ThisWeek CW 10/8/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/10/05/canal-winchester-city-council-quality-of-life-future-growth-top-candidates-concerns.html

With three seats up for election and only one incumbent running again, Canal Winchester voters will see at least two new faces on city council after the Nov. 3 election.

In addition to incumbent Rick Deeds, candidates seeking election are: Bob Clark, Bruce Jarvis, Tim Waibel and Mike Walker.

Council members Joe Abbott and Marilyn Rush-Ekelberry decided not to seek re-election.

The candidates

Clark served as an assistant to three U.S. Congressmen over a 25-year career and spent more than two years as the economic-development director for Fairfield County.

“In terms of economic development, our location is our greatest strength, as you can reach 50 percent of the U.S. and Canadian population within a day’s drive,” Clark said. “Canal has the best of both worlds: We have a small-town flavor, vibrant downtown and good economic growth. And we are only 20-plus minutes to professional sports, great hospitals and major research institutions of higher learning.”

Deeds has served on city council for 16 years, including six as council president.

“Canal Winchester has many assets and strengths,” Deeds said. “We have our own water and wastewater plants — something that many towns in central Ohio can’t say. Having those allow us to control our destiny, how we expand, the rates we charge, etc.

“Our industrial parks provide a great commercial base to help offset residential taxes while creating local jobs,” he said. “Canal Winchester has a unique character and we’ve worked hard to retain the small-town feel as we grow by growing sensibly while investing in our downtown and providing support for entities such as Destination: Canal Winchester that help retain our character.”

Jarvis, who previously had served 14 years on city council, similarly pointed out community, control of utilities and strategic, developable land as assets.

“When it comes to utilities and developable land, Canal Winchester is poised for the future much better than many nearby communities,” Jarvis said. “Being close to the capital city but very far away in feel, we are extremely fortunate to have developed and maintained an irresistible small-town charm — especially in the historic districts of the city.

“There is a great sense of community pride here that engages people and draws tens of thousands of visitors every year but it takes deliberate planning and consistently appropriate actions to maintain that pride.”

Waibel sees community spirit as the city’s best asset.

“As an active, growing community, still maintaining that small-town atmosphere is what makes Canal Winchester unique,” Waibel said.

Walker expressed similar sentiments: “Our greatest asset is our heritage and sense of community.”

Concerns and plans

Walker said he is primarily concerned with improving water quality and better traffic flow off U.S. Route 33.

“I’d like to see a continuous improvement in the quality of our drinking water,” Walker said. “I would also like to see more convenient entrances and exits to our great city. The traffic coming in off 33 sure seems to get more backed up as time goes on. If I’m elected, I’ll stay strong and passionate about these concerns and hope to improve them.”

Waibel believes continuing the growth currently underway is important to the city’s future.

“I see BrewDog as promoting piggyback growth like we haven’t seen before, so continued communication will be important,” he said. “I’m willing to listen to the concerns of our citizens and evaluate each issue as necessary.”

Jarvis said Canal Winchester is a healthy community, but he hopes to create a stronger, strategic vision for the future.

“The city does well maintaining the current infrastructure, but from my perspective, there is not much evidence of real long-term, strategic planning for the future,” Jarvis said.

“We must also do a better job of planning and executing projects that add to the quality of life throughout the city,” he said. “Future public meeting spaces, parks and organized activities need to be in the queue now for them to be realities in the near future.”

Deeds said the most pressing issue over the coming term is related to external decisions.

“Entities outside of Canal Winchester can make decisions that directly impact us,” he said. “Some recent examples include: SWACO decides to have all solid waste sent to its landfill, costing Canal Winchester about $800,000 a year; the state of Ohio cut the local municipal funds, costing Canal Winchester thousands of annual budget dollars; the state is currently reviewing the calculation and collection of local income taxes, which may cost us thousands of dollars annually.”

Deeds agreed that long-range planning could mitigate some of these concerns.

“While we are in a good position financially at this point, it is important to have a long-range plan and work toward that plan,” he said. “While the economy has improved, the competition to attract and retain businesses is fierce. It will be important for us to compete … by being easier to work with and providing a better overall location where businesses want to come and stay.”

Growth also was a primary issue on Clark’s list. He said he wants to make sure income-tax revenue keeps up with future infrastructure needs and that the city takes advantage of grant money.

“I believe managing the proper amount of growth that makes sense for the city is a big issue,” Clark said. “We need to keep our focus on economic development that creates new wealth, bringing in new income taxes that pay for infrastructure needs of the future. I believe my past professional experiences in government and economic development has allowed me to build relationships in the political and business communities that I can put to use for the betterment of Canal Winchester.”