Mayoral candidates field public questions
The following questions were submitted by the public for Brandon’s mayoral forum March 26. Candidate Tim Wakefield declined to attend the event. Responses from Wakefield and incumbent mayor Paul Lundberg are printed below. Brandon will hold a municipal election Tuesday, April 9.
What is your opinion of “quality of life” projects such as city parks, bike paths, updating the swimming pool and the potential for an indoor hockey rink? How do you balance wants and needs and would you support partnering with groups if they agreed to come to the table with part of the cost?
Lundberg: Quality of life issues are a very important part of a city’s success. I am a big advocate for city parks, playgrounds, etc., for the lifestyle benefit of our citizens. The issue that we encounter, as city leaders, is that of finances. Infrastructure needs have to come first. We need to continue to look at alternative resources to be able to finance our “quality of life” issues. Community and corporate partnerships (similar to the baseball and soccer fields), grants, etc. are great options. We are a growing community that needs to provide the amenities that our citizens expect.
Wakefield: The parks and other public aspects are part of what makes this town so family friendly. It is my belief that private, not profit athletic programs should do their own funding and the city should help with land if available, planning, and publicity.
Have you had a difficult time getting along with your peers on the city council? Can you put personalities aside and work together and not against each other?
Wakefield: I’m on the Brandon City Council to represent the residents of ward 3 and to do my best to make informed decisions as their representative. Personality does not impact how I analytically break down an issue. I will listen and work with the people of the Brandon community to make their voice heard and try to bring people together for a solution where I can. I will not be the status quo and that may make other people uncomfortable or they may be difficult for other council members, but I work for the people of Brandon. I will ask difficult questions and get answers for the people of Brandon.
Lundberg: I have served on many boards and committees in my career. There are always going to be different perspectives and personalities. When serving, one needs to treat this difference with respect and dignity. Treat others as you would want to be treated yourself. A big key to successful boards and councils is to support the majority decision once it has been made. It may not be the choice that you wanted, but it is the majority decision and must be supported by the entire council. Consensus building is a crucial aspect in order for us to be a thriving community.
The City of Brandon has just received, for the 18th consecutive year, the South Dakota Department of Environment & Natural Resources Secretary’s Award for providing quality water to our residents. The City has provided water that is in compliance with all Federal and State water quality requirements. That seems to be in conflict with the perception that our water is not fit to drink. If not Federal and State water quality standards, what standards would you propose be used?
Lundberg: The state and federal water quality requirements need to continue to be used as our standard of care and excellence. They have been researched and developed by individuals and agencies with vast amounts of experience and education. With that being said, I also believe that these standards are just that – standards representing minimum requirements. We, as a city, are working and will continue to work to be better than average. It is always our goal to exceed the standards.
Wakefield: Thank you for the water questions, I have become very knowledgeable in this area over the last few years. As many residents have told me they are not happy with the quality of water for the price that they pay. Our water quality here varies greatly, well #3 does not run through our treatment plant and is only treated with chlorine. The intermittent chlorine taste and smell in the water are often brought up by residents via social media. I think we can do better and should strive to win awards like Harrisburg, S.D., just did this past January for the best tasting water in South Dakota. The EPA standards for water quality were put together in attempt for everyone to be able to comply. The EPA even states that a zero-radium number is best, as radium is a known carcinogen, to help communities make a passing grade, the EPA set radium number was set at 5 pCi/l.
What steps would you plan to implement to re-unite our divided community?
Wakefield: This is where I feel transparency and communication of facts is crucial. Many of the arguments I see are due to lack of information sharing with the public. It would be my expectation that council packets would be available to the public on Friday before the council meetings so that the residents may review the information, contact representatives, or prepare their own statements for the podium. I would also like to see information more freely shared with public upon their requests. When we work together towards a common cause we can overcome anything, as we saw with the flood effort. We need to focus our energy towards the things that unite us to overcome the obstacles that divide us.
Lundberg: Taking action on the necessary steps to solve the community’s concerns will increase the satisfaction of our residents. Initiatives such as #brandonstrong are evidence of the citizen’s desire to reunite and get our positive message heard. Embracing our youth activities and successes will always be a road map to conquer any angst within our fine community. The young people have always been and will continue to be the cornerstone of our community. I strongly believe every member of the community has the same goal of creating the best life for Brandon residents. Working hard to remind everyone of that common goal is the most simple and productive way to provide that unity.
What is your position on implementing an ordinance that would allow for the raising of hens within the city limits?
Lundberg: I reached out to my contacts in the Sioux Falls city government and they, in turn, put me in contact with their animal control division. They informed me that their policies of allowing up to six hens (no roosters) per household have been successful with a very small number of complaints or enforcement issues. Therefore, I feel that adopting a similar policy in Brandon could be successful with strict guidelines and enforcement of those guidelines. Additional research and discussion on the topic would be encouraged and needed.
Wakefield: Absolutely, I support this, and I believe there is no reason to reinvent the wheel when Sioux Falls already has an ordinance for chickens in town. I would like to see our community mimic the Sioux Falls policy.
If elected as Mayor of Brandon, what will your individual approach or stance be on investing money in the community to engage youth and combat boredom that has the potential to lead to drug use and other destructive habits?
Wakefield: Thank you to the individual who asked this question as the children in our community are so important to all of us especially since we have nearly as many children in our community as adults. It takes the entire community working together. I think we could create programs that can work together in many different areas to help our kids look back at their time in Brandon and know we made a difference. I also watched how many kids helped during our flood crisis. It told us so much about the good parenting, good kids, businesses, and individuals that live here and what we could accomplish for Brandon when we all have the same goal. I would also like to see a maker space connected with a mentorship program that would utilize our exceptional residents with a diverse skill set to pass along knowledge to our youth. Getting our youth involved in hands on projects with woodworking, metal working, and computer design can become amazing life-long lessons.
Lundberg: As stated earlier, our youth are the cornerstone of our community. It is not exclusively about the investment of money when engaging our children to become involved in positive ways. It takes adult volunteers and mentors to really make a difference. One of the most satisfying experiences that I have had was coaching/teaching girls to play softball for eight years For me as a coach, I tried to teach the kids life lessons and give them the tools to become better adults. Although investments and partnerships with local organizations would play a role in engaging our youth, I feel it does not always take money to accomplish that. An active and engaging community will play the largest part in combating those concerns within the youth, and I want to make those volunteer and mentorship opportunities more known and prominent within Brandon.
In 2007/08 the construction industry took a dip in building new homes due to economic conditions. Sioux Falls and the surrounding communities have all recovered to previous home building numbers. Brandon has not. What will be your policy on future construction for residential, commercial and industrial building in Brandon? Will you encourage or discourage future growth?
Lundberg: One of the key parts of my platform for Mayor is growth of our community. I have stated publicly that I want to see 60 new homes built per year rather than the 30-40 that we have been averaging the last few years. Brandon’s infrastructure is very able to handle this modest increase. The growth will add to the city’s resources through additional taxes being paid – both property and sales taxes. Managed growth is key to continue the successes that have been experienced by our city. However, the infrastructure improvements will remain a priority and will continue to move forward. Growth and improvement can be accomplished simultaneously, and that will lead to the greatest success.
Wakefield: The financial crisis of 2007-08 occurred due to people over extending their credit based on putting their wants before their needs. It is my hope that Brandon can use that as an example. Our city should ensure that we put needs (water, streets, & infrastructure) before wants to concentrate on our current residents’ and who have already invested in Brandon.
If we make the needed changes to infrastructure, I believe Brandon will once again become the leader in our area for growth. Our water quality has been referenced as a hinderance on bringing new residents to town as there is added expenses to the home owner to treat the water. Our water and sewer rates also need to be monitored closely as the rising rates will also impact growth.
If you do NOT win the mayoral election, will you take the high road and fully support the winner? Please explain your answer.
Wakefield: Of course, I will. For someone who works entirely for the people that’s not something I would even be part of: I think that’s more a question to people who would be mad because I won. I’m going to keep asking the hard questions. I will work tirelessly with Mr. Lundberg, the council, and staff to fix the issues that this city currently has. If the residents of Brandon choose me, I would look forward to having the opportunity to utilize the expertise that Mr. Lundberg has in financial planning and utilize other experts in our community to make the most educated decisions in a swift yet decisive manner.
Lundberg: Win or lose, I will completely support the desire of the people of Brandon. The right to vote for our elected officials is paramount to our city and nation. I will respect the results and provide whatever knowledge or expertise that I can to make Brandon a better place. My passion for continuing to serve the community will not go away.
Question directed to Lundberg - At a past City Council meeting you are quoted as saying, “Why don’t you go somewhere else?” What did you mean by this comment?
Lundberg: I want everyone to understand that I did not say “if you don’t like it here, why don’t you leave.” I did not say “if you don’t like what the city council is doing, you should leave.” I did say that “if this is such a bad city for these people (the people that are complaining about what is going on via social media), why don’t you go somewhere else?” My comment was referring specifically to the mean-spirited remarks about Police Chief candidate Joe Weir on social media at that time. I was referring to the various Facebook sites that were, in my opinion, posting mean-spirited, unresearched, perhaps even made up facts. My frustration was in reading and seeing that people felt Brandon was an awful place and they have options if they truly feel that way. I, however, am very proud to be a Brandon resident and hope others will feel the same.
Question directed to Wakefield - In the past you have mentioned that the people that make decisions for our city are “uneducated and corrupt”. What facts do you have to base this comment on?
Wakefield: The uneducated and corrupt comments were completely taken out of context. I truly believe that we have one of the most educated communities in South Dakota. I am asking that those educated individuals become engaged in city council meetings and offer their expertise in any field they have. Corruption is a broad term, defined as dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power. At the point of the comment there was concern that information was being withheld from the residents and the decision makers.
The city of Brandon will hold a municipal election 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 9. Polls will be open at City Hall (Ward 1), Brandon Fire Station (Ward 2) and Brandon Golf Course (Ward 3). Absentee voting is at Brandon City Hall only.
Tim Wakefield Jr. profile
Educational background and work history: My career started in the military as an 82C. My experience led into an opportunity to survey and provide construction administration at the City of Hutchinson. That opportunity brought me to Bolton and Menk, a civil engineering firm in southern Minnesota. I have a BS in engineering from Minnesota State University. My career has given me the opportunity to gain experience in civil engineering and manufacturing companies in Minnesota and South Dakota. I am one of the federal employees at the Sioux Falls Veterans Administration Hospital as engineer tasked with project management, design, and overall project financials. Should you have specific information about my job history you can reference my updated LinkedIn profile.
What makes you the better candidate for mayor and why do you want to be mayor? My technical background suits itself well with our current status of the infrastructure. My project management and engineering experiences will help ensure that our community makes prudent decisions on the selection of engineering firms and projects. I am running for mayor to further the dialogues that I have started building with rural water providers, Sioux Falls, and other future partners the City of Brandon can leverage.
If elected, what are your goals for Brandon in the next 4 years? My goal is to have a comprehensive infrastructure improvement plan completed that can support Brandon for the next 25 years. I want to see rural water connections made and our water quality and quantity concerns addressed. It is extremely important for me to see our communication to residents improve including having a better customer service driven organization. I truly want to put Brandon back on the map where it belongs. Continuing to have a balanced budget is critical to the financial stability of our community, I would plan to adjust the budget to cover the needs before the wants in the future.
Collaborative partnerships are essential for a city’s success. Share how you will promote positive relationships with the Chamber and other local organizations. I will work tirelessly in all areas of our communities’ resources. Collaborative partnerships are just that, a collaboration between multiple groups with a common goal. Taking the time to work with local organizations to ensure that we as a community have well defined goals that span across all our local organizations.
Paul Lundberg profile
Educational background and work history: I received my undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of South Dakota in 1985, then went to work for a small CPA firm in Rock Rapids, Iowa. It is here that I met my wife of 30 years. Our engagement took me to Sioux Falls, where I worked as an Internal Auditor for Smith Transfer. After our marriage in July of 1989, I began to further my education with an MBA degree from USD and started looking for other employment opportunities. I landed the job as the Business Manager of the Brandon Valley School District, and I have been here for 29 years.
The Brandon Valley School District had just under 2,000 students in 1990 and I have grown with it to almost 4,500 students next year. The budget has grown from $6.2M to $45M. I have been responsible for successful bond issues for the Middle School, Robert Bennis Elementary, Fred Assam Elementary, and the Brandon Valley Intermediate School. In addition, I have been a part in doubling the size of the Brandon Valley High School with an auditorium, commons, activities center and classroom addition. Our teachers also have one of the highest average salaries in South Dakota. The success of the school district has been unprecedented and I would like to think that I had a least a small part in developing that success. I was recently awarded the School Business Official of the year in South Dakota, and I am very thankful for everyone that has assisted me in getting to this point in my career.
What makes you the better candidate for mayor and why do you want to be mayor? The Mayor of Brandon position is and will continue to be a passion for me. Public service has been a large part of me throughout my professional career. I love this city and want to give back to the community by serving. Throughout my time in Brandon, I have been able to see it grow and I want to be a part of that continued development. I do NOT have any hidden agenda or self-serving reason for running; it is merely and totally a desire to continue my public service to this city.
My nearly 30 years of experience in a local government setting (BVSD) is a huge advantage to me in preparation to lead the City as Mayor. I would like to see the City be proactive rather than reactive. We need to develop a 5-, 10-, 15-year CIP. Experience is something that can’t be underestimated. I have acquired a vast array of contacts throughout the years that can be very important to the success of our city. In addition, I believe that me working in the same city that I am Mayor is a BIG benefit: Accessibility to the public, staff, meetings, situations, etc.
If elected, what are your goals for Brandon in the next 4 years? Improving and expanding our City’s infrastructure is a main priority for me. This is easy to say, but we also have to pay for it. There is no question in my mind that we have delayed and let some infrastructure needs fall behind schedule. I am the only candidate that has actually offered a possible plan on paying for these needs – a General Obligation Bond versus user fees, would be a possible solution. Specifically – Water, water, water. Quantity, quality, and storage:
Quantity: There are only two places to get water: Splitrock Creek Aquifer and Big Sioux Aquifer. Splitrock is deep but subject to the quartzite rocks where radium is present. Big Sioux is more surficial, but subject to run off from fields, industries, etc. We have to be proactive in seeking out well sites. Also, we need to explore and research alternative sources: MCWC and East Dakota. Recently, $80,000 was spent on a study, and hopefully that will give us some “out of the box” solutions.
Quality: This is a product of our water treatment plan. Renovating the current facility is $1.8M and a new plant would cost $13M.
Storage: We are designing and bidding for two new large waters towers that are 1.25M gallons/each and have a cost of $10M. By increasing our storage capabilities, the current shortage concerns during high demand months will be improved.
Another area that needs attention is Brandon’s roads in the “core area” of town. This section of Brandon is in need of serious repair/rebuilding. The city is currently in the process of planning this revitalization, and I will work to ensure that plan is implemented as quickly as possible.
Collaborative partnerships are essential for a city’s success. Share how you will promote positive relationships with the Chamber and other local organizations. Collaboration with other entities is key to the success of both organizations. The school is the biggest partner for our City of Brandon. We have to work together to realize success. We have worked together in the following endeavors: School Resource Officer, ADA playground, library, tennis courts and fuel pumps. The Chamber of Commerce is the second largest partnership with Brandon and is the “marketing arm” of the City – our cheer team. The businesses of the City need and deserve our support. After all, it is the sales tax that they collect that helps finance our City operations. The City provides approximately $40K annual support to the Chamber. Other ancillary organizations are also very critical to the success of the City. I was a charter member of the Brandon Community Foundation Board. We raised $30,000 in $100 donations from 300 people, and we did this in a month. Today, there is almost three-fourths of a million dollars in the fund.
The City has also collaborated with the Brandon Development Foundation on three parks: Brandon, Corson, and Rovang. We have had 13 transactions of land in the last five years in this Development Park. Each of these partnerships has proven to be extremely beneficial, and I believe that these relationships will only continue to strengthen.
