District 2 Commissioner Candidate Garry Gamble: I am a lifelong resident of Minnesota, primarily in rural Minnesota. I’ve lived in Grand Marais for six years and I have been coming to the Grand Marais area since childhood.
After months of work by a multitude of construction crews and volunteers, the new playground, hockey rink, warming house, outdoor learning center and outdoor woodfired pizza oven were unveiled on Saturday, September 29 at the grand opening of the 1 percent recreation and infrastructure sales tax funded projects built at Birch Grove Community Center in Tofte
The county allocated $970,000 for the projects, but Cook County Auditor Braidy Powers said Birch Gove Foundation has said that less money was spent on the work, “but we won’t know how much less until all of the bills come in,” said Powers.
On a sun-splashed day set amidst beautiful fall colors, more than 100 people attended the three-hour ribbon cutting festivities that featured music by Tim Haus, a potpourri of food including an opportunity to make pizzas and then have them baked in the new oven, and short thank you speeches by a variety of people including Cook County Commissioner Bruce Martinson, Tofte board
District 2 Commissioner Candidate Fritz Sobanja: I moved here in 1956 with my parents. I’ve lived in the West End, Hovland, Maple Hill and Grand Marais. I graduated from Cook County High School in 1967 and attended Mankato State College. I am also a UMD Entrepreneur Program graduate and Reynolds Production and Casting School graduate.
Election Day 2012— Tuesday, November 6, 2012— will be here before you know it. The Cook County News-Herald felt it was time to sit down with some of our local candidates to get their take on some of the issues facing the county. This week we’re talking to the candidates for the Cook County Board of Commissioners in districts 2 and 4.
District 2 Incumbent Fritz Sobanja is running for re-election. He is being challenged by Garry Gamble.
There is no incumbent in the District 4 county board race. Incumbent Jim Johnson did not run for reelection, so two citizens are facing off for his former seat—Rick Austin and Heidi Doo-Kirk.
We met with all of the candidates this week and asked the following questions.
Q Please provide biographical information about yourself (work experience, education, family—whatever you feel is pertinent)
District 4 Commissioner Candidate Rick Austin: I’ve lived up here for over 30 years. I was in the resort business for 20-plus years. I’ve built cabins and been in home construction for 20-plus years. I’ve been involved in real estate and I now have A&E Marine in Grand Marais so I have a good background for business. My parents live here. I have three awesome kids who were born and raised here. They love Grand Marais and the Gunflint Trail.
I have 25 years in management—directing the operations of a nonprofit for 15 years and serving as marketing director for one of the nation’s largest credit unions for six years. I have facilitated strategic planning sessions; researched and developed a study of a proposed Minnesota Environmental State Park; drafted employee handbooks and a citizen-based lake management plan for Beauty Lake in Todd County, MN; completed an environmental impact assessment in conjunction with a proposed residential development; worked with the MPCA on design and construction of a state-regulated wastewater treatment system and participated with a task force for restructuring funding for the MN Department of Public Safety, Office of the State Fire Marshall. I have a history of community involvement and I genuinely care about the impact of governance and its out-workings in the lives of people. I’ve worked as a homebuilder, contractor, carpenter, wood carver, artist, actor, logger, farmer, musician, coppersmith, stonemason, paperboy, DNR fisheries laborer, former restaurant owner and employment agent. The first board I served on was the board of directors of the Grand Marais Art Colony from 1989 – 1996. Since then I’ve served on other boards such as the Grand Marais Planning Commission, Grand Marais Park Board and Community Center Board of Trustees. As county commissioner, I currently serve on numerous boards such as the Grand Marais Library Board, the North Shore Trade & Tech Project, which has accomplished its mission, and Minnesota Rural Counties Caucus.
District 4 Commissioner Candidate Heidi Doo-Kirk: I moved to Cook County to be closer to family. My father was born and raised here and his sister still lives here. My husband and I live on Maple Hill with his two daughters and our four dogs and two cats. I am a self-employed bookkeeper. Before moving to Cook County, I was general manager of a multi-store retail sales company. I studied business management and accounting in college and while in college, I earned certificates in leadership and management. I am a volunteer at North House Folk School, a Violence Prevention Center board member, a Lioness and a Girl Scout leader. I was an on-call advocate for the Violence Prevention Center and a member of the Lions Club. I am still an active member of the Wellness Committee at School District 166.
Requests for proposals have been advertised and it appears that the Cook County Family YMCA will be under construction when commissioners take the oath of office in January 2013. If elected, how will you ensure that the county will be able to meet operational costs?
Gamble: That is a question that puts the cart before the horse. Now is not the time to think of that, the time to be thinking of that was at the inception of the project. This process has been flawed since the beginning. It’s my opinion—and the opinion of many in this community—that this is a perfect example of how not to build a community center.
Our survey found that the support wasn’t there for the size of facility that is being considered. We need to step back and ask ourselves, “What are we doing? What if we build a community center and, in the process, lose a community?”
Sobanja: The county is not the only group that will be liable for meeting costs. You have to realize it’s not a one-person deal. It’s a group effort by the city, county, school district and YMCA. One purpose of government at any level is to pool resources to maintain the socio-economic health of its constituents.
Regarding the budget, it’s a calculated estimate by professionals involved in this specific type of business. The budget we’re dealing with shows an estimated $180,000 hole. The county and city have both agreed to contribute $75,000 – $100,000 to that deficit. The YMCA works on fundraising, donations and endowments—all of these things are going on in the background at this moment and will help alleviate costs contributed by the city and county.
Austin: I hope the commissioners don’t push this through before the people have their say on the community center. If they do, then it looks like we’ll have to make cuts in other areas to make things go. I don’t think people want other areas of the county government to be cut for the community center.
All county budgets need to be scrutinized, whether we get the community center or not. Taxes cannot keep going up.
Doo-Kirk: I will use my years of bookkeeping experience and working with local business owners on budgets. I will work to see that we use sustainable materials to keep expenses down.
Q Do you think the county should hire a county administrator?
Gamble: No. Especially considering the total population of our county and budget constraints. Of the seven counties, among Minnesota’s 87 counties, who have populations under 6,000, only one county has an administrator. Of the total 87 counties, 31 percent operate without an administrator or coordinator. Cook County is ranked 84 among Minnesota’s 87 counties with a population of 5,369. There may be other issues that are contributing to less efficient or effective governance. Issues that may or may not be resolved with an additional person.
I also believe willingness on the part of legislators to allow room for the county board to be more inventive could assist in contributing to the effectiveness of the board.
Sobanja: No. The county budget is not extraordinarily large and neither is our population enough to justify spending another $75,000 – $100,000 on this position. If you have a good staff and good department heads, you don’t need an administrator. One of the roles of that person is overseeing those people, making sure they do their jobs. I feel we have good staff. They know their jobs.
Austin: I do think we need a county administrator. I think the county board should hire an administrator who will work hard to keep our budget under control.
Doo-Kirk: Yes. Our county offices have grown and we have a lot more people in each department. It would help to keep on top of things. I think when [board secretary] Janet Simonen retires, we have a chance to reevaluate. Q
The Cook County-Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) has asked for a levy increase. Do you think the EDA’s levy should be increased? And why?
Gamble: According to the findings of a 2010 study conducted by the EDA Center at the University of MN-Crookston, the EDA has received a total of $1,120,280 from the county tax levy since 2000 (as of June 2010). The city of Grand Marais is responsible for a bond of $1,630,000. This will require nearly $135,000 in debt payment each year. This debt will in the end be carried by the residents of Grand Marais.
The study found that the EDA has not been broadly engaged with the community. Results from a 2008 study on social capital indicate a low degree of trust for elected officials. Community engagement involves building trust among partners that can lead to a better understanding of shared opportunities. Achieving broader trust and engagement for the EDA will take deliberate effort as well as considerable work.
We will never change things for the better if we are not willing to confront what is wrong. Not learning from our experiences will only perpetuate our problems.
Sobanja: It’s a yes and no situation. I would support an increase in the EDA levy if the EDA could attract a strong leader as a director, who will take the initiative to carry out the EDA’s goals. No on an increase if the EDA continually muddles along, changing reasons why it wants more money. It’s not a matter of supporting the EDA; it’s of supporting a levy increase.
Austin: I do think the EDA does a good job with its housing program. They bring in $13 to the county for every dollar spent in their budget. As far as the business development park, I don’t believe we should be spending any money on that at this time. It’s throwing good money after bad in this economy. In light of those things, I’d like to see which side of the EDA is asking for an increase in the levy.
Doo-Kirk: No. I would like to see a new mission statement. I want the EDA to create a new budget plan. I am expecting a new plan before any more is invested from the county.
Q Why should your constituents vote for you?
Gamble: I believe in principled leadership. I believe empowerment comes from cultivating trust. Principled leadership means you’ll be consistent and be humble as a leader. Real leaders exercise real leadership when they have in their core, sound principles of what is right and what is wrong—personally and nationally.
Because I believe people feel alienated from those they have chosen to represent them, I would like the opportunity to change this.
Sobanja: Because I care about the future and the culture of Cook County. Because I’m going to ask the hard questions. I’m not on one side or the other. I’m open to hearing all sides of an issue. If I think it, I feel somebody in the general public is asking that same question and I feel it’s my job to ask that question.
Also, I have over 20-plus years of experience volunteering and serving on public boards. Austin: Because of my business experience in this community. I’ve had a lot of experience dealing with the county board and even going to St. Paul, working with the legislature to push new bills through the state.
When it comes to spending, I’m not afraid to say no when it needs to be said. However, I’m not against everything and I have the years of experience to understand the difference.
Lastly, the residents of Cook County—my constituents—are Cook County and they need a voice and a commissioner who shares their concerns.
Doo-Kirk: I have been an active volunteer in the community since I moved here. I have many years of bookkeeping, finance and budget experience and education. Those two things together help me understand both the business side and the non-business side of the residents in my district and how to support the community as a county board member.
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