Why do you want to serve on the Warsaw City Council?

We have a great community in which to raise a family and I would really enjoy maintaining our quality of life by working on the city council. I enjoy serving as vice president of the Warsaw Planning Commission, where I been a member for the past several years. I believe my love for this community, my interest in local government, my teaching experience, and my conservative values will enable me to be an elected representative citizens can trust.

What single service provided by, or single department of, the city government should be recognized as being both efficient and effective and is deserving of additional support of city taxpayers?

I believe all departments are doing a nice job. However, I would like to recognize the Public Works Department at this time. Lacy Francis' staff is doing an excellent job of providing services that we all desperately need and often take for granted. Clean streets in all seasons, effective wastewater treatment, solid infrastructure and efficient curbside waste removal is the norm in this community. I commend the City Council for rewarding them for their efforts on Oct. 15, 1999.

What single service provided by, or single department of, the city government has not been either efficient or effective and should be overhauled or eliminated?

David Van Dyke has done an excellent job operating the wastewater plant. However, after visiting with him and other leaders in the community, I believe the ability of the wastewater plant to continue serving our growing community is limited. The city council must determine how wastewater treatment capacity can increase in the most cost effective manner that is fair to all taxpayers in our city. Without increased capacity, our city will have no opportunity for continued economic growth and development.

What goal would you work to accomplish during the first 100 days of your term?

I hope that citizens in District One will immediately understand and appreciate the fact that I am someone on the council they can trust. I have learned most public policy questions have several possible solutions. My goal is to search for satisfactory solutions to public problems that will benefit most of the people I represent in our community. I also want to personally visit all of the city departments to listen to their suggestions. I look forward to the challenge of serving on our city council.

Joel Curry (D), District 2

Why do you want to serve on the Warsaw City Council?

Living in Warsaw for more than a decade has been a wonderful experience for my wife and me. We both feel my service as a City Councilman is an appropriate way to give back to a community that means so much to us. I want to do something constructive about the fact that so many of the City Council decisions seem to be mere ratifying votes on decisions made beforehand. A one-party city government such as we have now limits public discussion, and that is not in the public interest.

What single service provided by, or single department of, the city government should be recognized as being both efficient and effective and is deserving of additional support of city taxpayers?

The Planning Department faces a monumental task and has done an outstanding job in working toward its objectives with inadequate resources. I cannot praise these hardworking people enough. But the department needs more resources for inspections and code enforcement. That may not be a view that is popular with a few rental property owners, but all the people of Warsaw have the right to safe, decent housing.

What single service provided by, or single department of, the city government has not been either efficient or effective and should be overhauled or eliminated?

City Council has been indecisive about adding to sewage treatment capacity, and that has hurt the people of Warsaw. A decade ago, City Council knew the present sewage facility would reach limit in the near future. Today, no more industries can move here or expand here unless we take care of this important need. The mayor acknowledged the Danek expansion is the last major industrial expansion possible with the present sewer system. I can't erase a decade of indecisiveness, but I can help City Council move forward with this decision to help our city prosper.

What goal would you work to accomplish during the first 100 days of your term?

In the first 100 days of 2000, I will open the process of city government to the people in District 2 with my first public forum. I plan to hold forums, or public meetings, in the district every quarter to allow people to ask questions and express opinions and concerns to me and other city government leaders. City Council's decisions affect every citizen. It's time their City Councilman gave people more opportunity to give us their input.

Charles Smith (R), District 2

Why do you want to serve on the Warsaw City Council?

I have benefited as a citizen by living in the city of Warsaw. Therefore, I would like to serve our community as a Warsaw City Council member to help maintain the fine standard of living we enjoy in Warsaw. I believe my qualifications based upon a proven track record as a banker, former teacher and coach, and volunteer for many community services have proven I am well-informed, dedicated, honest, hard-working and willing to serve.

What single service provided by, or single department of, the city government should be recognized as being both efficient and effective and is deserving of additional support of city taxpayers?

I do not believe I could single out just one department or service provided by our city government for being both efficient and/or effective. Our street department, year after year, performs extremely well, from snow removal to keeping our streets clean with timely removal of leaves and fallen tree branches. Our police protection is considered one of the best in the state. Our city parks, City-County Athletic Complex, cemetery and airport all add to our style of living through the work of each department.

What single service provided by, or single department of, the city government has not been either efficient or effective and should be overhauled or eliminated?

Although there is always room for improvement, I do not believe any department of our city government needs major overhauling or should be eliminated. I have no preconceived ideas for overhauling any department. As a councilman, I will take a look at the issues and the differing points of view, and then react by voting for common sense decisions. Our sewage system's limited capacity is one of our major challenges for the citizens' health and retention of jobs through business expansion.

What goal would you work to accomplish during the first 100 days of your term?

I plan, as a newly elected Warsaw City Council member, to review and study the city government's budget. The study of the general fund followed by the park fund, cemetery fund and aviation funds, will be my first priority. This foundation will assist in analyzing the financial appropriations to each department, which will enable them to address the needs and wants of our citizens and taxpayers. Listening to our taxpayers in planning our future, while utilizing our tax dollars responsibly will be my goal.

Paul Siebenmorgen, District 3, Incumbent (R)

Why do you want to serve on the Warsaw City Council?

Warsaw is a great place to live and work. We are fortunate to enjoy a high quality of life here. I am proud of our community, and by serving on the City Council, I hope to help maintain our quality of life while our community continues to develop. Warsaw has been good to my family, and this is also a way to give back to the community.

What single service provided by, or single department of, the city government should be recognized as being both efficient and effective and is deserving of additional support of city taxpayers?

What single service provided by, or single department of, the city government has not been either efficient or effective and should be overhauled or eliminated?

Editor's Note: Siebenmorgen provided a single answer for both questions.

All departments for the city work hard for the taxpayer. We are fortunate to have strong department heads who know their jobs and do them well. Even though there is a need for a second sewage treatment plant, the first one is run very efficiently even though it is near capacity. We are proud of the quality of airport a city our size has, with an ILS and housing the largest number of private jets in northern Indiana. Our park system is impressive, considering the county has over 100 lakes and no recreational facilities. The street department does an excellent job of repair and snow removal, saving the taxpayers dollars by developing the skills to do much of the work themselves and not paying third-party vendors. Oakwood Cemetery is unique, well-maintained and expanding. The Planning and Building Department has done a good job with the recent city expansion, but could simplify their policies and procedures. The other departments are well staffed and provide their needed services, although I believe the police may have a disproportional percentage of the total city budget.

What goal would you work to accomplish during the first 100 days of your term?If I have not learned anything else in my first three years on the council, it's government does not move fast, and the budgets are already set for 2000. I hope there are no surprises in the first 100 days, and plans for financing the second sewage plant can be finalized.

Jerry Patterson (R), District 4, Incumbent

Why do you want to serve on the Warsaw City Council?

I have lived in Warsaw all my life. Being semi-retired now, I would like to spend some time helping the city of Warsaw grow. I would like to maintain the quality of life for the younger generation. I would like to maintain reasonable tax rates for senior citizens.

What single service provided by, or single department of, the city government should be recognized as being both efficient and effective and is deserving of additional support of city taxpayers?

I would not single out one department as deserving additional support from city taxpayers. I feel Warsaw is very fortunate to have dedicated people in all departments such as Dept. of Public Works, Police Dept. and the Fire Dept.

What single service provided by, or single department of, the city government has not been either efficient or effective and should be overhauled or eliminated?

I would not single out one department that has not been efficient or effective, as it would not be a fact as I know it. That will be partly my responsibility, if elected.

What goal would you work to accomplish during the first 100 days of your term?

My goal would be to have a new waste water treatment facility. We cannot keep annexing without this new facility.

I would like to see a single facility for our City Hall, city offices, police autos, repair garages, etc.

Albert Smith (D), District 5

Why do you want to serve on the Warsaw City Council?

To help develop a sense of loyalty to common sense and to give the people of our community more power to control our politicians.

What single service provided by, or single department of, the city government should be recognized as being both efficient and effective and is deserving of additional support of city taxpayers?

None, to the best of my knowledge. All departments should be investigated, and all financial records shown to this "new" committee.

What single service provided by, or single department of, the city government has not been either efficient or effective and should be overhauled or eliminated?

They all should be overhauled, and to eliminate waste of taxpayer monies. A reduction of personnel and more responsibility and an honest eight-hour day's work from everyone.

What goal would you work to accomplish during the first 100 days of your term?

To be a member of the "change committee" and show the public and taxpayers that our government is made up "of the people, by the people and for the people." Politics must be cleaned up. [[In-content Ad]]