For those without a subscription to the News & Tribune, below are my responses to the questions in the election guide.
Relative experience:
BS Mechanical Engineering from the University of Evansville
Licensed Engineer in Training (EIT) – State of Indiana
Current member Floyd County Board of Zoning Appeals
Former member of New Albany Board of Zoning Appeals
Social media: facebook.com/SWforNA
- Why are you seeking this office, and what makes you the most qualified candidate for this position?
My experience and background as a mechanical engineer easily makes me the most qualified for this position. My engineering career has involved project design, budgets, project management and root cause analysis problem solving. This gives me a unique skill set which sets me apart from all the other candidates. I have the ability to fully understand infrastructure projects and project their future consequences. I also have experience and a deep understanding of preventative and predictive analytics which should be used to forecast areas such as paving, and the necessary replacement of Fire & Police vehicles as well as critical equipment.
I’m seeking this office to be a responsive representative for the citizens of New Albany. My desire to seek office began when I forced to become involved in the Mt. Tabor Road project as a property owner. I had to push hard to get basic information from the city administration. Items such as project drawings, schedules and scope for the project were not freely given to the residents who live inside the project footprint. Through that information I discovered that the original traffic study that served as the basis for the change to the intersection at Klerner Lane was incorrect. My efforts forced the city to follow state and federal guidelines which are in place to protect the property owners. We’ve recently had a similar project on Main Street where the small business owners were not involved. I want to avoid these experiences moving forward. As an elected representative on the council, I will go above and beyond to inform, involve and meet the needs of those affected by these major projects.
- What are the top three issues facing New Albany, and how would you work to address them if elected?
After meeting with many of our neighbors throughout the city, the top issues have become clear; safe, well maintained, correctly designed roads & sidewalks, protecting private property from damage due to Storm Water runoff and responsiveness from elected representatives and city officials.
Maintaining the condition of streets and sidewalks begins with cataloging their current condition. This data must include the last paving date (or replacement for sidewalks), logging any cuts made by utility companies and any other reported damage. With this information along with the traffic load, paving needs can be predicted and included in the budget. I will also work with the city engineer and Board of Works to create a reconstruction standard for utility cuts including periodic inspection & responsibility for their future repairs.
Proper road design for our major routes is the best method to reduce the traffic load in our neighborhoods and enhance their safety. I plan to use my problem solving expertise to ensure that Grant Line Road, Charlestown and State Street are operating properly. This will encourage more drivers to use these three main thoroughfares and avoid using neighborhood cross streets. Frustrated drivers from our poorly operating main roads are the root cause of the unsafe cut-through traffic in our neighborhoods.
To solve storm water runoff we must dedicate funds to add curbs, gutters and drains to areas which experience the worst flooding. I will also push for the creation of additional collection basins to areas with extensive hard surfaces. The Corp of Engineers has recently updated their study on the watersheds in the city. Their suggestions must be acted upon.
The solution to the lack of responsiveness by city officials is to make personal connections a priority. The elected officials and city employees are here to serve the citizens. Each and every inquiry must be acted upon to the best of everyone’s ability. Well justified and defendable reasons must be presented if the issue is unable to be solved completely. I pledge to be accessible, available and responsive to those I represent.
- Beyond the issues already mentioned, what’s a cause that’s important to you that you would champion if elected?
Transparency through the focus of information availability is something that I will champion.
The city must be proactive in the posting of relevant information on websites and other easy to access locations. The online locations must be consistent, easy to navigate and intuitive. The timely posting or distribution of minutes and agendas for all public meetings is a hard requirement.
I will push for every public city meeting to be live streamed and the recording maintained for anyone to watch. Meeting times must also include alternative hours to allow opportunities to those who can’t normally attend.
We must involve residents, especially those directly impacted, on the design, development and scheduling of infrastructure projects. They must have their concerns addressed appropriately and keep them up to date as the project moves forward.
To ensure these items are met, I will request that all communications be handled in house for expediency and consistency.
We must remember that the elected officials and city employees are here to serve the public, be good stewards of their resources and provide a city government that meets their needs.