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Summaries of other questions at the City Council Candidates Forum
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| The candidates for four City Council seats, from left: Sam Lindsey, Monika Cronberg, Bob Irvin, Larry Schultz, Bill Holloway and Paul Sheats, with withdrawn candidate Jimmy Norris and Moderator Bill Nolan. (Ainslee Wittig/ARN) |
By Ainslee S. Wittig/Arizona Range News
A summary of answers to other questions at the Chamber's Candidates Forum:
"There is nothing to keep kids here after they grow up. What can we do about that and how can we enhance the community for kids and grandkids?"
The majority of the candidates disagreed that the community does not provide enough activities for kids. WASA, the Willcox School District, the City, Rex Allen Museum, 4-H and churches help to provide many, including after school and summer camps and swimming, the library, golf, sports and extra-curricular activities, The Spring, and the theater, with more options planned, such as the skate park and possible Friday activities when the four-day school week begins in the fall.
Holloway said, "many kids just have other things on their minds and choose not to do those things, but we do offer a very large number of activities."
Sheats said he has worked with kids for years and he will continue to work with them to try to get what they want in Willcox.
Irvin said he is all for bringing in more activities, but worries that if someone tried to re-open the bowling alley (which he and his wife ran for 20 years), it could go under. He was able to do it because they owned all the equipment already.
"If the city received a gift of $100,000, where would you spend it? Roads, bike paths or sidewalks?"
All the candidates agreed they would spend it on roads. Schultz said the city has the equipment to work on the roads, but not the materials to do so, so he would buy materials to do the roads. Cronberg said she'd like to try to "add bike paths along side the roads," but the priority would be roads.
"If revenues decline and we are forced to cut services, what city services would you cut first?"
All candidates agreed they would try to avoid cutting funds from the Willcox Department of Public Safety, because "we want officers out there to deter crime before it happens," Schultz said, adding he would consider less spending on education and travel for city employees, especially who have already had that education. Holloway is not in favor of cutting all departments equally, and said, "we should look at the most productive use of money and see what is necessary." Irvin said attrition and early retirement may help reduce the budget. Cronberg said to look at the possibility of a four-day work week or cutting back hours, except in public safety areas. Lindsey said he "looks at each check (that he must sign) now and wonders if it is something we could do without for now."
"How do you feel about annexation?"
The laws have recently changed regarding annexation. Annexation is now only property-owner driven, which means those living in the county must ask to be annexed by the city.
All of the candidates agreed that annexation is important to the city in increased revenues and more available land to allow economic growth and development. They also agreed that educating county residents on the benefits of being annexed - including "a better level of service at reduced cost", said Cronberg, and a larger tax base for to increase revenue for city services. Lindsey said, "Annexation is the most misunderstood law ... it must come from the people who want to be annexed." "We must educate those who could be annexed on the benefits," Cronberg said, while Sheats said, "we need to re-approach the way we sell this to them so they can see the benefits, and Schultz saidwe need to ask people to help us.
"What would you do to increase tourism?"
Lindsey said there are "some good organizations working on that now, and they need to concentrate on bringing people to Willcox." Norris and Sheats said we must get people off of Interstate 10 to see what Willcox offers, and not only in the direction of the U-pick farms. Cronberg, chair of the Willcox Wine Country group, is working to combine a viticulture event with a historical event to make the most of both. Schultz said he is working Julie Ream to expand the Rex Allen Days Museum's activities and the city to increase sports tournaments. Holloway said something for the younger generation, such as a video game tournament, may get more people here, as "Rex Allen is last year's guy." Irvin suggested more advertising.
"How do you see Willcox in 5 years and in 10 years?"
Lindsey said, "I hope to see slow steady growth, more industry and better facilities and retail shops - a better place to live. My fear is that in 10 years, it might grow too much. Some group will look at our climate, beauty and cheaper land on I-10 and build a large retirement community." Irvin wanted economic growth with up to 10,000 to 15,000 people, "but at 20,000 you've lost that small-town atmosphere." Shultz said there is movement in the area, with the viticulture industry and a possible new hospital and airport development, and he warned everyone that "if we think it's not going to grow, we're mistaken - it will grow and we need to control that growth with your help."
The majority of the candidates disagreed that the community does not provide enough activities for kids. WASA, the Willcox School District, the City, Rex Allen Museum, 4-H and churches help to provide many, including after school and summer camps and swimming, the library, golf, sports and extra-curricular activities, The Spring, and the theater, with more options planned, such as the skate park and possible Friday activities when the four-day school week begins in the fall.
Holloway said, "many kids just have other things on their minds and choose not to do those things, but we do offer a very large number of activities."
Sheats said he has worked with kids for years and he will continue to work with them to try to get what they want in Willcox.
Irvin said he is all for bringing in more activities, but worries that if someone tried to re-open the bowling alley (which he and his wife ran for 20 years), it could go under. He was able to do it because they owned all the equipment already.
All the candidates agreed they would spend it on roads. Schultz said the city has the equipment to work on the roads, but not the materials to do so, so he would buy materials to do the roads. Cronberg said she'd like to try to "add bike paths along side the roads," but the priority would be roads.
All candidates agreed they would try to avoid cutting funds from the Willcox Department of Public Safety, because "we want officers out there to deter crime before it happens," Schultz said, adding he would consider less spending on education and travel for city employees, especially who have already had that education. Holloway is not in favor of cutting all departments equally, and said, "we should look at the most productive use of money and see what is necessary." Irvin said attrition and early retirement may help reduce the budget. Cronberg said to look at the possibility of a four-day work week or cutting back hours, except in public safety areas. Lindsey said he "looks at each check (that he must sign) now and wonders if it is something we could do without for now."
The laws have recently changed regarding annexation. Annexation is now only property-owner driven, which means those living in the county must ask to be annexed by the city.
All of the candidates agreed that annexation is important to the city in increased revenues and more available land to allow economic growth and development. They also agreed that educating county residents on the benefits of being annexed - including "a better level of service at reduced cost", said Cronberg, and a larger tax base for to increase revenue for city services. Lindsey said, "Annexation is the most misunderstood law ... it must come from the people who want to be annexed." "We must educate those who could be annexed on the benefits," Cronberg said, while Sheats said, "we need to re-approach the way we sell this to them so they can see the benefits, and Schultz saidwe need to ask people to help us.
Lindsey said there are "some good organizations working on that now, and they need to concentrate on bringing people to Willcox." Norris and Sheats said we must get people off of Interstate 10 to see what Willcox offers, and not only in the direction of the U-pick farms. Cronberg, chair of the Willcox Wine Country group, is working to combine a viticulture event with a historical event to make the most of both. Schultz said he is working Julie Ream to expand the Rex Allen Days Museum's activities and the city to increase sports tournaments. Holloway said something for the younger generation, such as a video game tournament, may get more people here, as "Rex Allen is last year's guy." Irvin suggested more advertising.
Lindsey said, "I hope to see slow steady growth, more industry and better facilities and retail shops - a better place to live. My fear is that in 10 years, it might grow too much. Some group will look at our climate, beauty and cheaper land on I-10 and build a large retirement community." Irvin wanted economic growth with up to 10,000 to 15,000 people, "but at 20,000 you've lost that small-town atmosphere." Shultz said there is movement in the area, with the viticulture industry and a possible new hospital and airport development, and he warned everyone that "if we think it's not going to grow, we're mistaken - it will grow and we need to control that growth with your help."
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| Six city council candidates vie for four seats | Plans progress for new hospital |
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