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Tuesday’s debate between two Republican candidates running for southern district Kosciusko County commissioner put a spotlight on a few differences they share.
Bob Conley, a 12-year incumbent, is facing a challenge from DeLynn Geiger, a businessman, for the seat.
Both men grew up on farms. Conley is a barber and Geiger owns an excavating business.
Candidates were asked about several issues, including jail expansion, the wheel tax and the future of township government during a debate at the Performing Arts Center at Warsaw Community High School.
They were asked about whether the wheel tax, implemented in 2015, should be adjusted.
Conley said it does not need to be increased and pointed out that the county is now able to provide significantly more roadwork with the additional revenues.
However, he thinks the county needs to review a portion of the wheel tax policy that covers two-wheel trailers under 3,000 pounds which are subject to the annual $40 charge.
“I think that’s unfair,” Conley said. “I think they need to take a long, hard look at that – maybe even this spring – to make adjustments to that.”
Geiger also said he opposes any increase, but said the county should eventually look at a policy based more on the weight of the vehicle.
The jail is hovering near capacity, and both were asked if they support expansion.
Geiger said he was opposed to expansion. He said overcrowding is due, in part, to a “revolving door” of offenders, many of who have drug and alcohol problems. He said the answer has more to do with working with professional counseling services to help end the cycle.
“I am not for spending another $30 to $40 million because I do not think that is the solution to our problem,” Geiger said.
Conley did not give a definitive answer on whether he supports jail expansion, but said the county has worked hard to establish a handful of programs that have helped minimize overcrowding. Those included expansion of work release, several new court programs and working with counseling groups and halfway houses.
Candidates were asked about the importance of quality-of-life projects such as bike trails and other amenities.
Conley struck a careful approach on the matter.
“We’re a conservative community. We have to come to grips with that. We do what we can do, based on the money that’s given to us,” he said. “We’re not liberal. We can’t do all things for all people.”
He listed numerous amenities already available and said the county has worked hard to protect lakes and water quality.
Geiger said he supports more money to improve quality-of-life programs, but only with grant money and sources other than tax revenue.
“Recreation is a key, vital factor for the growth of the county and I think we need to take a hard look at that,” Geiger said.
Candidates were asked what more can be done to fight the opioid crisis.
Geiger called for a balanced approach that cracks down on availability as well as strong law enforcement.
Much of the problem, Geiger said, is a “mental illness” issue that requires more work with professionals and counseling groups.
Conley blamed some of the problem on “big pharma.” He pointed to a new program in the jail that works with offenders who have drug problems and called for the continued collaboration with Bowen Center and other groups to combat the crisis.
State lawmakers have grappled with the idea of consolidating or eliminating township government in recent years. An attempt to consolidate small townships gained little traction this year at the General Assembly. Candidates were asked to weigh in on the issue and both were resistant to the idea.
Kosciusko County has 17 townships, which are often involved in EMS and volunteer fire service. The offices also provide poor relief.
Conley questioned who would pick up those services.
“Can you imagine all 17 townships stopping and all the work that they’re doing maybe going to the courthouse? We’d have to build another courthouse,” Conley said.
He also offered a warning.
“We need to be cautious. That’s a slippery slope, folks. When you start doing away with duly elected government officials, they start out real small – it’s just a township trustee – it can go from there very quickly.”
Geiger said smaller townships play a vital role in various ways to help residents and seemed to oppose consolidation.
