Question & Answer
Responses to the Madison Daily Leader Candidate Q&A - 2017
1) What are three major issues that you believe the city commissioners will face during the next three years?
- Sustainable Utilities
- The City Utilities are a major component of what the city does. I feel we need to stay focused on improving service and maintaining the assets that are crucial to ensuring the systems operate as desired. Our community deserves to have well managed utilities. It is important that the rates charged are fair and provide adequate resources so the Electric, Water & Wastewater systems are responsive to our needs.
- A Long Term Flood Mitigation Plan
- How our community addresses our water issues will determine our ability to maintain as a community. Part of that issue is addressing our all too common flooding problems. We need to develop a plan that will minimize the risk and interruption from flooding. I don’t feel that doing nothing is an option. The city has collaborated with the county in the past on Corp of Engineers studies and I feel that is something we need to continue. I also believe that the federal government has a role in infrastructure investment in this country. I think we need to have a project ready for when that opportunity arises.
- Identify Methods to Expand the Community's Tax Base
- The City of Madison’s ability to provide services is largely dependent on sales tax. A vibrant retail environment in Madison is good for community members and is a vital resource in terms of providing resources to the city government. Over the last several years the retail hub of Madison has migrated to Washington Avenue. In 2019, that stretch of road will be under construction.
- The City of Madison’s ability to provide services is largely dependent on sales tax. A vibrant retail environment in Madison is good for community members and is a vital resource in terms of providing resources to the city government. Over the last several years the retail hub of Madison has migrated to Washington Avenue. In 2019, that stretch of road will be under construction.
- When I began my term three years ago the community had been enduring several years of large rate increases. Since I have been the Utilities commissioner the rate increases have subsided and looking ahead I feel we are on a path of minimal rate increases for the foreseeable future. Additionally, the electric advisory committee and city commission implemented a new reserve policy for the electric department in 2016 which identifies the amount of reserves that are required to maintain the department and restricts the amount of money that can be transferred to the general fund. I am hopeful that as the city continues to upgrade the system we will see efficiencies in the operations. These efficiencies should further offset future rate increases.
3) In 2016, Madison paid off about $340,000 of the city’s long-term debt early. What’s your position on Madison’s debt and efforts to retire some of it ahead of schedule?
- I support paying off debt early when it is feasible. Before I began serving on the City Commission the city was operating close to the debt limit. In the last three years we have operated in a manner that has put the city in a healthier financial position. It is important for the city to maintain the assets that it is responsible for. Once that is accomplished, additional revenues should be applied to debt relief when possible.
4) Madison officials started efforts in 2016 to create somewhat of a face-lift for the community by helping FEMA buy out the Sample Our Flowers florist shop and having the city purchase the downtown Wenk processing-plant property for the building’s demolition. Do you support those efforts, and how have you come to your position on the issue?
- Both the Sample Our Flowers shop and the Wenk Building are projects that Mayor Lindsey has spearheaded. The Sample shop buyout was financed through FEMA with an 80% grant. In total that project cost our community a little over 20 thousand dollars. I feel that was a wise investment as that building’s location was in the middle of the floodplain and as the structure deteriorated could have created a much more expensive problem during a flood event.
The Wenk building has become a nuisance property and safety hazard since the business closed over 15 years ago. Countless teens have found themselves in that building with its weak floors and aging processing equipment. The City acquired the property in the fall of 2016 for one dollar. The city has worked with the State of South Dakota to have a Brownfields study completed to ensure the ground around the building is not contaminated. Additionally the city was awarded a grant for around $25,000 to remove the asbestos from the structure. Once that process is complete I am hopeful that the property can be cleaned up for a minimal cost to our community.
5) Do you have any proposals on how city government could stimulate economic activity in downtown Madison, and can you provide details for any ideas that would generate additional business?
- Largely I think that the success of our economic future is going to be linked to our ability to grow as a community. We have several positive things going our way right now with DSU’s leadership in the cybersecurity & technology fields.
- Specifically to downtown assistance, I would like to see the city clean off the main street sidewalks before clearing the downtown snow. I feel this would eliminate those large piles of snow at the curb that can make it difficult to navigate downtown.
6) What are a couple of the first things that you would say to a new arrival to Madison to describe the community?
- Madison is a great community to raise a family. We have a supportive community that enjoys success and doesn’t have a problem including others in the great things we have to offer. Our school district has great activities for students to participate in and our 4H programs offer amazing opportunities for city and country kids alike. I think our city government provides great services and provides exceptional public safety. From our water system operations specialist to the volunteer firemen, our community members work together to make Madison the best community we can be.
Please Vote for Jeremiah Corbin for Madison City Commission on April 11th.
Jeremiah Corbin for Madison:
Thoughts and Plans for our Community
Clean Water
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Efficient
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clear & timely communication
Communication might be the most important tool a community has in getting support for projects and keeping citizens safe in emergencies.
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