Inside 84045

Posted By Mike Kieffer on October 4, 2009

I asked the candidates to answer a set of questions for me. I am going to post their answers in separate posts. I will post the question, and the put the answers form all of the candidates in that post. This will allow the reader to compare the candidates responses.

The first question: What are the top 3 challenges you feel Saratoga Springs currently faces?

Jeff Francom

A. Formalized long term comprehensive plan
B. Diversify city revenues
C. Improve city roads

Mia Love

a) Development and sales tax revenue
b) Transportation
c) Preserving open space and proper zoning.

Michael McOmber

- Financial Stability
- Long-term planning
- Economic development

Jim Miller

Responsible economic growth,
sound fiscal management,
and communication between the residents and city government

Michael Simpson

1. Lack of a sufficient financial reserve.
When we moved to Saratoga Springs six years ago the city had a sizable financial reserve. Unfortunately, this reserve was spent just before the meltdown of the housing market that sparked the current economic crisis. While our city has thus far weathered the downturn better than other government agencies have, they accomplished this by a sizable increase in our taxes right at a time when families were also being affected by the economy. An increase in taxes may well have been necessary but I can’t help but believe that had we not squandered our reserve our city could have adapted to the current economic environment with less of an impact on it’s citizens.

In many ways I think the people would be better served if their government entities acted more like a business. In order to succeed in business you must grow when you can afford to grow and you must always be prepared for the unexpected. As a city we still do not have sufficient reserves in place to prepare us to face economic difficulties that we may face in the future.

2. Insufficient EMS services (Ambulance)
Currently the city has one high-mileage ambulance to respond to medical emergencies within the city. This ambulance has been in the shop several times over the last couple months because of engine problems. The last time it was taken to the shop because they couldn’t get it to start. While Lehi city has graciously allowed up to borrow their spare ambulance for the times ours is in the shop, I don’t feel we should be relying on them to provide for the safety of our citizens. If it were my family in trouble I would want to know that my city had an ambulance that could respond quickly in an emergency.

3. High number of un-kept rental and bank-owned homes
Saratoga Spring was in a state of rapid residential expansion when the housing market collapsed. As a result of speculative residential building our city has a good deal of residential homes that were purchased by out-of-state investors and homes that fell into foreclosure. While rental homes are not always a problem too many of these investment and foreclosed homes have been allowed to remain out of compliance with our city landscape ordinances. These homes lower the property values for all; they detract from the beauty of our communities, harbor pests (rodents, mosquitoes, and other insects) and in many instances create fire hazards in our residential neighborhoods.

Cecil Tuley

1. The development of a useful way to get accurate and timely information about the City’s legislative actions, policy changes, and strategies out to the public on a regular basis so that residents can make plans to be engaged in the processes that affect their lives more easily.
2. Beginning to develop an updated & comprehensive general (master) plan for development of the city’s land areas so that we will be prepared to reap significant financial and aesthetic benefits in the near and distant future.
3. Seeking business development opportunities and coordinating locations (through zoning actions) likely to be most appropriate for such development.

NOTE: Next question is how are you going to address these issues. I am not editing any of the responses. They are being posted as I received them from the candidates.

Categories: Council Members, Elections 2009, General, Mayor
Tags: candidate questions, election 2009