Local candidate forum
Chief’s Chief
Answers from one local candidate were inadvertently omitted in last week’s issue. Greg Kissell, candidate for Custer County Supervisor District 1, did respond to the Custer County Chief by the requested deadline. The omission was due to error on the part. Below are Kissell’s answers to the questions posed to County Supervisor candidates. The encourages voters to review this week’s issue and last week’s issue for answers from supervisor candidates. We apologize for the error.
Custer County Supervisor Dist. 1
1. List, in the manner of importance, your first three priorities as a county supervisor.
2. Give your argumentative reasons for dealing with the county roads. How will you handle complaints? What are your expectations on road visits? Is tearing up pavement cheaper but a less safe option?
3. Speak to transparency issues in relationship of preparation and due diligence for upcoming board meetings and communication with fellow board members, county employees and constituents. For example, at a recent meeting, it appeared supervisors were to vote on bids with only one copy of one of two bids in front of them. How will you ensure that you as a supervisor are well-informed on issues and communicating clearly with your constituents?
4. In light of the issues in the gubernatorial race and your financial responsibility in your duties as a county supervisor, what is your view on timely payment or collection of Real Estate/Personal Property taxes?
Gregory Kissell (Dist. 1)
1. My priorities would be as follows: To be an ear and voice for all of the residents in District 1. Voice concerns with the county budget insuring that the dollars are spent in a responsible and fiduciary manner. To make decisions that would insure that all of the county offices run smooth without “micromanaging.”
2. There are many miles of roads in Custer county with a lot of them being gravel. There are always seasonal changes that have cause and effects. As always this usually leads to complaints. These complaints need to be investigated by meeting with the affected people, traveling on and to the area of concern, meeting with the Road Superintendent and road committee to form a workable/reasonable plan to deal with these situations. Paved roads are always nice to travel but are expensive. Returning some roads to gravel is most likely because of budget restraints. I don’t personally like the thought but that is a hard fact. Gravel roads can be safe when they are properly maintained. We just need to remember they are gravel when traveling on them.
3. I remember a statement saying “To be a good leader you need to stop and look back and see if anyone is fol
lowing” To make the decisions that a supervisor must make you need to actively communicate with everyone on all levels and ask the questions of what is important to your constituents and Custer County as a whole. I believe that it is the duty of a supervisor to make themselves well informed. Search out the questions and answers. About everyone has a cell phone that can keep us all connected nowadays. In our representative form of government an elected official must hear the needs of their constituents so their needs and concerns can be addressed. Good communication is always a must.
4. Tax issues are as old as the first issued taxes. Payment manner of Real Estate/Personal Property taxes is set by state statute. If we think that something needs to be changed, contacting our state legislator with those concerns should be done. There are most likely many reasons why these Taxes are not paid on a timely manner. Those reasons rest with the property owners responsibilities.