The individuals we select to represent us on City Council are our closest connection to government. Their decisions have greater impact on our lives than most national decisions. Your vote is very important. That is why Rolla Preservation Alliance decided to contact the candidates, so voters can be informed and to take time to cast a ballot and act on their best judgement.
This week we will focus of the candidates running for City Council in Ward 2. Running for City Council are Gregory Sawyer (incumbent) and Matthew Crowell.
Q&A with candidate Gregory Sawyer (incumbent)
RPA did not receive a response from Mr. Sawyer.
 |
| Boundaries of Ward 2. |
Q&A with candidate Matthew Crowell
Name?
Matthew Crowell
Where are you from?
I was born in Logan, Utah, but grew up in Harrisonville, MO. I attended college at Truman State University
and law school at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, before moving to St.
Robert to be with my wife. After a short
stint in St. Robert, my wife and I moved to Rolla; my wife to teach art at the
Junior High and me to work at the local Public Defender’s Office.
How long have you been a
resident of Rolla?
I have had the privilege to call Rolla my home for the past six years.
What is the single most
important issue in your ward?
The single most important issue in Ward 2 is to ensure that our ward
remains a strong magnet for business while maintaining its residential
neighborhoods. The recent rezoning
threat of McCutchen Acres from single-family residential to the heaviest
possible commercial use to allow Wal-Mart to put in a grocery store, gas
station and liquor store was not only a direct attack on the character of Ward
2’s neighborhoods but also a direct attack on the businesses that have called
our Ward home for many years. This is
why I decided to run for City Council. I
felt betrayed when our current councilmember, Greg Sawyer, voted in favor of
allowing the rezoning of this residential track to commercial use for Wal-Mart
at the expense of all the residents and businesses of Ward 2.
What is the worst thing to
happen in your ward in the last five years?
The worst thing to happen in our ward the last 5 years was the threat
of the rezoning of McCutchen Acres to allow for another Wal-Mart store at the
expense of the neighborhoods and current businesses. When our current councilmember, Greg Sawyer,
voted in favor of this rezoning, I decided it was time for Ward 2 to have a
voice in City Council that would look out for the residents and established
businesses of our ward. This is why I am
running for City Council.
What is the best thing to happen
in your ward in the last five years?
The best thing to happen in our ward the last 5 years is the resurgence
of investment by businesses including the new Sinks Pharmacy, Liquor Cabinet,
Dollar General, Furniture Express and of course, the future redevelopment of
the Forum Plaza. As councilmember of
Ward 2, I would continue to make Ward 2 an excellent place for business while
ensuring that it maintains its residential appeal.
What does Rolla do well?
Rolla does a great job of attracting a diverse group of people and
businesses despite its small size. In
addition, Rolla maintains an excellent park system and indoor/outdoor
activities for the community. If
elected, I would strive to continue to make Rolla a welcoming environment for
people of all cultures and backgrounds as well as build on the existing park
system.
What could Rolla do better?
Rolla needs to do a better job of being transparent to the
taxpayers. Everyone can agree that
parks, schools and other government functions are important and worthy of our
support. However, we should know where
our money is spent and ensure that we do not make promises we cannot keep or
afford.
How can you/the city support
small business development and expansion?
As a member of the Rolla City Council, I would continue to support
small business by fostering an environment that encourages working with and
assisting business development and expansion.
An excellent example of this
cooperation is the Forum Plaza Community Improvement District. Furthermore, the City can continue to
highlight its central location with great highway and rail access, diverse
workforce, and low cost to business and industry. The City should continue to foster strong
ties with MS&T and the Small Business Administration, Rolla Regional
Economic Commission, Meramec Regional Planning Commission, and other
organizations to help assist small businesses to grow and develop.
What should we do to encourage
others to relocate here?
To encourage individuals to move and stay in Rolla, we must continue to
work on changing Rolla’s image of a small Midwestern town to that of a thriving
hub for technology and innovation in one of the most attractive outdoor
settings in Missouri. Rolla needs to
continue to develop and support a diversity of dining, shopping and
entertainment options and we must
fully support our parks.
What should we do to encourage
graduates from Missouri S&T to stay in Rolla?
JOBS! If we want to keep the talent that Missouri S&T attracts and
fosters, we must encourage business and industry that can support college
graduates. We do that by keeping the
cost to do business in Rolla at a minimum and competitive tax rates while at
the same time maintaining a quality of life that exceeds that of the big cities
through our lower crime rates, our better schools, and our better parks and
recreational activities.
Do you support the Rolla West
Master Plan and the Westside Transportation Plan? Why or why not?
I support the Rolla West Master Plan and the Westside Transportation
Plan. Rolla needs to encourage continued
smart growth and be open to new business and industrial development while
working to preserve the character of Rolla.
Rolla West does just that; it incorporates new development, enhances the
aesthetics and pedestrian friendly appeal of Rolla while utilizing and
preserving the character of Rolla by developing in a commercial/industrial area
of Rolla utilizing existing infrastructure.
Do you support the Forum Plaza
Community Improvement District? Why or why not?
Absolutely. My decision to run
for Ward 2 councilman was based in part on current ward 2 councilman, Greg
Sawyer’s, decision not to support the
Forum Plaza Improvement District and instead supporting the reclassification of
single-home residential property to allow for a Wal-mart/gas station/liquor
store in the center of our neighborhood.
Ward 2 is a great place to live, but also a great place to shop. Ward 2 is a great place for businesses to
operate and it makes sense for us to support those businesses that have a long
history with our ward.
What is the proper use of tax
increment financing (TIF)? Is there a
proper use? Tax increment financing
should be used only in extremely limited circumstances to encourage development
of blighted areas. Even then, we should
be wary of the fiscal impact that such financing will have on our schools, law
enforcement, roads and other services we rely on the city to provide.
Is eminent domain ever
warranted?
In those extremely limited circumstances outlined in Article 1, section
26 of the Missouri Constitution, eminent domain may be warranted for the
general welfare of the people e.g. for highways, safety, etc. However, this does not mean that anyone
should ever have to give up his or her home for a shopping center or office
park. When we do ask someone to
sacrifice their property, we must make all efforts to ensure that they are
given just compensation for their property being mindful of the value
that the owner places on the property.
Due to the growth of the student
population at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, more student
housing is needed. With the recent
proliferation of student housing construction by private investors, do you
think stronger regulations and building codes are needed from Planning and
Zoning Department? Why are why not.
I do not think that Rolla needs
stronger regulation and building codes.
Rolla already follows the International Building Code and has strong
regulations in place. However, as
councilman of Ward 2, I would make sure that the current regulations and codes
are followed so that the most vulnerable in our community, including the
elderly and young adults live in safe, well-constructed homes.
Do you support the overall
campus master plan of the Missouri University of Science and Technology? What do you like? What changes would you like
to see? Yes, I support the master
plan. I am very excited with the concept
of the campus front door providing an attractive and obvious “front” entrance
to the university, which would both improve the campus’s look and make it more
inviting, but also serve to beautify Bishop Avenue. I am also very excited about MS&T’s
desire to revitalize Pine Street and the idea of repurposing the old power
plant into an occupiable building. Both
of these ideas focus attention on preserving the historic center of Rolla and
an iconic landmark of our city, the university power plant. Finally, the preservation of the campus creek
and the concept of the living lab are exciting features that would be great to
see implemented in other design projects in Rolla.
Do you support the Rolla
Preservation Commission and their efforts to retain and reuse the historic
built environment? Why or why not?
Yes, it is important that while we constantly strive to improve our
community, that we not let go of our past.
It is extremely sad to see Rolla’s architectural gems, like the Hafeli
House, be destroyed to make way for improvement. Obviously, Rolla needs to make sure that
everything is done to preserve its historic buildings and character. This is why I support the efforts of the
Rolla Preservation Commission.
What are your thoughts regarding
Rolla’s historic heritage and historic assets?
In 2011, I had the privilege to participate in the Rolla’s
Sesquicentennial Celebration. As part of
this celebration, I acted in the reenactment of the debate on whether or not
Rolla should secede from the Union. As
part of the celebration, I was able to tour the old courthouse and the Dillon
Log Cabin. I love that Rolla was able to
preserve these historic buildings. I
think it is also impressive how Rolla’s historic buildings, such as Benton
Square, the Public House Brewery and even City Hall and RMU building, can still
serve as viable commercial buildings. We
need to continue to reuse and repurpose our historical assets as we continue to
grow. As a member of City Council, I
will do everything I can to make sure that we do all we can to preserve our
historical buildings.
What do you think is the best
way to stabilize the core residential neighborhoods of Rolla?
In order to stabilize the core residential neighborhoods in Rolla, we
need to honor our commitment to those homeowners to provide adequate city
services, to honor zoning commitments and fully support the parks located in
those neighborhoods. This is why I am
running for City Council, because current Ward 2 councilman, Greg Sawyer,
failed to recognize these basic ideas when he voted to support the heaviest
possible commercial use, including a Wal-Mart, gas station and liquor store,
right in the middle of a residential neighborhood of Ward 2. The reoccurring zoning requests in Ward 2 for
McCutchen Acres to Commercial to the detriment of all those that live in this
Ward must stop!
No comments:
Post a Comment