The following is from Cerro Gordo County Supervisor candidate Chris Watts of Mason City –
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Just wanted to take the time here and tell you again why I would appreciate your vote next Tuesday.
For the past 4.5 years, I’ve attended the Board of Supervisor meetings. I’m one of a few there EVERY week. It really boggled my mind how short the meetings were and the fact that there was no spot on the agenda for the general public to comment or ask questions.
They also have these meetings at 9:45 on Tuesday mornings when the average working person would be unable to attend. It has been my goal to see the meetings more user friendly and more transparent to the people that elected them.
I would also like to see them televised like our council meetings. Thanks to Matt and NIT, they are at least online for people to view now.
I travel our county roads everyday–for my job– and the surrounding counties adjoining us. It is with this day-to-day travel that I see roads and bridges that need work here in our County.
How is it that the other counties surrounding us are spending big dollars fixing theirs but not the “Metro County” in the region?
Very simple answer here. WIND ENERGY !!!
Mitchell County paved 31 more miles of roads last summer with TIF money -Tax Increment Financing- no cost to the taxpayers there. Generated by their wind farms.
Worth County put down over 50 miles of new roads-again utilizing TIF funding and Casino revenues. Another wind energy county!
Winnebago County has an 18 to 22 million dollar project utilizing TIF funding also. Over a 3 year period. Massive amounts of wind turbines here also.
Franklin County is fast approaching being a HUGE wind energy county as well.
Here in Cerro Gordo County–it’s been 13 years since we did anything with wind energy–located south of Ventura. What are we waiting for?
Well sources close to the current board say the wind energy funding is slowing down and may not be there.
MY answer to this is “that’s a lame excuse” for the past 13 years sitting on our hands. We could have and should have had the vision and leadership to pursue what are neighboring counties did. Granted you just can’t throw up wind turbines anywhere. But I’d be surprised if there was nowhere in our county that couldn’t have these.
We have more minimum maintenance roads-commonly called level B roads in our county than ever before. I’m attaching pictures and locations of several of these with this article. Look at the conditions of these? Than there is a newer culvert/bridge that went in the southern part of our County. As a few farmers stated to me, imagine snow and ice build-up on this and notice no rails on the side. Hit this and slide right off with a very sizable drop–no embankment–a drop!!!
Proof is in the pictures people.
We need to supply our Engineer with the funding to do what needs to be done.
Would you rather pay out of your pockets with increased taxes? Or take and use the TIF funding like our neighboring counties have?
Good infrastructure brings new business. Time we work on ours. Heaven knows we could use more business. Not retail–but good paying jobs.
We lost the Target Distribution center. Where were we at?
We need to work more aggressively with our neighboring communities in the County.
We need to look at ways to regionalize more services with these communities and possible adjoining counties.
You know once upon a time there was the need for 99 counties in the horse and buggy days–but those days are gone. We need to look at what can we as neighbors do better!!
Where can we save money and NOT cut services.
Our Mental Health Services are doing this currently under Bob Lincoln’s direction.
I see where the current board is taking credit for something his people did.
Just like the Precinct Atlas program that over 50 counties in the state are using. The brain child of our own County Auditor and our MIS Dept. Come on guys–give the credit where credit’s due!!
Or the 800,000 dollars saved by re-doing the law enforcement bonds. The work here again was done by our own Heather Mathre–Budget Director with the Auditors office. She deserves the credit!!
I believe the staffing and employees of our county are exceptional. They deserve the benefits that full-time employees should get.
Which takes me to the next matter—why should our part time Supervisor’s get full-time benefits? Plus mileage reimbursement, IPERS, and $46,000.00 a year on top of that!
Best part time gig in the county folks!!
I said, when I announced I would run, that I believe in term limits. Whether doing good or bad after my time is up–I believe it’s time for new blood, new ideas. Any job after a period of time develops complacency. We have my opponent Phil finishing 3 terms currently-that’s 12 years. Personally, I have nothing against Phil. Nice guy-but he’s been there long enough. I would like the opportunity to better serve the people of Cerro Gordo county.
I also stated I would take no pay raise in that 4 year term. I currently have benefits with my current employer so I should not need. Cost savings right here. And would ask for a payroll deduction if I used any of the health benefits in the future. I do not expect the freebies accustomed to this office. As I mentioned in my mailing, Section 24.17 spells out where they can decline wage increases.
And Jay Syverson from The Iowa State Association of Counties stated 4-15-09, Regarding health insurance for elected officials–“PROVIDING HEALTH INSURANCE IS NOT REQUIRED BY LAW”
It’s just turned into a money grab venture. Here is a little known fact also. In the past 24 years, the Supervisor’s salary has gone from over $18,000.00 to the current $46,000.00 salary. You do the math, what percentage increase did you get in that time frame?
I was brought up in Eagle Grove and have lived here in Mason City for 31 years. I always thought when someone ran for an office it was because they had the passion to make things better–not for money and surely not as a career.
I’d like to see the Supervisors have a meeting in every community in our County. There are a lot of elderly people who just do not drive anymore. Give them a chance to have a voice. Maybe they have ideas that would help guide our County further. Any ideas are better than no ideas. This seems to be the case at the SHORT meetings I mentioned earlier. I hardly ever hear a new idea mentioned like I have here to you. What is with that! No more rubber stamp meetings please!
Oh and here’s a good one, they claim an 8 year freeze on property taxes. Have your property values changed? Mine went up!
Okay, I’m done. I just need every Democrat, Independent and Republican to locate my name on the ballot. You mark does count even if you vote straight party.
Questions? Feel free to call me 424-5835.
Sincerely
Chris Watts
23 thoughts on “Op-ed: Chris Watts explains why he deserves your vote for County Supervisor”
Wake up people, give the guy a chance. I think it’s time for a change, and finally someone has stepped forward to try to improve things, save us some money, and has some great ideas. Let’s get the puppet master, and his hodydoody out, and give Chris a chance to try to turn things around.
Chris, you do realize how TIF works right? Using TIF to fund county projects doesnt mean”no cost to property tax payers” as you state. It simply means that instead of dividing the total property tax reciepts between the county; school; and city the county can use all of the tax for projects located in the TIF district. this in turn, means less tax revenue for the other taxing authorities–which generally leads to them(city/schools) having to raise their tax rate.
Well, why don’t you explain to the rest of us how EVERY County around us did it and are benefiting with the new roads than?
I think Watts has aired some good ideas. At least he has some. What have you heard from the three stooges that are there now?
I just did. but here you go again, when a county creates a TIF district, it generally does so in an area where there is a pending project or projected growth. once the district is created the current property tax revenues are recorded. any new tax revenues in the area are then available to be used for TIF eligible projects within the district. the new tax revenues do not have to be split as they normally do with the other taxing authorities(school/city/etc) and can be used to fund the projects 100%. So its not that “the projects don’t cost the tax payers anything”as mr. watts stated, it simply means the new taxes created in the district don’t have to be split with the other taxing authorities. which generally means they(city/schools/etc) may need to raise their rates to meet their needs. hope that helps.
Why weren’t you on here Questioning Urdahls statement that getting state grants for emergency response was some how saving the taxpayers of Cerro Gordo county tax dollars. Taking the tax dollars I pay to the state and using them here in CG did not save anyone tax dollars. Urdahl and Dougherty need to go!
anonymous—I’m no urdahl fan but, his statement actually does work. If the supervisors didnt apply for and receive the state grant-your state income tax dollars would have likely gone to another county for similar purposes and you and the other property tax payers of CG county would have had to pay a higher property tax to pay for whatever emergency response expense they used the grant for. So, that actually does represent a savings to the property tax payers of cerro gordo county.
@smith Yes it does save us money on our county taxes but it raises the amount of money the state needs from everyone to make grants like this. I would rather each county pay their own way and lower my state taxes. If my county needs something it is better to have local control so you have a voice in what money gets handed out and why. The state gives my money away all the time and I have no idea if it is wasteful spending or if their is a legitimate need.
I voted early and I voted for you & Kyle
I’m confused. My ballot did not have any choice for supervisor on it at all and you got to vote for 2? I guess I don’t understand county supervisors. I just figured Bob was the supervisor from my area and his term isn’t up this year. Could someone explain?
I have no idea how you could NOT know that two of our county supervisors are up for reelection. You are on here constantly claiming to be knowledgeable about politics at the national level but you don’t know or care about local politics that have the greatest effect on our daily lives.
Hey anymouthy-not everyone can be as opinionated or smart as you claim to be. All you can do is critisize other people’s posts. Do you ever have a original thought of your own?
@Katie-I think you have it right. They probably were not on your ballot because they are not running in your district. This is an important vote in the districts they are running in as the incumbents have been in office far to long and think they no longer need to respond to the people. I hope this helps.
@ Anonymous: It was more of a snarky question aimed at Go Figure. I was pretty darned sure you could only vote for one supervisor. I was wondering how in the heck Go Figure could say that he voted early and voted for both Kyle and Chris. I did check it out to make sure I was right that you could only vote for one. And why are you attacking me when I’m not the one who lied and said I voted for 2? Your personal bully attacks are so 8th Grade.
@Katie Go Figure is not on here everyday claiming to be an expert on everything. I too have many opinions but you seem to think you know how everyone should act or feel about everything. Sometimes I point out the hypocrisy in your statements just to get you excited and to hear your boyfriend LVS come to your defense. Just because you two are old doesn’t mean you Know it all but you keep doing what you like and I’ll keep doing what I like. At least you don’t get mad and call me names like your prince charming. Some how I don’t think you need or care to have him stick up for you.
@anymouthy-here you go again tinking you are as smart as your elders. You need to grow up before you play with the big boys. Calling people names and snarking behind a keyboard just won’t get it. Whenever you have a original thought just let me know. Your name calling and insinuations are getting old. Grow up and get a life.
@anymouthy-You like to make references about me being katie boyfriend so I feel I must explain to you in the juvenile terms you might understand. I do no know Katie or at least I don’t think I do and my wife would be very surprised to know I have a girlfriend at my age and with my health. However, I will say I enjoy her fact based intelligent post and she certainly has a RIGHT to post her opinion. You are nothing but a keyboard BULLY and like most bully’s you do not like it when someone fights back. You have no factual thoughts and deal in falsehoods and name calling and quite frankly BULLY’s like you just irritate the hell out of me and I find myself fighting for the ones you BULLY. Now run home to your Momma and tell them you are being picked on.
@LVS you must be senile because I didn’t call Katie or anyone else names. While you are on here constantly calling people names and being a bully. You talk down to people and tell everyone how smart you are. You like Jimmy Carter have lust in your heart for Katie. But thats ok you just keep acting like a child and throwing a fit and I will keep poking you with my stick and laughing at you!
Hey anymouthy-I have had enough of debating with stupid people. When you grow up let me know.
@Go Figure: You can only vote for ONE supervisor candidate. Please explain to me how you voted for both Chris and Kyle.
Looks like there’s someone here that makes sense.
The picture’s make me wonder what they’ve been doing sitting in there office’s.
I don’t personally know Watts, but from what I’ve read about him, he has the drive and ambition we need in this county. He’s got my vote!
Mr. Watts strikes me as a real go-getter. Not just a chair warmer like the other supervisors. He’s got my vote and my wife’s vote.
Looks like we have a candidate that knows what’s going on. A little different than what I read in the Globe.
Thanks Matt for sharing the truth with us.
Good Luck Mr. Watts!!
Good ideas. Mabe it is time for a change. As I have stated before, I am a huge believer in term limits. I have known Chris for a number of years (not real well)and have always heard his word is good. I know he has done a lot on 19th street to make things better. That says a lot.