City Council Candidate Questions Week 5: Recreation

Each week we will be bringing you a candidate profile.  When we met with the five individuals seeking a seat on City Council this November we also gave them a list of questions.  Our questions were broken down into various topics of interest for the City of Lowell.  Each week we will be publishing our question(s) and their responses in their entirety giving our readers the opportunity to be introduced to one candidate but also see all candidate views on different subjects.   We thank all of the candidates for taking time to answer our questions and look forward to sharing their responses.

Answers to our question(s) will be show in alphabetical order by last name.  This week’s questions are about recreation and why you should vote for each candidate.  We asked each candidate the following questions:

1.  How should the city promote its recreation opportunities?  Do you support creating a connector within city limits from the Fred Meijer Trail that runs from Saranac to the Lowell Area Trailway?

2.  Why should people vote for you in November?

Response from Greg Canfield.

1. We definitely need to promote our recreational opportunities here and we would be absolutely crazy to not find a way to bring the Frederick Meijer Trail near our downtown. Research shows revenues increase by 30% to local businesses when they become Trail Towns. More revenue to fix our streets, more local jobs for our residents, and increased values both for residential and business property.  We are poised not only to become a trail town but we have a TRI FECTA here of trails. North Country Trails nation headquarters, Frederick Meijer Trails and the Flat and Grand Rivers are water trails that meet here. Desirability of communities depends heavily on walkability and recreation and we are so close to having that. We just need to buckle down and get it done.2.  I think my experience from serving on most the the boards and commissions here in my 28 years as a city resident is helpful along with decision making skills honed by 23 years of owning a small business. It’s important for City Council members to recognize the relationship between expenses and revenue and not live beyond our means. My background in construction is helpful in making decisions and selecting contractors for city projects. Lowell Community resident for nearly 60 years and hopefully have my ear to the ground about what’s happening in Lowell.

Response from Jake Davenport.

1. We have great parks, the Riverwalk, the north country trail. We have lot lots of great recreational opportunities. We need to get more use out of our parks. One idea I have had is to use the Riverwalk for a weekly flea market during the summer. When it comes to the bike trail, I would support the concept, but with the major infrastructure issues the city is facing, I would not support the city financing this project. I would prefer that the Lowell Area trailway authority raise money via donations and fundraising to pay for this project. Other than the monetary part of it, I would fully support it.
   
   2.  People should vote for because I have the vision, determination, and the knowledge to get things done. We want this to be a prosperous community. The decision makers of the past have failed us. Opportunities have passed us by that would have made us an even greater community than what we are now. The days of missed opportunities are over. The days of an apathetic city government are through. I will fight for the future of our city, and the dreams and aspirations of the people of Lowell. If elected I will do whatever I can to lead Lowell to a brighter future. For all the people of Lowell, I will fight for you, I will work for you, I will listen to you, and I will win for you.

Response from Mike DeVore.

1.  There’s unlimited opportunities for the community to advertise. I know Perry and his Parks Board have been working on a brochure advertising our recreation opportunities and parks as well as local landmarks. That needs to be a community wide endeavor, in my opinion. We need to get out there and be visible, including the Township locations. It’s really a year-round opportunity to enjoy the area and I think Perry has the passion to make that a reality. We’re behind him and his board 1,000%. I also think the trail connector is an invaluable opportunity and it would be absolutely tragic to get left behind, or left out completely. We absolutely need to be involved and passionate about the trails and parks.

2.  People should vote for me because I truly love it here. I’ve been involved in this community and I’m truly in love with it. I think I’m always open to new ideas and opportunities. I think my relationship with the other Council Members and the City Staff allows for the most positive and productive exchanges. I think the progress we’ve made since I’ve been elected is visible, but I don’t believe my work for this community is complete. I want to see it through and make Lowell what it truly can be and absolutely should be.

Response from Mark Ritzema.

1.  I think that a connector should be made between the trail but since most of the area is in Ionia and Kent counties, the City of Lowell should look to them to fund it.  We should try to find ways to fund any portion that runs through the city.

   2.  I can only say that I should receive a vote because I listen and will work towards having the citizens of Lowell have a person on the council who will not try to cause problems and will answer questions and try to find answers if the question can’t be answered right away.

Response from Jim Salzwedel.

1.  The city should continue to promote its recreational activities through the Parks and Recreation Department, through the use of the city website, various handouts, and perhaps creating a way for online contributions to be made to a particular activity, much the same way as we can now pay utility bills.  With regard to your question about creating a connector within city limits from the Fred Meijer Trail, running from Saranac to the Lowell Area Trailway, before I could comment I would need to become better informed on that.  

2.  I would want people to vote for me in November, because I hope and believe with my skills, knowledge, and experience I can promote Lowell’s quality of community, and I can help the City Council become more effective in doing its job, to the benefit of its citizens.  The City Council matters to Lowell’s future.

We need council members who will first represent citizen and business interests while being mindful of the needs of the City and who want to do the work involved and ask questions on behalf of those citizens and businesses.