Kritzer
Not pictured: Jeff Harden, Ron Sanders
1. What is your vision of a sustainable future for Brown County and how would you work toward this?
Stephanie Porter Kritzer (D): The future of Brown County should emphasize the unique resources of our community. This includes leaning on the State Park and Yellowood, our local entrepreneurs and small business owners, and our education system. We will work towards this future by strengthening infrastructure and community accessibility.
Ron Sanders (R): N/A
Jeff Harden (I): Live within our means, spend the money we have and do not promise or spend money that we do not have. Continue to improve our infrastructure to be more appealing for companies to create jobs which in turn would bring more people to live here.
2. If elected, what policies would you work on, if any, to address Brown County land use, waste management, air and water quality? Give examples.
Kritzer: I would push to consult with the boards of the Brown County Land use, waste management, air and water quality on what support they need and what policies match their priorities.
Sanders: N/A
Harden: I would just continue to educate myself on our policies and look around at other counties our size and see how they have solved any issues that are causing us problems.
3. What can commissioners do to encourage departments to develop procedures to address land use, waste management, air and water quality? Give examples.
Kritzer: Commissioners can create an open line of communication and make collaboration with these departments a priority by setting up a system to regularly check in and assess procedure progress.
Sanders: N/A
Harden: I would make sure we have honest, hard working and reliable people in departments and on boards that are responsible for these elements. I would also make sure that all of these departments had the education available to them or were willing to do the leg work to understand and educate themselves so we are all making the best possible solutions for these issues.
4. Rank Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree: Information on county boards, commissions, responsibilities and the process for application is easy for the public to access. Explain your answer and what, if anything, you might address.
Kritzer: Agree. I believe that our local government needs to embrace and take advantage of technology available. Providing meeting information and topics online for the public to access would help create transparency and encourage community engagement.
Sanders: N/A
Harden: Agree. The information is out there and if not then the people you need the answers from do respond and help lead you to where you need to go. The only issue I would say would still be the access of internet throughout the county, which is getting a lot better.
5. What commitment, if any, will you make to hear and respond to constituent and community concerns before decisions are made?
Kritzer: I will work to make agendas and discussion topics available to the public before meetings and to make minutes from meetings more accessible.
Sanders: N/A
Harden: I am 100% committed to this. We are elected public servants and need to serve our county. To do this properly I truly believe there needs to be communication and conversations on issues that the commissioners make decisions on. We won’t always agree on the outcome, but keeping that line of communication open will help the trust grow between the community and the commissioners. I love this county and believe this county is full of capable and amazing people. If we can have trust and communicate with each other and listen then I think any issue we have as community we will be able to crush it together.
ABOUT THE OFFICE
Commissioners are elected for four year terms on a staggered basis. The Board of Commissioners consists of three elected officials who must reside in separate districts but are elected by the voters of the county as a whole. Commissioner Districts must be redrawn at least once every 10 years.The Board of Commissioners is the executive of the county and shares legislative powers with the County Council. It enacts ordinances and administers all county business. Powers and authorities include but are not limited to:· Controlling, maintaining and supervising county owned property including the Courthouse, jail and offices; auditing county books· Establishing township boundaries· Supervising construction and maintenance of county roads and bridges· Developing and administering personnel policies for county employees· Establishing precincts, providing polling places and election equipment, administering elections in conjunction with County Election Board· Establishing minimum housing standards, building regulations, fire prevention ordinances, contracting ambulance services; regulating food establishments, assisting community mental health centers, assisting public transportation facilities, carrying out poor relief duties· Selecting and appointing members to fill positions on boards, commissions, committees and appointing certain department heads· Establishing parks and recreation facilities, war memorials, historical markers, maintaining county forests· Establishing solid-waste districts and serving on the district boards which are responsible for 20 year plans for disposal, recovery and reduction of solid waste.
SOURCE: The League of Women Voters Brown County
