Name: David Nevin
Position sought: Crosslake mayor
What are the top issues your city needs to address? A. Water quality. B. Housing. C. City facilities. D. Budget.
How would you address those issues? A. Start a five-year plan to expand city sewer; work with the county on storm sewer. B. We need entry-level and senior housing. Encourage growth so young families can afford to live here. C. All citizens need input into a decision for a new police/fire/city hall facility. D. We have approximately a $500,000 deficit each year. We need to increase the tax base and alternative resources to keep our tax rate stable.
Why are you the best candidate? I have lived in Crosslake for 28 years, raised a family, had a small business, and I've been involved in local government the past six years. I was appointed to Planning & Zoning and helped convert it to a county-run department, which has been a great success. I was elected to city council last term. I have seen how government works and I do not agree with all of it. I believe in an open government.
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Name: Patty Norgaard
Position sought: Crosslake mayor
What are the top issues your city needs to address? Creating a solid infrastructure is necessary for a sustainable community. For Crosslake, this involves upgrading the sewer plant, providing good roads/bridges, addressing municipal facility needs and remaining financially sound as well. The business community is also an important part of the vitality and growth of our community. So, we must keep the needs of our businesses in mind in our planning to make sure we don't become an impediment to their success.
How would you address those issues? To address infrastructure issues, the council approved a sewer plant expansion study, a road project update and a municipal facility needs study. But, it is critical that the city look at longer term future needs as we continue to grow and expand. While the newly approved comprehensive plan addresses this concern and will guide us as we make decisions, we need to remember the only constant is change and we must be ready for it.
Why are you the best candidate? Strong leadership is the key ingredient for any organization. To me, this means developing an environment where teamwork is valued and encouraged. I believe that the best outcomes are achieved when people work together toward common goals. Running for mayor in 2016, I had no "personnel agenda." My objective was to build on the principle of teamwork to establish a workplace where we functioned as a team - all working together for the people of Crosslake.
Name: John Andrews
Position sought: Crosslake City Council
What are the top issues your city needs to address? The top challenge for Crosslake is to continue the legacy of protecting our lakes so that Crosslake continues to be the beautiful, enjoyable, destination community that it currently is for visitors and residents. Crosslake will continue to be a business-friendly community to encourage businesses to locate and expand in Crosslake. Current challenges are finding enough workers, expanding the sanitary sewer and growing the tax base to keep tax rates low.
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How would you address those issues? As a 42-year seasonal and full-time resident of Crosslake, I intend to continue the positive momentum of the current Crosslake City Council by promoting cooperation between government and the community. I will do this by listening to the concerns of the community and business owners and then making thoughtful decisions and proposals to enhance the services available in the Crosslake community while working to preserve our unique and valued way of life.
Why are you the best candidate? I will continue the lake preservation legacy and promote business-friendly actions to grow the economy and expand services for the community. I will focus the same thoughtful decision-making approach I used throughout my career in major projects, including smallpox eradication in Bangladesh and Somalia, Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and in executive positions at the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center.
Name: Aaron Herzog
Position sought: Crosslake City Council
What are the top issues your city needs to address? Work toward better regulations on water runoff and erosion control to prevent water from running directly into the lakes to slow down and prevent contamination. Our lake water quality is Crosslake's future.
To continue our business growth and get new businesses to come here, we need to look at where workforce housing can go, what type of housing is needed and how we can expand our sewer system to accommodate growth.
How would you address those issues? By working with the business groups to determine what housing needs are, then work with planning and zoning to assure appropriate land is available. The next part would be to make sure the sewer system can be expanded into this area in a reasonable time period.
Why are you the best candidate? I have 40 years of experience in local government; 33 years in law enforcement, including management, budgeting, program development, working with the media, data practices, working with the fire department and hiring employees. In Blaine, I worked on special projects with the city council. I've been on the Crosslake planning commission for seven years, including the past four years as chair. We have made many positive changes for the city and continue to do so.
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Name: R. Clay Porter
Position sought: Crosslake City Council
What are the top issues your city needs to address? We need a first-class city hall, along with fire and police facilities commensurate with the needs of our community.
Recreational amenities: We should consider expanding the community center to include year-round recreational attractions.
Zoning and planning: Careful attention to the growth of our community for both seasonal and year-round residents while allowing for healthy business growth.
How would you address those issues? I would seek out community input. I would work with other council members and the mayor to develop implementation plans. I would promote discussion of these plans in a forum open to the community and take action with deference to community preferences.
Why are you the best candidate? I don't know that I am. I have never held an elected office. For 40 years I have defended trucking companies in civil litigation. I pride myself on being professional, honest, ethical and diligent. I am not beholden to any special interest. My two youngest children attend Crosslake Community School. My wife and I intend this to be our permanent home. My motivation is to serve the community with a long-term view.
Name: Dave Schrupp
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Position sought: Crosslake City Council
What are the top issues your city needs to address? Maintaining Crosslake's "up north" appeal to visitors, which is essential to businesses that depend on visitors and to seasonal and year-round residents who enjoy the Crosslake lifestyle. This includes all city amenities and infrastructure, park and library system, public works, police and fire departments. We need to make every effort we can to protect the water quality of our Whitefish Chain of Lakes.
How would you address those issues? Continuing to monitor/prioritize city needs that have been outlined in our five-year capital improvement planning tool and review new needs as they arise. We need to continue to "re-invest" in our community rather than allowing all our city amenities to deteriorate. We need to continue to listen to citizen requests and suggestions relative to improvements that can make Crosslake a better place to live, work and play.
Why are you the best candidate? My four years on the council have provided me with a better understanding of city government operations. I believe I am fiscally responsible, honest and open to all residents of Crosslake. I have lived and vacationed in the area for over 22 years and believe I have a good understanding of the needs of Crosslake.
