Do you endorse LIFT and the Local Option Sales Tax?
I believe the citizens in Radcliff are taxed enough. We have the highest tax rates in the County and we need to be reducing them.
If the Local Option Sales Tax is passed it will be used and as with most taxes it will continue serially.
I believe there is a need for government to to take an appetite depressant. However If there is a need for additional funds for specific purpose let the local government re prioritize its budget to accommodate it.
Whether you are in support of LIFT or not, what projects do you see as priority that could benefit from community funding?
Radcliff has a continuing need for focused marketing to attract retail business as well as industry. Funds need to be allocated for that purpose.
Do you see any services provided by both County and City government where it would be more cost effective to combine these efforts?
There is no doubt that there is duplication of services between cities within Hardin County and County provided services. The solution is for serious community leaders in adjoining communities to establish interlocal agreements. These agreements can lead to more effective and efficient delivery of services while allowing each community to maintains it’s autonomy. Voters have already decided that autonomy is what they want and many interlocal agreements are currently in place.
In light of potential additional cuts at Fort Knox, will you endorse funding for One Knox? If not, what are you willing to do to protect the economic contribution of Fort Knox?
The question assumes that One Knox is the only solution to protect Fort Knox, and I am unsure if this is true. I believe that whether One Knox or some other group desires tax supported funding it must prepare a complete and detailed proposal with associated metrics for measuring success and return on investment, and let the individual governments decide if and to what level tax supported funding will be provided. As well, governmental oversight and authority
must be spelled out in detail.
What are you recommending being done to bring new business to the community? What incentives should the City make available to existing business to expand and potential new business to come to the area?
As a cofounder and current president of the Radcliff Small Business Alliance we have worked diligently in the past two years to provide an environment for small business owners in Radcliff to mutually assist one another. Providing free workshops, business focused speakers, collaborative advertising and event generation and publication. The Alliance is a low cost, high ROI alliance focused on improving each member’s bottom line.
This congeniality is supportive of new small business and welcomed by our new members. Government needs to be supportive of all business by removing as much red tape, and burdensome regulations on business. Government needs to be responsive to business, helpful and friendly towards business.
New businesses can be helped with tax incentives as it does now, but can also be helped by assigning a city employee as an advisor to assist the owner is navigating the bureaucracy.
What will you do to improve the physical appearance of the business community? Will you put processes in place to ensure the ease of access through planning and zoning for new business development in the area?
I believe Radcliff has a very good set of standards within our ordinances; the problem is that many of our businesses are grandfathered to an older standard. I hope to work with the City Attorney, Mayor and Council to solve or mitigate these grandfather issues.
With the termination of the North Hardin Economic Development Authority, who within the City will assume the role of oversight for Millpond and business attraction activities? What do you see as the key strategic plans for the marketing and development of Millpond?
The North Hardin Economic Development Authority lacked a plan, a vision and was shackled with a mission that was far too limited (The development of Millpond Business Center only)
I have have recommended a new economic development entity , known as The Radcliff / Vine Grove Economic Development Authority . This entity , under the direction of the next mayor, will need input from and collaboration with the following organizations as well as the full support and funding of the Radcliff city Council.
It will (OR SHOULD) include Magistrates from districts one and two.
The Chairperson of the Radcliff / Fort Knox Tourism Commission.
The Director of the City Planning Department.
A Radcliff business owner with more than 25 employees.
A Radcliff business owner with less than 25 employees.
A representative from the Hardin County Chamber of commerce leadership team.
The president of the Radcliff Small Business Alliance.The president of the Heart of Kentucky Association of Realtors.
The president of Home builders Association
An experienced local commercial broker and residential broker.
Two citizens at large, one a senior citizen.
A representative from Fort Knox Garrison Commanders office.
State representatives for our district.
A dedicated representative from the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development assigned by the Governor and others.
Also, We’ll reach the best outcome if we constitute this new economic development entity along with our neighbor Vine Grove and we avoid packing the panel with strictly political appointees. The former North Hardin Economic Development authority also collapsed due to a reluctance to embrace technology, actively prospect for new businesses, collaborate with other stakeholders and have a response system in place to followup with potential prospects. We have to learn from these mistake and focus on creating an economic development entity that doesn’t get distracted with petty issues. If elected to the Radcliff city Council I will work with other council members and the mayor to move this or something like it forward. We must develop an economic plan soon that get’s us working on our biggest challenge or we’ll be faced with an even bigger one in our future.
Will you be a supporter of Radcliff First?
Radcliff First was an attempt by the Mayor to reach out and connect with local business. In fact it was at the first Radcliff First that we briefed the formation and launch of The Radcliff Small Business Alliance. I believe there were a couple of more Radcliff First Sessions, but has essentially died. The Radcliff Small Business Alliance monthly meetings now provide a venue for meeting and communicating with local small business community and individual community members.
Will you be a supporter of the Radcliff Small Business Alliance?
Of course! The RSBA provides a powerful boost for small businesses in Radcliff. We have a number of senior managers of large businesses in Radcliff who have joined and attend our meetings as community members.
Will you be a supporter of the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce?
I will support any organization that is interested in improving the business economy of Radcliff, surrounding communities, and the region.Unfortunately, the consolidation of the former Radcliff Chamber of Commerce into a Hardin County Chamber of Commerce has worked to the detriment of the Radcliff community. Our small independently owned business sector has been marginalized. Fortunately, a group of small business owners and the mayor recognized the void and created the Radcliff Small Business Alliance a couple of years ago. I think you may see this alternative occur in other local cities as well.