Here's a preview of my answers for the voter's guide that will be appearing in the October 22nd issue. Eric Hagen, of the Union, who covers Andover news and Council and Commission meetings is coordinating the responses from the Andover candidates.
1. Biographical Information:
Name: Wes Volkenant
Age: 54
Years Lived in Andover: 10
Family: Wife – Cheryl Volkenant
Education: Graduate – Anoka High School; St. Cloud State University (B.S. – Secondary Education – Social Studies Major); post-graduate work in Special Education (St. Cloud State and Mankato State Universities)
Occupation and Civic Involvement: Training Specialist in the Human Services & Public Health Department of Hennepin County; former member of City of Anoka Charter Commission; Vice President and Newsletter Editor of AFSCME Local 34 (Hennepin County Social Services); member of the statewide AFSCME Council 5 Executive Board; former Vice President of the Jackson, MN Education Association; former Finance Committee Chair of United Methodist Church of Anoka
2. What are two of my biggest issues?
First, as Andover continues to work with issues that balance both its traditional rural roots and its more recent identity as a suburban commuter community, transit and road concerns have become very apparent. Key arterial roads in the city – north of Bunker Lake Blvd. – such as parts of Crosstown and Hanson Boulevards and 161st and 181st Avenues have deteriorated and become dangerously worn. Many of our neighborhoods need safer, marked right-turn lanes to exit off those higher-speed main roads. Despite the potential financial costs to the City, Andover’s 30,000+ residents would benefit from a transit line or extended MTC routes from Anoka or Coon Rapids along Bunker Lake and Hanson Boulevards.
Second, Andover continues to face economic development struggles, and the City should reduce barriers that have limited restaurant and retail opportunities in the city. Driving the large square that most city businesses exist along, Andover needs to upgrade the image it presents visitors and residents headed to City Hall/Community Center along Hanson Boulevard. Andover needs to consider industrial opportunities along its north-south rail line and in Station North, and it needs to address the lack of any businesses in the northwest portion of the city.
3. What ideas do I have to further reduce the city budget or are there services you feel have been reduced too much?
As a public employee, I strongly value government services, and I appreciate and value our City of Andover employees. This city operates a very lean budget, as it has regularly limited property taxes and reduced city services. This summer, residents were now responsible for disposing of storm-damaged trees. Last winter, snowplowing was only done during heavier snowfalls. City employees regularly cover for each other at City Hall, and sometimes no one is available to help. The first priority in the 2011 budget, if added funds are found, is to restore one Public Works position that was laid off. What services are limited without that position being filled? I wouldn’t favor further involuntary furloughs and lay-offs.
My first choice isn’t to raise taxes, but it isn’t to pronounce “no more taxes” either. Instead of a maximum levy of 0% this September, a more responsible choice would have been 1 - 2%. This would have provided a safety net for unexpected budget expenses, such as the October request to offset the hockey warming house shortfall, instead of massaging the 2010-2011 Park & Rec. Commission budget. City Administrator Dickinson could still have submitted a lean 0% levy-based budget in December.
4. Should the city council be granting exemptions to the hunting ordinance? What is my opinion about the city’s hunting ordinance and the prohibitive and restricted zone map?
This question stems from the Council’s decision to permit two weekends of deer bow hunting in December, within the Restricted Zone South. I agree with the Council’s summertime vote, which placed definitive time and location restrictions on the activity, and which was both sought – and agreed to – by the residents affected by the decision.
In some parts of Andover, residents awaken to the sound of a gunshot this fall, just as others will enjoy the sounds of nature and the occasional sight of pheasants and deer in our neighborhoods. Those are not common sights and sounds everywhere in the metro area, but often are in Andover. Parts of our community remain rural. We still have dirt roads in Andover, such as Ward Lake Drive, 167th Ave. and Butternut south of Andover Blvd.
Restricted hunting is permitted north of County Road 20, as well as in two large, relatively open spaces south of 20. I’m not a hunter, but I believe those residents provided appropriate evidence for receiving their exemption. I’ve read Ordinance 394. It defines our city’s hunting rules very well. We should not neglect the traditional areas of Andover, or change them forever through the encroachment of suburban commuter neighborhoods.
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