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Thank you for taking
the time to visit my web site and
getting to know more about me
and my views. |
1. Public
Safety – Police and Fire - Public Safety is my number one priority. I
propose the following:
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Cutting costs of
other local government programs and placing these funds into the Police and
Fire Departments
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Staffing the
Police Department to 95%-100% of its needs
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Have a
discussion on the benefits to the taxpayer of moving
city employees from a Defined Benefit program and into a
Defined Contribution or 401K program.
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Increasing
Officer Pay to the point that Officers don’t have to take on side work
and can enjoy their time not on duty
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Creating a
Reserve Officer program that increases manpower and cuts down on current
overtime costs
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Keeping the
neighborhood police officers in the neighborhoods
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Encouraging
residents to take action themselves to stop criminal activity. Examples
include new fencing, better locks on storage areas, and more citizens
who choose to conceal and carry.
2.
Taxes - I would like to see the total sales tax rate for
Springfield residents drop below 7.00%. I support the reduction of
the pension fund tax from 3/4% to 1/4% (See
Donegan Pension Plan B from October 2009) and would support stopping the
1/4% CIP program. I would also support a repeal
of Greene County’s Parks Tax to bring the overall tax rate down.
3.
60/65 Development - Click Here
4. City
Utilities Position - Click Here
5. Red Light Cameras - The cost to keep the Red Light
Cameras active will cost Springfield citizens more each year. The
more effective the cameras are as a deterrence, the less money the city
will earn from red light violations. I also have issue with the
owner of the vehicle, and not the driver receiving the ticket. I
would repeal of this ordinance if elected.
6. Green Building Policy - It's
2011,
and 'Green' is still in. Everyone wants to save the Earth from pollution, CO2, and
global warming. I don’t believe the Earth is warming because of
anything the Citizens of Springfield, MO are doing on a daily basis,
including driving their six-miles-to-the-gallon, full-sized Suburban.
I support building and renovations that are the highest quality at the
lowest possible cost, regardless of whether they meet the LEED
certification requirements. I would support green builders’
innovative storm water and energy efficient ideas.
7. Zoning Regulations – The current matrix system
guidelines adopted by the current City Council have created a very
specific and more complex zoning structure. The City Council on March
23, 2009, was asked to consider further restrictions on apartment
developers regarding the distance between the structure to be built, and
the property line of the development. I support a simpler zoning
structure, like the one the city had many years ago that gives
developers and builders more latitude regarding building amenities,
where to place the proposed buildings, and generally where they can
build. As your city councilman, I would continue to encourage developers to work with
the residential community around their development. If the
residential community is satisfied, or the developer makes reasonable
concessions to satisfy City Council, projects should be allowed to
proceed.
8. Landfill Usage Policy and Recycling – We have a very
unique situation in Springfield, MO when it comes to flow control.
We have a very competitive solid waste industry. Smaller,
locally-owned companies use our landfill North of Springfield on Hwy 13.
The two largest solid waste companies have their own facilities many
miles from Springfield. Allied Waste Services and Waste
Corporation of Missouri haul their solid waste out of the area because
it is cost efficient. As your city councilman, I would support a private
business’ right to decide what’s best for their stakeholders. I
support the current recycling centers in operation. In the future,
the private sector should be able to turn recycled materials into a
highly profitable business. Until then, it is not the place of
local government to pour millions of dollars into a retrieval and
marketing campaign for the collection and use of recycled goods.
9. Springfield Branson National Airport – I am glad that
the citizens of Springfield have provided for air travel to our front
porch via the Airport on West Kearney Street. I just cannot afford
to use it. I am not alone. A large number of Springfield
residents drive to Tulsa, Kansas City, or St. Louis to save hundreds of
dollars on flights. The proposed Consolidated Rental Car Facility
will make car rentals more efficient at the Airport, but it won’t bring
down fares. The federal government has allocated funds to build the new
airport terminal. It will be up to us to provide the funds to
maintain the terminal. As your city councilman, I want to take on projects that
make sense given the issuance of revenue bonds to pay for the additional
infrastructure.
10. Stimulus
Money – If I would not have voted for the stimulus bills if I were
your United States Congressman, why would I gladly vote to use stimulus
money as a member of Springfield City Council. I want to send a
message to Washington D.C. - thanks but no thanks.
11. The Downtown Square – Why do some
members of the community feel we have to change the way the square looks
constantly? Stop spending OUR taxpayer money downtown in an
attempt to please developers who may or may not follow through with
development.
12.
Proposed Smoking Ban – I do not support the more restrictive smoking
policy that is proposed on the April 5th ballot. Below is the
current smoking ordinance and my thoughts on the smoking ban.
Current
Smoking Ordinance
My Thoughts
on the Smoking Ban
13. Proposed Alcohol Ban - I do not support
the Alcohol ban on the April 5th ballot because it targets one revenue
producing movie theater where minors frequent while, at the same time,
exempting another revenue producing movie theater downtown where minors
are also allowed. This ban also infringes on a private business
owner's right to set policy for his/her business.
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