on the Waukon City Council.  From about 1980 to 1990, I was a member and chairman of the Waukon Planning and Zoning Commission. I have been a member of the Waukon Chamber of Commerce for 40 years and served on its Board of Directors for two terms and President for one term. I have been a board member and served as a director or officer of the following organizations: Waukon Economic Development Commission, Allamakee County Economic Development Commission, Waukon Industries, St. Patrick Parish Council, Iowa Pharmacy Association, Iowa Prescription Drug Corporation, and Waukon Area Fire Protection District. I support several other professional, civic and conservation organizations and associations such as the American Pharmacy Association, Waukon Trails Association and American Hiking society.

What motivated you to seek a seat on the Waukon City Council?

Cunningham: Nine years ago when I was first elected, several things had prompted me to run for office. Our community needed places for people to build homes. Our crumbling streets needed attention. The City Park needed attention. I had worked on the initial comprehensive city plan and on revisions to it, but I felt that the City Council at that time did not know how to utilize it in their long-term planning.

I felt that the City could be doing more to support economic development and for job creation. Street Department trucks were wearing out, the fire trucks were getting old, the park mowers were undersized and wearing out. There was no plan to systematically repair and replace streets. Great strides have been made in all these areas.

At the current time, I just want to see some more things come to fruition. This includes the paving of Third Street NE that, when coupled with the work on Third Avenue NW two years ago, signifies that, indeed, a long-range comprehensive plan to improve Waukon’s streets is truly underway.

There are some economic development opportunities for the City that involve more new jobs and facilities for the area. I would like to see this happen and not end up being just another missed opportunity. We have made enormous strides in updating City equipment in areas of public safety. Two very adequate snow plow dump trucks have been acquired, one new tanker fire truck has been added and a new pumper to replace our 29-year-old one will arrive soon. A brush fire fighting unit has been added. Our ambulance purchase program for rotating in new equipment is working well.

Again, I want to see a viable, long-term capital budget plan that includes all City equipment. This is important and can happen with input from the Waukon Works Team and committed, knowledgeable and experienced council leadership. We are just about there, but another year is probably needed.

Some of our public facilities, like the police station and city garage, need attention. The size of the fire station is too small for the size of new fire trucks. The council chambers of City Hall need to be remodeled to make access to the council easier for the public during meetings. All sorts of public meeting laws have been enacted by the State, yet the area for members of the public and city officials to share concerns and ideas is grossly inadequate for discussion and debate. I want to see more public debate and not less. I want a chamber that is conducive and inviting for this dialogue to take place.

Brink: I hear complaints and discontentment from taxpayers with the existing system. I would like to, as a city councilman at-large, represent all citizens of Waukon, bringing my 26 years of business experience to work with the council. Each citizen deserves to be heard and represented in a fair, moral way with dignity.

As a candidate for the Waukon City Council, what do you feel would be your ultimate responsibility to the citizens of the city if elected?

Brink: Be attentive to all concerns of the citizens of Waukon and make decisions on behalf of the majority. I know from being in business that no matter what you do, it's hard to please 100% -100% of the time.

I grew up in Allamakee County and like many people in the area didn't have a lot of funds available. I know, understand and remember what hardship can be and what hard work can do. I will be morally and ethically responsible to all citizens of Waukon, just as I run my personal business.

Cunningham: To keep our citizens safe. This is our first and foremost responsibility. We do this with adequate fire, police and ambulance service. Safe streets and sidewalks are important.  In preliminary data from Waukon Works, many people are afraid of tripping on our sidewalks. People want safe places to walk. They want access to good healthcare. Safe housing is important.

During the past nine years I have, along with my council peers, addressed many of these concerns, but more work is needed. In the end, people expect these services, and they want the City to keep taxes reasonable. Property taxes were less in 2012 than in 2011!

During the worst downturn in the economy since the Great Depression, Waukon did not lay off a single employee because of budgetary concerns, nor did we put off purchasing equipment that helps keep our community safe. The downsizing that plagued many cities across America was not an issue in Waukon thanks to good council leadership and good leadership from our department heads.

What are the current issues that you see facing Waukon, and what does your candidacy offer in addressing those issues?

Cunningham: First, we need to keep fixing our streets. It will take strong, capable, committed leaders to see to it that this happens.  I have been a supporter of and an advocate for all major street improvements in Waukon during the last 40 years and I will continue to advocate for better streets. When Third Street NE is paved next spring it will be one of the best-built residential streets to ever be constructed in this community and should last well beyond its estimated life span of 50 years.

Improved Waukon streets usually measure 31 feet back of curb to back of curb. Third Street NE, at 25 feet curb back to curb back, will be the narrowest improved street in the community. This is what most property owners along the street wanted. The street will be a good test for the community as we all observe if it is capable of handling traffic in a manner that meets most expectations. If it does, future residential streets at the 25-foot width will be less expensive to build, cost less for snow removal, and have less impervious surface allowing for less water that needs to be channeled elsewhere.

Second, we need to have a succession plan in place to replace retiring city management personnel as they come up for retirement. When key people leave their posts they leave big shoes to fill, and in leaving they take a lot of history and knowledge of how the city works with them. We cannot let that void exist. The council has started to prepare for transitions by instituting a GPS city mapping project to record as much infrastructure information as possible from our city utility workers. This information, as recorded, will be invaluable to future employees.

Third, I am gravely concerned with the ability of the City to manage its affairs without significant changes in how we manage. With budgets that can exceed seven or eight million dollars annually, I feel that there needs to be more professional help for the council in managing our budgets, debts and projects. Few citizens have ever had to manage these sums of money and even fewer of us have ever written grants to secure outside funding.

Few citizens have ever had to manage a staff that, with part-time employees, can run over fifty individuals. I feel that it is time to explore the possibility of a city administrator to help the Mayor and Councilmen to do their jobs.  I look at the school board with its superintendent and at the hospital board with its administrator. At the end of the day, the board members of these two organizations have more and better information upon which to base their decisions, and the administrators can do a better job with input from their boards.

What does my candidacy bring to this issue? In private practice and on some of the boards I served on, I am used to dealing in sums of money equivalent to what the City deals with. On every board that I have served on I have come to appreciate what the administrator or director can professionally bring to the table. With a good city administrator in place, I think more citizens will be comfortable in seeking public office knowing that there is someone available to help them with the day-to-day operation of the city while the council addresses the issues and problems facing the city.

Fourth and last, I am comfortable with City revenue at this time but am concerned that without strong, visionary leaders the City could struggle in the long term. The City needs to be looking long term for other revenue opportunities rather just property tax revenue. During the last four years the Council has provided diligent oversight for the management of City utilities keeping rates current and in line with costs. We have identified and utilized funding sources outside of property taxes to supplement city funding needs.

Brink: Land ownership by the City. Go to Allamakee Beacon website and type in City of Waukon to get the list of property controlled by the City. Of course, most are integral to the City, city hall, hospital, sewage, disposal and others. However, there are properties that the City should dispose to generate tax revenue. The City should be assisting investors to help create tax, not be in competition with taxpayers.

The City is giving funds to a non-profit, self-appointed group. Two have resigned as of late from this group. I will check to see why other non-profit groups do not receive funds, also. If the City gives funds, it should rotate on a yearly basis.

The taxpayers paid for land in the south end of Waukon. That land is now in the above-mentioned, non-profit's name. According to WEDC's income taxes, they are available if you request a copy at the WEDC office at 101 West Main Street. It looks like the value of that property is in excess of $300,000. I don't agree with the gift and will have it investigated when in office.

Condemning ground and City lawsuits. I would recommend hiring outside negotiators or mediators, not having a councilman or City Attorney involved, which can and has resulted in a breakdown of respect for the leadership of Waukon. I would initiate everything available, State Attorneys for cities, Iowa mediation and others.

In your view, what will it take to help Waukon thrive in the future?

Brink: I will assist any person willing to invest in Waukon. There are many tax incentives available if sponsored by the City.

Cunningham: We are thriving! We are not a town that is down and out. We have a lot going for us. Some early feedback from the Waukon Works numbers indicate that our retail sector is very positive compared to cities similar to Waukon. I was surprised by how well local manufacturing is doing. Of course, we can do more.

We need more housing opportunities. This was confirmed by a citywide housing study done in 2008. Again, Waukon Works’ data indicates that people are looking for building sites, condos, rentals, apartments and affordable housing. The City will need to continue to work with local developers and builders, and continue to encourage development in the city. It should also seek more cooperation with local, regional, state and national programs that provide incentives and funding for housing.

City infrastructure needs to be improved and expanded. Our storm water (storm sewer) system is in drastic need of repair. We need other means of dealing with storm water other than just sending it down street drains into our storm sewers. We need to complete our goal of refurbishing every old manhole in our sanitary sewer system. This is a very important step in decreasing storm water infiltration in the sanitary sewer system, which can lead to sewer back-up in basements and overloading of the treatment plant.

Our schools are our future. We need to continue to support them. Our students are some of the best in the nation. These kids know what we are doing for them. School attendance is among the highest percentages in the country. They are taking advantage of what NICC can offer in college credit courses. They shine in extracurricular activities. I will continue to build on the strong relationship that exists between the City and our school administration.

Lastly, we need engaged citizens. It is amazing what volunteers can do. Just look at our city park. It is fifty percent larger than it was a few years ago. Volunteers have created the beautiful Memory Garden, added playground equipment, and started a forest management plan. Trails and bridges were added through volunteer help. It was volunteers who helped secure a favorable referendum for the school/ NICC/Wellness Center.

Volunteers, with help from the City Council, raised over a million dollars for our library. I am proud of our community and I love living here.  I enjoy rolling up my sleeves and working along with some of the most caring people around, whether it is on a volunteer project in the park or taking a turn delivering Meals on Wheels.