Jill Schramm/MDN
Ward County Fee candidates take part in a candidate discussion board Thursday in Minot Metropolis Corridor. From left are Lance Makeeff, Jason Olson, John Fjeldahl and Alan Walter.
Financial growth, property taxes and election techniques have been amongst subjects aired at a Ward County Fee candidate discussion board Thursday in Minot.
The Minot Space Chamber EDC sponsored the discussion board, that includes incumbent John Fjeldahl, former commissioner Alan Walter, Lance Makeeff and Jason Olson. They’re working for 2 open seats on the Nov. 8 poll.
Candidates indicated they need a collaborative method to financial growth.
“It looks like we compete towards one another inside our personal county,” Fjeldahl mentioned.
“We have to work along with the cities,” Walter mentioned “Put collectively a pleasant enterprise angle that’s inviting to companies.”
An excellent county street system and progress on the proposed southwest bypass round Minot will help handle the wants of companies, he added.
“I feel the companies coming in need decrease property taxes,” Makeeff mentioned. He mentioned the county can work with current financial growth applications at neighborhood ranges, however he doesn’t help enterprise incentives that improve the burden on different taxpayers.
“The county, I don’t suppose, needs to be selecting the winners and losers in financial growth,” he mentioned.
“It’s vital to ship the message that the county has a business-friendly ambiance,” Olson mentioned. “I feel we have to interact in promotion of this space as an incredible place to do enterprise and we want planning and zoning guidelines, a tax state of affairs and workforce which are pleasant to enterprise.”
Fjeldahl mentioned he opposed Tax Increment Financing as an incentive for creating the Huge M constructing in Minot largely due to the borrowing related to it. He mentioned he believes the county ought to develop a coverage to be constant on requests for these incentives.
Walter additionally supported creating a coverage however famous a TIF for the Huge M constructing wanted to be determined within the meantime.
“I believed it was a no brainer that it needs to be authorized,” he mentioned. “That constructing has been sitting empty for lots of years.”
Olson mentioned the constructing was prone to changing into county property because of delinquent taxes.
“It had asbestos points that was going to make it an enormous burden on the taxpayers to take possession of that constructing. And so the main points of that TIF I paid very shut consideration to, and it made sense.”
Though he understands the issues across the Huge M constructing, Makeeff mentioned, he’s not absolutely made up his thoughts on utilizing TIF as a instrument as a result of he dislikes shifting tax burden to different taxpayers.
Candidates shared some comparable views on guarding election integrity.
Olson mentioned he prefers in-person voting, however the county must account for individuals who can’t get to the polls and have to vote absentee.
Fjeldahl mentioned he would preserve absentee voting however would encourage extra election-day polling locations and longer early voting.
“I nonetheless suppose the in-person voting is probably the most dependable methodology you’ll be able to have,” he mentioned.
Walter agreed voting needs to be in individual and it needs to be finished in a day.
“We all the time used to do it. We are able to nonetheless do it. It’s only a matter of getting the need to do it,” he mentioned.
Candidates additionally cited the significance of cybersecurity and safe election software program.
“I nonetheless need all people to have the chance to vote all through the county, however I do need to preserve it as protected as potential,” Makeeff mentioned. “Be forward of the curve and never behind the curve on election stuff as a result of it’s so vital for us as a county.”
Candidates additionally agreed on the must be fiscally accountable and to carry the road on property taxes.
“My first ideas all the time go to the taxpayers,” Makeeff mentioned “They’re below powerful instances, too. We’re taking a look at powerful instances forward.”
Nevertheless, candidates have been most engaged in discussing the doorway of a Bismarck marketing campaign finance group into the race to help Olson and Walter. Each Olson and Walter said they don’t have any ties to the Brighter Future Alliance.
“That is fully exterior of our management,” Olson mentioned. “On the identical token, I’m joyful to have help from folks that need to help me. I simply don’t need the general public to be confused as to the place these {dollars} and the place this got here from, as a result of it didn’t come from us.”
Walter mentioned he has no concept the place the help is coming from, both, however he appreciates any help.
“It’s soiled cash,” Makeeff mentioned. “However it’s authorized for them to do this. It’s by no means been finished earlier than. I don’t know the way the county pushes again, however I definitely need the county to know what’s going on.”
He mentioned he could be telling voters to ask questions if it was his identify on the Brighter Future billboards as a result of that exterior help brings into scrutiny the motives behind any votes forged if elected. Fjeldahl, who believes his voting file might have made him the marketing campaign goal, mentioned he would have a dialog with anybody who launched that type of marketing campaign for him with out his permission.
“I don’t know if it’s soiled politics, nevertheless it’s politics at its worst,” he mentioned.
