Posted: 10/24/06
Meet commissioner candidates for District 2
The candidates are Larry Connery and Randy Steinfeldt, who won the primary election in September. Tom Knutson, who finished third in the primary, has declared himself a write-in candidate.
District two includes the townships of Houston, Mound Prairie, Money Creek, Yucatan, Sheldon, and Union; and the city of Houston. District four includes the townships of Brownsville, Hokah, and La Crescent; and the cities of Brownsville, Hokah, and La Crescent third precinct.
Randy Steinfeldt did not respond to the questions.
Larry Connery
1) Why are you running for county commissioner?
As a public servant I want to provide the necessary services to the taxpayers of Houston County. We have a shortfall of revenue at all levels of government. Options to increase revenue are very limited. Any effort to do so must take into account the negative effect on the countyís taxpayers. Effective planning and cost containment should be the first priority to provide quality services to the people of Houston County. I would bring to the position experience in management of financial resources and budgeting.
2) What experiences qualify you for the job?
Education: Bachelor of Business Administration Degree Occupation: Self-Employed Tax & Business Consultant. Business Experience and Community Involvement: Board Member Root River Market, Treasurer; Board Member A.B.L.E., Inc; Board Member Houston Lions; US Department of Treasury Administrative Officer, La Crosse, Wisconsin; Corporate Auditor; Houston School Board - 13 years; Hiawatha Valley Education District Board - 5 years; Church Trustee, Church Council, Church Youth Instructor; Charter President Houston Area Jaycees -MN Jaycees District & Regional Director; Western Wisconsin Technical College - Advisory Board Member Accounting Dept.
3) What are the biggest challenges that the county is facing?
Applying the county zoning ordinances regulating buildings and the use of land in Houston County. I think that it is critical that the zoning ordinances be reviewed and updated as soon as possible.
4) What is your opinion of the proposed new jail and criminal justice center, and its location adjacent to the old courthouse?
The construction of a county Criminal Justice Center is proceeding with an estimated construction starting date in the spring of 2007. The majority of commissioners have previously voted in favor of a Criminal Justice Center. The newly elected District 2 Commissioner entry into the project will be subsequent to many of the issues already being decided. My responsibility would be to research open issues and listen to the citizens in order to obtain the best possible solution for all the citizens of Houston County.
5) Any other comments?
Houston County has a five member board of county commissioners as the governing body.
The county commissioners are elected by district, serve a four-year term that are staggered among the five county districts. The county commissioners have administrative, financial and legislative responsibilities to ensure that citizen concerns are met and state and federal requirements are fulfilled.
County commissioners approve budgets for other elected county officials; they do not have managerial oversight. The countyís main source of revenue comes from property tax. Other revenue sources come from state and federal grants, fees, fines, forfeitures, sale of public land, investments and special assessments.
Major expenditures are human services, public safety and general government.
Many of the expenditures are legal mandates required and imposed by state and federal governments.
State and federal governmentsÇ mandates are often passed without appropriate funding and the county must pay the cost of implementing the mandate, i.e. waste management, pollution control, treatment of prisoners, public defenders, voter registration, public health, welfare and social services etc. The county budget must be balanced, only a small portion of the budget remains to pay for the county citizensí other needs.
The Open Meeting Law requires that public business be conducted in public. The public has the right to attend and observe all formal and informal county board meeting including county committee and sub-committee meetings.
County commissioners work with and respond to constituentsí concerns and represent the county before local, state and national boards and commissions and state and federal offices.
Tom Knutson
1) Why are you running for county commissioner?
I am running for County Commissioner in District 2 because I feel I have the knowledge and experience to be an asset at the County government level.
2) What experiences qualify you for the job?
I have been involved in small business for years. I owned and operated Tomís Body Shop for 20+ years. I was on the Houston City Council for 9 years and on various boards from that council position. I am currently Chairman for the Money Creek Township Board serving my second term involving me in township government. I enjoy working with people and am not afraid to voice my opinion.
3) What are the biggest challenges that the county is facing?
The new justice center, planning and zoning
4) What is your opinion of the proposed new jail and criminal justice center, and its location adjacent to the old courthouse?
Evidently a new jail system is needed because of the age of the old jail. However, the current Board isnít adding onto the current jail, it is adding the jail onto the existing Courthouse. Looking into the future, how many years will it be before the current Courthouse is outdated and more office, storage, and parking space are needed, and more properties are taken off the tax roles?
5) Any other comments?
Week to week and day to day issues that need to be looked at with good research, common sense, and listening to concerns of the people. Before commenting or expressing an opinion on an issue, I will research those issues to their fullest utilizing committees such as planning and zoning, economic development, etc. as resources for these issues.
Caledonia Argus
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P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
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