2 Clay Twp. trustees facing challenger
Candidates discuss how to growlocal economy, issues community faces.
Clay Twp. Trustees Dave Vore and DaleWinner are facing a challenge from former Lewisburg mayor Jeffery Requarth.
Two seats on the township board of trustees are on the ballot Nov. 7.
The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 10 and early voting begins Oct. 11.
We asked all three candidates what they would do if elected. Getmore of their answers starting Oct. 11 in our online voters guide.
What are the biggest problems facing the community? What do you propose doing to tackle these challenges?
Jeffery J. Requarth: Oneof the biggest problems, as with all local governments, is shrinking revenue, especially in a small township such as Clay. We must take the resources that we have and get all we can for every dollar. The township governmentmust work together with our residents to prioritize our needs and keep our level of service high. Keepingourtownship rural in nature and managing any growt h , while developing any business additions in the 40-49corridor is very important.
Dave Vore: The bi g ge s t problems facing Clay Twp. is the loss of state and local revenue sources and the inability to enforce zoning violations in accordance withcommunity standards. Ihave addressed these issues over the last four years as a Clay Twp. trustee by monitoring our expenses and ensuring revenues are being spent judicially. I will continue to seek grant funds through the Ohio Public Works Commission that assists in repairing and repaving Clay Twp.
roadways, during my first termapproximately900,000 grant dollarswere obtained from the Ohio PublicWorks Commissionforthispurpose. Last year Clay Twp. entered intoanagreementwithPerry Twp. utilizingmulti-jurisdictional cooperation by sharing an employee and equipment, which helps reduce both townships’ personnel and equipment costs. I have also discussed with local Ohio legislators the potential impact of unfunded statutesthataremandatedbythe Ohio Revised Code seeking their help for legislative aid.
DaleWinner: There are many issues facing small communities such as ours throughout the state of Ohio, the largest ofwhich is funding. With recent reductions in funding sources, communities are finding it ever more difficult to maintain the same high level of service our residents havecome to expect. Clay Twp. and others have fell victim to a phase-out of the Tangible Personal Property Tax, the elimination of the estate tax, and reductions in both the Montgomery County Partnership Pool Fund for road maintenance and the Local Government Fund. I will work diligently withmy fellowtrustees to secure additional sources of funding as we have done most recently to fund the renovations to both the Pleasant Plain and Pansing roadways. Securing additional sources of funding will be done in conjunction with theimplementation of cost-cuttingmeasures, in order thatwemay continue to provide excellent services while maintaining a lowtax burden on the residents.
Q: What can you do if elected to help grow the local economy and add jobs? What ideas do you have for attracting new jobs and investment?
Requarth: Keeping the township rural in nature is important, saying that business growth needs to be in the JEDD district at 40 and 49. We must also support the growth not only in the township but in our neighboring communities of Brookville, Phillipsburg and Verona without the loss of any additional township land.
Vore: After I was elected a Clay Twp. trustee a Market Analysis byMarketMetrics, LLCwas commissioned to study all primary land use groups, demographic and economic indicators. The study concluded there are many economic, infrastructures and population-growth issues thatpresent challenges to economic development in Clay Twp. I have beenworking with the Ohio Department of Transportation on a project designed to improve traffic flowon StateRoute 49 between U.S. 40 and Interstate 70, focusing on reducing fatal and serious traffic accidents. This area surrounds our JEDD and will address concerns stated in ourMarket Analysis of Clay Twp. When completed, this corridor will be more attractive for highway access and economicdevelopment. Iwill continue to support any and all economic development in Clay Twp. that adheres to the Township’s Zoning Code andMaster Land Use Plan. I am committed to maintaining an economic growth plan that preserves our agricultural tradition.
Winner: An extensive market analysis of ClayTwp. was completed in 2014. The analysis provides a realistic look into the potential for future economic development within the township based on a number of factors. I believe the resultsmarket analysis should serve as a guide for the trusteesmoving forward as decisions are made that will ultimately impact the lives of the residents in the township.