Iola’s new eight-member city council, which will be chosen in the April 5 city elections, will feature two representatives from each of the city’s four voting wards.
Today’s article focuses on Ward 1, representing the northwest quadrant of the city.
Voters will decide from among Kendall Callahan, Steffen Centlivre, Nancy Ford and Scott Stewart. The top two vote-getters will be seated in April.
What do you consider Iola’s strengths and why?
Kendall Callahan — Iola’s strengths lay in the people, industry and businesses that have chosen to be here. We have great accessibility with the intersection of two major highways. We have the benefit of having Allen County Community College, the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, Riverside Park with a new public swimming pool, a renovated public library and the highly anticipated construction of a new hospital.
Steffen Centlivre — The city’s self-sufficiency.
Nancy Ford — I would consider the strengths of Iola the people and that it is a great place to raise a family.
Scott Stewart — The strength of our city comes from many points. The dependable, responsible nature of our citizens forms the backbone of our community. We as a city are fortunate to have strong leadership that has governed wisely. Those employed by the city are a talented and dedicated group who function well as a team, and excel at multi-tasking. Groups such as Iola Industries, the Chamber of Commerce, Thrive Allen County and the many civic groups have done a tremendous job of promoting our many attributes. In addition, the First Ward has seen the recent expansion of affordable housing, helping to erase the housing deficit caused by the flood of 2007.
What do you consider the city’s biggest challenges?
Steffen Centlivre — To bring new industry and new jobs, and keep property tax at a level state.
Nancy Ford — We need to work on bringing more industry to Iola to strengthen and grow the city.
Scott Stewart — Iola’s greatest challenge is to maintain and expand an industrial base, and thus employment and prosperity, in the face of uncertain economic times. To do this, we must recruit new industry, new doctors, establish more affordable housing, as well as continue to support our established local business and our educational system. All the while, we must maintain and increase the level of services that our citizens have come to expect.
Kendall Callahan — Trend of a decreasing population, the loss of jobs and the rising cost of living.
What would you like to see the city do or offer more of in terms of services?
Nancy Ford — I would like to see a family center (like a YMCA) that is open year round, including weekends and evenings. I don’t know if this is possible, but it might be if we can partner with other industries, businesses or other sources.
Scott Stewart — Our current level of service is, in my opinion, outstanding. We must continue to govern wisely, and strive to meet ever-increasing demands on each household in the city.
Kendall Callahan — I believe we must be very cautious in adding any additional services until we get a grasp on where we are. We must carefully consider how we will pay for additional services initially and in the long term.
Steffen Centlivre — Snow removal on all streets.
Are there services the city offers that you would like to see removed, changed or handled by the private sector? If so, what?
Scott Stewart — I do not believe in reducing or eliminating services, except as a last resort. Experience has proven that once a service is restricted or eliminated, it is often very difficult and expensive to restore that service, and that service will be sorely missed.
Kendall Callahan — The new council needs to examine all aspects of our services to make sure we are giving our citizens the needed services at the best possible price.
Steffen Centlivre — Unknown at this time.
Nancy Ford — I think the city does a great job of providing services and I wouldn’t want to see any of them turned over to private companies. Once you start turning your services over you start losing your control of them.
Are there challenges facing your ward unlike those facing the city as a whole?
Kendall Callahan — Considering the size of our city, there will be very few challenges that affect our individual wards that do not apply to the city as a whole.
Steffen Centlivre — Yes, Ward 1 has the most industry, an area that needs more growth.
Nancy Ford — The only thing that I can really think of facing our ward would be a safer way to cross State Street for the rail trail.
Scott Stewart — Yes, I believe there are. A great deal of the First Ward is comprised of industrial tracts, including the currently unoccupied Haldex building and as yet undeveloped lots in the industrial park. I firmly believe the council must support the efforts of local groups striving to recruit and develop new business. Without industry, (i.e., jobs), we cannot continue to grow and prosper.
Do you see a need for better facilities/infrastructure/services for your ward? If so, which?
Steffen Centlivre — Updated street signs, maybe a stoplight. Better street linage. Maybe looking into reducing the speed limit around the Elm Creek bridge to reduce or stop all accidents in the area.
Nancy Ford — I don’t see any real need to improve what we have in our ward.
Scott Stewart — Infrastructure in the First Ward, as in the entire city, is currently in good shape. We must be sure to continue to provide our crews with the latest technology, tools and training to maintain and improve services to all of our households.
Kendall Callahan — Infrastructure needs to be addressed in all wards. It is my understanding there is need for work in infrastructure on water and sewer in many parts of the city. We need to include this in our master plan and begin accruing monies for these projects.
What do you think the city administrator’s duties should be? (Those duties have been established through a charter ordinance. The new council has the right to establish new descriptions or duties, including possibly assigning some duties to the mayor.
Nancy Ford — For the most part I think the duties of the administrator should stay the same as they have been. The one thing I could see changing is giving the city administrator the power to hire and fire without waiting to take it before the council for approval.
Scott Stewart — The city administrator should manage the operations of the city and its employees at the direction of the city council.
Kendall Callahan — I would propose establishing a structured system where employees are accountable to their department head; they in turn are accountable to the city administrator, who is accountable to the city council. The city council would help establish policy, approve budgets, empower the city administrator and hold them accountable for the results.
Steffen Centlivre — Handling of city affairs and overseeing personnel, as set by ordinance.
What duties would you like to see the mayor assigned?
Scott Stewart — The mayor should be the liaison between the city administration staff and the council. Additionally, the mayor should function as the ceremonial head of city government, as well as acting as the “chairperson” of the city council, helping to maintain focus and direction within that body.
Kendall Callahan — Tie-breaker votes and representing the city at public events, etc.
Steffen Centlivre — Appointing council committees or other such positions and officers as needed by demand and statute.
Nancy Ford — I don’t think that the mayor should have any more duties than what the current mayor has now. The mayor should preside over the meetings and try to be available to meet with potential businesses that could be interested in coming to Iola.
For years, Iola’s general operating budget has been supplemented with utility reserves to avoid property tax hikes. Do you support continuing the practice? What if doing away with the transfers could result in lower utility bills? What is your opinion of a higher property tax levy?
Kendall Callahan — Utility reserves were put into place primarily to maintain and update services and infrastructure. In cases of unexpected capital outlays or expenditures we will occasionally dip into reserves, but I do not believe we should continue to use utility reserves as a form of income into the general fund. We need to live within our means. I would not be in favor of raising property taxes unless we have exhausted all other means of reducing expenses.
Steffen Centlivre — I support supplementing the budget from utilities. There should be no tax increase, if at all possible.
Nancy Ford — I think that Iola needs to keep up on the each individual services bills instead of getting behind and then needing a large hike. I would hate to see too much of a property tax hike. We need to look at alternative income sources to help keep our taxes in the community down as long as we can.
Scott Stewart — If at all possible, I would like to see property tax increases avoided. In my opinion, our current budget operations are working well. That being said, these operations must be managed carefully, and closely monitored. We must remember, however, that expenses are a part of providing services.
Do you favor offering tax abatements or other incentives for new businesses or homeowners to build anew or remodel their properties? Should more incentives be offered? Less? Why?
Steffen Centlivre — I’m in favor of certain tax abatements that draw new businesses and homeowners, as well as those for remodeling older homes and businesses.
Nancy Ford — I think that if a large company is looking at coming into Iola and putting our local people to work then I would be in favor of a tax abatements. I think that offering incentives for people to build or remodel their properties would be good if we could continue to do that through grants such as the CDBG (community development block grant).
Scott Stewart — Incentives such as tax abatements can be very useful tools in recruiting business. While these incentives may be worrisome to some, careful examination reveals that the initial investment reaps great dividends in the long run.
Kendall Callahan — Tax abatements for businesses are necessary to attract new business. Attracting new business has become very competitive. We must remember Iola will continue to shrink if people don’t have a place to work. The homeowners abatement might help citizens to update or remodel without the fear of immediate additional taxes. This will help strengthen our local economy with purchases of supplies and services along with making Iola more appealing.
Do you favor using city resources to seek state or federal grants or earmarks?
Nancy Ford — Yes, I am in favor of this. We have been very successful in bringing money back to Iola by going to Washington and asking for it. Our citizens pay their taxes and we should get some of those federal tax dollars, but we have to be willing to put forth an effort to go after it. If we don’t, someone else will.
Scott Stewart — Yes. This can be handled by the city administration, with the support of dedicated local groups.
Kendall Callahan — Yes. We first must ask ourselves, “Is the project needed?” “Can we afford our part?” and “Can we maintain it after it’s built without raising taxes?”
Steffen Centlivre — Yes.
The City and Allen County continue to operate two fully staffed ambulance departments within blocks of each other. Do you support seeing consolidated ambulance service for all of Allen County? What if the consolidated service resulted in losing Iola’s full-time fire department in lieu of a volunteer force? Do you favor the current agreement?
Scott Stewart — Based on the information I have available to me, I do not support a consolidated ambulance service. This is a very emotional issue that requires careful study by all involved. I know that many Iola citizens already feel that they are being “double dipped” tax wise by supporting separate ambulance services when it seems that the previous service we enjoyed was working perfectly fine. Frankly, I do not have nearly enough information on hand to prove or disprove either theory. The citizens of Iola are served quite well by our firemen/EMT’s. I do not at this time favor ANY resolution that would result in the loss of our full-time fire department.
Kendall Callahan — Yes, consolidated ambulance service is needed. We must examine the issue and find a solution to provide the public with quality service at the best possible price.
Steffen Centlivre — I believe the county should only have ambulances in Moran, and the city of Iola should cover the rest of the area, considering that Iola has the fire and rescue equipment.
Nancy Ford — I would not support consolidation if it meant losing a full-time fire department for the city. The city attempted to have successful talks with the county and at that point had failed to see a positive outcome. From what I understand the city has run a successful ambulance service providing excellent services for our citizens. If the city lost the full time fire department, companies like Gates and Russell Stover’s may look to move their plants elsewhere, and we can’t afford to lose any more industries, and it would also hurt our chances of attracting new industry to town. There is also the chance of homeowners and business insurance rates increasing with no full-time fire department. That would affect all of our citizens.
Please list any comments you would like to offer that have not been addressed.
Kendall Callahan — None.
Steffen Centlivre — Nothing at this time.
Nancy Ford — None.
Scott Stewart — My late father was fond of saying “If you don’t vote, don’t gripe!” Amen. I would encourage all registered voters in the City of Iola to GET OUT AND VOTE. Don’t believe for one moment that your voice doesn’t count or won’t be heard. You have before you a strong and diverse group of candidates from which to choose. The future of your city is in your hands. Make the most of your privilege.
