Thursday, Mar. 11, 2010
Candidates face off at forum
Miranda Wycoff, Journal Staff
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The candidates for the Blue Springs city council got the chance to be heard Thursday morning at the regular monthly meeting for the Blue Springs Business Association.
Each candidate had his or her chance to talk to the gathering of about 30 at Clancy’s and to tell them why they were running and what they could do for the city of Blue Springs.
The Missouri Innovation Park was on the minds of many of the candidates and those in the audience.
The only incumbent, District 2 candidate Sissy Reed, acknowledged the latest news about the MIP, saying the University of Missouri plans to locate itself in Blue Springs earlier than planned, but that it will ultimately slow down the process of building the planned Mizzou Center at the park.
“I think that’s favorable and I’m really delighted with it,” Reed said.
Her opponent, Chris Lievsay, echoed her thoughts saying he is, “Encouraged by the progress made so far.” “The Economic Development Corporation has done a good job in making (the MIP) a focus,” Lievsay said. “I think it will really put Blue Springs on the map.
“It will be the carrot on the stick to not only bring in development, but also educational opportunities.”
District 3 candidate Michael Freeman said he would like to see green development be a major aspect of development at the park and his opponent Grant Bowerman said he thinks the MIP will bring the jobs of the future to Blue Springs.
District 1 candidate Dale Carter said if elected he wants to focus on three things: making it easier to do business, incentives for first time homebuyers and public safety.
Carter said he has heard from developers and realtors that Blue Springs is one of the most difficult cities in the metropolitan area to do business with.
“Let’s ask the tough questions but let’s not make it so difficult to do business,” Carter said.
Carter’s idea to give incentives first-time homebuyers in Blue Springs caught some interest among the crowd, but many questioned how that could happen without the city losing money.
“The tax incentives could take many forms, but we need to get the discussion started,” Carter said. He said it could take the form of a gradual property tax incentive.
His opponent, District 1 candidate James May questioned where the money would come from for such a program and said he would like to see what the state does on talks about a state-wide home-buying incentive.
May, a 25-year resident of Blue Springs, said he wants to see Blue Springs go back to being the friendly town it was when he first relocated from Kansas City.
“We need to change our attitude and let that be the key to our success,” May said.
As the incumbent for District 2, Reed said she’s seen a lot of accomplishments in Blue Springs over the last few years and said there will be more to come.
“Everyone is asking about Woods Chapel,” Reed said. “We are going to see it expanded and improved with bike paths and sidewalks. That’s going to be a big blessing for a lot of folks.”
Reed also cited the Coronado Place shopping center and the coming Olive Garden, which received a round of applause.
“We’re going to have more shopping and all we need and want right here in Blue Springs,” Reed said.
Lievsay, who sits on the Public Safety Advisory Board and helped form the Blue Springs Citizens Police Academy’s alumni, said he would like to see a continued focus on public safety.
“As great as our schools are, if they are not safe, it’s not going to matter,” he said.
He also said he would like the city to streamline the signing code throughout the city.
For the District 3 candidates, audience members questioned how they would work with the rest of the council and keep the council united.
“There are three sides to every story,” Bowerman said. “Yours, mine and the facts. I think if we focus on the facts, we’re going to win.”
Bowermen then went on to address current District 3 council member Sheila Solon’s questions to Brien Starner of the Economic Development Corporation at the last city council meeting.
“Sometimes the questions we ask are better done in private,” he said. “You can still come back to the constituent and give them the answer, but when you ask those types of questions in front of the cameras, that’s what gets picked up by everybody and then it starts.”
Freeman’s opinion was just the opposite.
“The end justifies the means,” he said, saying the questions asked by Solon in the open meeting may have been contentious, but they turned out to be true.
“The very next day a letter was released,” he said. “If that’s what it takes to get the truth out of people, then that’s what we need.”
Freeman said a transparent government is one of the most important things a government can be.
School Board
Following the candidates for city council, the candidates running unopposed for the Blue Springs R-4 School Board got their chance to speak.
Dave Wright and Rhonda Gilstrap addressed budget concerns and the recent news the Kansas City school district is closing several schools.
“Our situation is very different from Kansas City’s,” Wright said. “If you have half the number of students you use to, you need half the number of schools.”
Wright said while the Blue Springs School District was growing for a number of years, it has leveled off some. And Gilstrap added the district does periodic demographic studies to advise them on when and if they need additional schools.
“Building this new elementary school will meet our needs for the foreseeable future,” Wright said. Gilstrap said the last demographic study showed no indication that the district will need to build a third high school at the moment.
To reach Journal reporter Miranda Wycoff, call 816-282-7017 or e-mail mwycoff@bluespringsjournal.com
