In November four individuals will be vying for spots on the Burnsville City Council. Two of those running are current City Councilmembers (Crichton and Kealey) and two are newcomers. I contacted all four candidates recently and asked if they would be interested in speaking with me about their upcoming campaigns. Three of the four have responded and I will continue my attempts to contact the other.
While I have a pretty decent list of possible questions to ask all four candidates, including some which are tailored to each specific candidate, I am always interested in citizen input about what you’d like to know about these guys. While Thisweek covered the usual topics in their discussions with the candidates, I’d like to have a bit more involved discussions with them and need your help.
So, if you are interested please go ahead and provide some topics or questions you would like to see covered in my interviews with Crichton, Kealey, Tomlinson and Mudge and while I can’t guarantee that I will use them during my conversations, I think we could really get some interesting discussion going about what you think of two who currently sit on the Burnsville City Council and if you think that someone else might be able to do a better job.
So share your thoughts on what you believe would make a good city councilmember (in general, not necessary just for Burnsville), what you think a Burnsville City Councilmember’s priorities should be and certainly who, out of the four candidates, you feel has the best shots at being on the council following the November elections.
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June 4th, 2010 at 7:55 am
Really, why not eliminate the unneeded Jr Cities in the South Metro and create a bigger entitiy that could serve the needs of the residents in the area more effiecently. Burnsville-Savage, Apple Valley-Rosemount-Eagen,
Other than that, I got nothun.
June 4th, 2010 at 8:55 am
Given that there are ony two ways to fix the budget problem comming in the next two years, where exactly do you plan to cut spending/waste?
June 4th, 2010 at 9:26 am
Tomlinson wants to: “see County Road 42 (expanded to) three lanes all the way to Apple Valley”. Perhaps he does not realize that since it is a County Road, he would have no control over this it at the city council level? (and besides that, even if he could, where is he going to find all of the money to take/buy the land/houses necessary to accomplish this?)
I would like to know what their qualifications/background are relative to finance; municipal legal responsibilities and limitations, and zoning laws.
What job have they held in the past that they feel provided each with experience/responsibilities that would best translate to a city council position and why?
June 4th, 2010 at 9:33 am
What would make a good council member? Being a city council member requires curiosity in what’s happening in the city, insight into what’s good for the future, fairness in dealing with all interests, understanding that a city’s services are far-reaching (anywhere from police, fire, public works, water, etc., all the way to The Garage and social programs… and then there’s the BPAC), daring to be innovative, and trust in the good work the City staff and advisory commissions do for them. Being new on the City Council or in any elected office is like giving a loaded shotgun to a three-year-old — you have power, but you need to grow up (grow into your role in elected office) before you shoot, otherwise you might hurt someone.
So there are several questions one could ask prospective council members: 1) City governments have taken enormous hits in state aid to local communities. As a result, they have trimmed services to the bare bones. Nevertheless, cities are still required to provide a host of services to its populace. What ideas do you have to help bolster lagging state aid revenues and keep Burnsville from deeper fiscal crises?
2) Burnsville is at the crux of I-35W and I-35E. Transportation issues have always been burdensome for us south of the river. As transit options emerge, and as transportation dollars shrink, what more can Burnsville citizens do to improve our commute?
3) Many people argue that the Burnsville Performing Arts Center was a waste of money. Nevertheless, there are those who argue that there is a place for the arts even in the suburbs. What role should the arts play in a suburban setting?
4) Some people say that, due to the recession, we should “bend the rules” to help trigger development. This might mean giving allowances on signage on buildings, or allow single-family housing in areas in the Heart of the City, even though the original plan for HOC was a “new urbanist”, pedestrian-based “downtown feel” town center. On the other hand, some say we should maintain our City standards regardless of temporary financial conditions, because once we compromise our standards, it is hard to reel them back in. What is your stance?
Regarding the comment from “Sank”, stating we should consolidate the south metro cities, I am in staunch opposition. We would have far less representation on a larger entity’s council than we do now! We would have to share services with other parts of the south metro, and our response times would increase dramatically. Besides, as a Burnsville resident, I do not want to deal with whatever is happening in Eagan or Apple Valley, too.
June 4th, 2010 at 9:33 am
What was your favorite Applewood Rustic Grille moment?
June 4th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
Um – Pepsi or Coke?
Irving
June 4th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
sjm, sounds as if you are a current Burnsville council member. Your statement, “Being new on the City Council or in any elected office is like giving a loaded shotgun to a three-year-old — you have power, but you need to grow up (grow into your role in elected office) before you shoot, otherwise you might hurt someone.” That can all so pertain to certain existing council members that have been in local government for over ten years. I don’t know at this time if the two new candidates have experienced being members of any city of Burnsville committees or commissions. That is the best way to get involved before one considers running for a council seat. As you know we have had planning commission members go on to become council members. Regarding the BPAC. When a majority of the city council ignores the reasons why private investors “backed out” PLUS the resident taxpayers objections and proceed to build it themselves……… That in itself becomes a perfect example of giving a loaded shotgun to a three-year-old !!! What the Burnsville City Council, lacks as a whole, is honesty, integrity and being Public servants rather than self servants.
June 6th, 2010 at 4:31 am
Even more than an insurrection on candidates’ positions or qualifications — those will be immediately exposed or soon emerge during the campaign — I’d like an idea of who their supporters are.
I’d ask: How much money must you raise, ESPECIALLY if you are to unseat an incumbent? How much do you PLAN to raise? Whom will you solicit? Is there even a plan?
Everyone disses special interests and fund-raising, but they remain indicators of what candidates are about. And they help draw the line between serious and unserious candidates.
Who ISN’T sick of less-than-serious candidates clogging up ballots?
Pique about this thing or that does not a campaign make. Show you have support, even if it’s only fellow parents on your kid’s ballclub. Then show you’re sincere about expanding that support. Then that anger becomes meaningful.
How many weekends will you spend door-knocking? You’d better start now. How many doors? All parts of town? Deep southwest Burnsville? Low-income apartments, too? Will your message differ depending on where you go?
You don’t win unless people want you to win. Why do people want you to win? Who are they?
Issues: Given that most of BV’s state-funded operating aids have already dried up, the council is left to its own devices on taxing and spending.
What’s your opinion of the $3.5 million budget cut for 2010? Has it appreciably diminished services or affected employee morale? If not, why worry about it? Do you think most citizens even know it occurred? What do you hear from neighbors?
Are the unions still pissed because they were asked to retroactively alter their contracts to take a pay cut? Does that matter?
What are your priorities for the 2011 budget? Be specific, because we SUSPECT you have at least one or two pet issues. What should the unions get?
AND OF COURSE: What are your metrics for success of the PAC? Is there a deadline for meeting them? If the city tried to sell the place, would it get its money back?
FINALLY: What’s yer fucking favorite color?
June 6th, 2010 at 4:58 am
“Inquisition,” rather than “insurrection,” may have been a better word choice.
June 7th, 2010 at 10:14 am
Re: Will’s response to my earlier post… No, I am not on the City Council. During my career, I have worked in City government (not Burnsville) for over 11 years and have seen inept and/or “single-issue-oriented” candidates win seats on City Councils, and the resulting reaction of being overwhelmed with the decisions that need to be made. Candidates need to be ready to deal with the vast number of issues that come before them, and not simply use the familiar refrain of “cutting wasteful spending”. I becomes a balance between what we cut that effects the overall quality of life in Burnsville. Do we eliminate essential jobs, do we shut off every other street light, do we stop filling potholes, do we stop paying City Council members, do we stop non-emergency traffic enforcement, do we close the BPAC, do we stop zoning enforcements??? Making those decisions is hard. To be honest, I would not want to be a City Council member right now, but I do respect their office, and the work they do to try and keep Burnsville from being a large Miesville (…not that there’s anything wrong with Miesville, it’s just small and with few public services).
June 7th, 2010 at 10:57 am
I almost cracked a stiffie when I read that.
June 7th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
Miesville has Kings Place. I think you could run for city council on the platform that you are bringing Kings Place to Burnsville!
June 7th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Miesville also has the Mudhens, a nice ball field and Wiederholdt’s.
999 Chad, only one more comment!
June 9th, 2010 at 8:27 am
1. What do they plan to do to bring ice cream back to the Heart of the City?
2. What color concrete to they prefer in the Heart of the City intersections?
3. (seriously) What are the 3 biggest issues facing the 99% of Burnsville that is not contained within the Heart of the City?
4. (also seriously) Do you have any solutions in mind to make our water drinkable again?
June 9th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
I will answer number 4. While I do not have an issue with the drinking water where I live I have heard this concern come up many times. So I do not know if it is just parts of the city or what. However if this is a widespread problem the city needs to look into a water treatment facility to make sure clean drinking water is available to everyone.
June 9th, 2010 at 11:15 pm
Greg, are you really one of the candidates for Council? If so, you might want to get up to speed ASAP on Burnsville issues — this was a news story covered extensively (and metro-wide) months ago.
Yes, it is a widespread problem and the issue/resolution is much more complicated than “looking into a water treatment facility”.
Also, I noticed your post saying you support the City keeping the MN Valley Humane Society in Burnsville. In case you missed the memo: They’ve already announced they are moving to Eagan, they have a facility that is in the planning stages, and the Eagan City Council approved all plans. They even got a thinly veiled shot in at the Council you hope to sit on, pointing out that the MVHS will be a boon to local businesses because it attracts tens of thousands of visitors to its host city every year (I think the number was 20,000).
No offense, but based on your comments on here so far and a quick glance at your Web site, I have a hard time taking your “candidacy” seriously. (And, yes, I am a Burnsville resident/voter)
June 9th, 2010 at 11:37 pm
Have to agree with MSPD here. While I appreciate the desire to serve Greg, your grasp of the current issues is a bit scary. The average reader/poster on this site appears to have a better handle on what is going on in our city than you do thus far.
I am also a Burnsville resident and voter.
June 10th, 2010 at 8:28 am
Here are a few more questions for prospective Council members, adding to the ones I posted earlier:
5) Costco was recently approved at the old Grossman Chevrolet site, after many years of trying to find commercial property along County Road 42 to develop. What is your opinion of changing the zoning from industrial/showroom development to allow more commercial development along Co Rd 42, specifically between the railroad tracks and the Savage border? What would you see as the resulting impacts of such a shift in zoning?
6) Recently, VIP Olmeca Event Center and Burnsville Bowl/1200 Club came before the Council for review. How would you balance and govern the needs of business with the concerns of neighbors regarding safety and noise issues that these businesses may generate?
7) In your opinion, has the Heart of the City been a success? Are there ways it needs to be improved? Similarly, what are your opinions of the City’s plans for the Minnesota River Quadrant? What other areas of Burnsville are you most concerned?
8) What are your potential conflicts of interest when sitting on the Council? What issues do you foresee coming before the Council that would require you to recuse yourself from deliberation?
July 12th, 2010 at 7:32 am
[...] The questions asked were a mix of reader submitted ones and those I came up with myself. Depending on the style of the interview the questions were not [...]