Each week leading up to the 2023 Lowell City Council election, we are featuring a different question posed to candidates. These questions were selected to allow candidates the opportunity to speak directly to voters as well as address issues on the minds of many residents. Candidate answers have not been edited in any way and are published exactly as provided. This week’s question is:
What do you think are the three biggest issues facing the City of Lowell and how will you address them?
Eric Bartkus
Lowell is a fantastic place to live and work and I want to help its future growth. Three large financial commitments will put a strain on the city and need our focus. These three and all of my 21 Promises to help our citizens are discussed at my website ericbartkus.com.
1)Multi-million dollar street rebuilding costs
Paying the $8 million costs for Monroe and Washington streets and additional amounts for the other streets in the seven year plan will burden our finances. I want to keep Lowell as the most desirable place to call home and don’t want to cut needed services. The USDA loans at 2 and 3% make borrowing easier, but the interest on Monroe and Washington alone will be $240K per year. The annual marijuana excise tax ($363K in 2023) and $60K license revenue have helped, but we need to be diligent at paying back this loan. I have managed many successful engineering projects and know how to budget and deliver. I will actively help guide our finances so that there is money for streets without jeopardizing vital city services. See my Promise 6 for more details.
2)$4 million city employee pension liability
The pension liability has developed over many years and a number of cities in Michigan have the same problem. The pension system is closed for new hires, but we have a number of deserving individuals in the program. City Manager Mike Burns has been good during his tenure about moving any undesignated funds to this need. This must continue in earnest. Read my Promise 5 for details.
3)Financing improvements to the water system (without greatly raising rates)
If Lowell and Vergennes townships require city water/sewer for further growth, the water treatment system will need expensive expansions. The costs for this should not be borne by the city residents and businesses. This topic has regularly been before council for three years. I have solved similar engineering problems working as part of a team. I will diligently help guide this critical and complex topic for continued growth. See my Promise 8 for details.
Unfortunately, I can’t recommend that the current city tax millage be reduced. I wish I could. I know that our millage is quite high and is a struggle for many residents and businesses. However, the above needs and our many services would be severely compromised by a cut. Once solutions to the three discussed needs are in hand, I will work with the council and city manager to hopefully reduce the millage (without compromising services). Read my Promise 12 for details.
Jake Davenport
Our top 3 issues are affordable housing and affordability in general, growing our city’s economy, and infrastructure.
Mike DeVore
I know this is the obvious answer, but number one is the roads. The new influx of tax revenue and opportunities for USDA loans and grants has accelerated the repairs far beyond what we thought we could get done, but we’re still catching up from years of neglect. The Monroe St. project is going to be the shining example of what we thought would take forever. It’s not just fixing the road, it’s fixing the infrastructure underneath as well.
Number two would be money. Another probably obvious answer, but that’s what we need. The excise revenue won’t continue forever and costs for everything will only continue to grow. You need money to provide services, protect the residents and hire and keep good employees. Taxes are high enough. We balloted a city income tax with millage rollback that failed as well. The residents have made it crystal clear that they can’t pay more and they shouldn’t have to. How to keep the high level of quality city services the residents deserve will be a hill that will eventually need climbing, but we are up to the task.
Third is community. Working together better. Since I came to council, the relationship between the city and Lowell Township has vastly improved. Our relationship with Vergennes has as well. There have been so many projects we have been able to do together, like community cleanup and the splash pad at Grand River Park. The Fire Authority, made up of one elected official from each municipality and one resident from each, is working better together than they ever have. It’s awesome to be a part of. However, as the issues get bigger and bigger, the problems do too. The balance between what’s best for our residents and what’s best for the community as a whole isn’t always the same. But I value our relationships and we need common ground to keep them strong while still providing for the residents of the greater Lowell area. I took over the Vision Alliance Board (City of Lowell, Light and Power, Public Works, Lowell Police, Lowell Township, Vergennes Township, Chamber of Commerce, Lowell Schools and the Lowell Area Fire Department are all equally represented) when Liz Baker retired and we have met regularly for updates and to discuss upcoming projects throughout the community. That has been extremely valuable.
Jim Salzwedel
Water and sewer. The city has been working in conjunction with the Lowell Township to address current and future needs. While the waster water and clean water plant today can support the City of Lowell needs with out expansion, the need for expansion fairly falls on the growth in the townships. Our current water agreement does not take in account for expansion etc. and would need to continue future talks.
Rec. Park.
With the fair leaving the city, we have a larger piece of land that will need to be developed over the next decades and cost upwards of million of dollars to accomplish. The parks department, citizens of Lowell, fund raisers will have our work cut out to help developed the site.
New Taxable Dollars
With every increasing cost to do business the city budget becomes tighter to provide the services we demand. How does one go about increasing taxable dollars. Invite new business (retail, commercial, industry) into the community, housing, etc. This is hard to do when the city does not have the land to make this happen so when an opportunity comes along all parties have to think out side the box.
Sharon Shah
Addressing Urbanization and Population Growth:
1. Long-Term Planning: Create and follow urban plans that consider future population growth, zoning, land use, and transportation.
2. Affordable Housing: Invest in affordable housing projects to meet the needs of a growing population.
3. Smart Growth: Promote efficient land use by encouraging mixed-use areas, transit-oriented development, and denser urban development.
Taking Care of Our Infrastructure:
1. Budget for Maintenance: Allocate funds for regular infrastructure upkeep to prevent expensive emergency repairs.
2. Asset Management: Use systems to prioritize maintenance based on infrastructure condition and expected lifespan.
3. Innovative Financing: Explore creative funding methods like public-private partnerships (PPPs) and infrastructure bonds for essential repairs and improvements.
Affordable Housing
Incentives for Developers:
1. Tax Incentives: Offer tax breaks to developers who include affordable housing units in their projects.
2. Fee Waivers: Reduce or eliminate development fees for projects with affordable housing.
3. Density Bonuses: Allow more units or increased density in exchange for affordable housing inclusion.
4. Streamlined Regulations: Simplify permitting and zoning processes for affordable housing projects.
Affordable Housing Mandates:
1. Inclusionary Zoning: Require a percentage of affordable units in new developments, on-site or in a community fund.
2. Set-Asides: Mandate affordable units in large-scale or new housing projects to maintain affordability during growth.
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