Iola mayoral candidates are incumbent Jon Wells, Ron Ballard and Larry Walden.
In Jon Wells two years as mayor, the citys accomplishments arent the glamorous type, he acknowledged.
When you talk about finishing out electrical capacity, it doesnt make a lot of flash, he laughed. But a solid infrastructure and reliable utilities are the way to attract businesses.
Wells is running for a second two-year term as mayor. Hes opposed by Iolan Larry Walden and City Councilman Ron Ballard.
The citys recent acquisition of a pair of used generators to increase the electrical capacity carries more of an impact that most realize, the mayor contends.
Thats because of the way communities are charged to buy energy. Those with generators of their own, such as Iola, can secure electricity from wholesale suppliers at a lower cost.
But since the 2007 flood destroyed a series of steam generators at the power plant, Iola has fallen short of the benchmark to be considered a generating city. To compensate, Iola has paid other communities for than $100,000 annually for that added capacity.
Generating capacity is only important at times of high demand, such as the hottest summer or coldest winter days. In reality, a citys generators are used sparingly, if at all.
Generating capacity is one of the things Ive been harping on for the past five years, Wells said. The full project I envisioned didnt come through, but we did come very close, and I think we can get there.
RESPONSIBLE budgeting, and not a blanket mantra of keeping utility rates low is key to a citys success, Wells said.
He points to Iola as an example.
When city planners built Iolas water plant in 2005, they did so without a subsequent increase in water rates for several years hence.
That, in turn, meant paying $600,000 or so annually in construction bond payments, without additional revenue to cover those costs.
Within a few years, the water fund was depleted, and the city has been trying to catch up with a series of rate increases, most recently earlier this year.
Additionally, the Council was forced to use the capital projects fund normally earmarked for street repairs and other projects to make Iolas water plant payment this year.
And we dont have a plan to pay back that money into the street fund, the mayor said.
Wells also stressed the importance of sufficiently funding equipment reserves, Wells said.
