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Photo courtesy of Sara Humm
Ottawa Middle School student Hannah Thomas asks a question of Franklin County Commission candidates Gene Hirt, an independent; David Hood, Republican, and Scott Barnhart, independent, Tuesday evening during a Kids Voting candidates forum at the Franklin County Office Annex, 1418 S. Main St., Ottawa. Two other commission candidates, Ed Taylor and John Riddle, missed out on questions from kids when the event overlapped the traditional candidates forum. The first hour of the Kids Voting forum will be broadcast on Government Access Channel 20.
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Roads are the rage for county
By CLEON RICKEL, Herald Senior Writer
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Roads generated the rage during the Ottawa candidates forum Tuesday for the county commission.
Commission candidates also disagreed on spending for economic development and having a county administrator.
Two candidates said the county needs to improve the county road network, especially minimum-maintenance roads. The other three candidates said they see no need to make major changes for the county roads.
David Hood, Republican candidate for the 3rd District, said that in his role as a driver and now director of the Franklin County Council on Aging’s general transportation buses, he’s been over most of the county roads and many are in poor shape.
He and Gene Hirt, independent candidate for the 2nd District, said the county should consider upgrading the minimum-maintenance roads.
That will spur more development, which will spur more property tax revenue for the county, Hood said.
Many of the roads were downgraded to minimum-maintenance about 30 years ago, Hirt said.
“A lot of those roads are still not that bad,” he said. It wouldn’t be as expensive as many say, especially if county road crews do most of the work, he said.
The minimum-maintenance roads have long been a source of public discontent, he said.
Ed Taylor, the only incumbent commissioner remaining, said it wouldn’t be feasible to try to upgrade the 80 miles of minimum-maintenance roads in the county.
“We’ve got roads we need to maintain now,” he said. “I don’t believe we need to do this at this time.”
Democrat John Riddle, who with Hirt is challenging Taylor in a three-way race for the 2nd District, agreed with Taylor.
“We can’t keep up with the 970 miles of county roads we have,” Riddle said. “There’s no way we can do minimum-maintenance roads.
“We don’t have the money.”
Scott Barnhart, an independent who’s vying with Hood for the 3rd District commission seat, also said he doesn’t favor upgrading minimum-maintenance roads.
In many cases, neighboring property owners in the more rural areas of the county are opposed to upgrading their roads, he said.
Hood and Hirt also disagreed with the others concerning providing funds to Ottawa/Franklin County Economic Development Corporation for economic development efforts.
Hirt and Hood said they wouldn’t support continued funding to O/FCED.
It’s more important to ensure that companies pay fair wages, Hirt said.
And judging from the number of vacant buildings downtown, economic development efforts have been ineffective, he said.
The others were more fulsome in their support.
“I do believe they bring good jobs to Franklin County,” Riddle said.
Franklin County is in a good position — being close to Kansas City while being next to I-35 and economic developments would help the county take advantage, Barnhart said.
Taylor said he not only supports O/FCED, he would be willing to increase what the county pays for economic development.
Hirt and Hood said they would be willing to stage another public vote on whether to keep the county administrator’s position.
The other candidates said they were happy with having an administrator.
“The people voted for administrator,” Taylor said. “If the people want to change it, it’s up to them. It’s not up to commissioners.
“I think things are running very well now.”
Having an administrator eliminates political maneuvering among commissioners and county department heads, Barnhart said.
In other issues, Riddle agreed with Hood and Hirt about increasing the number of night commission meetings to at least two a month.
The night meetings give many county residents a chance to meet and see commissioners, they said.
“I don’t see any reason not to,” Riddle said.
Taylor and Barnhart said they’re satisfied with the present schedule, which is three morning meetings a month and one night meeting.
In other comments, Barnhart said his position as the youngest candidate is an asset.
“At least one-fifth of the commission should be someone young,” he said.
He faces Hood, who upset Commissioner Roy Dunn in the Republican primary. Hood, a former Ottawa police officer and fire captain, said the condition of county roads is what prompted him to run for the commission.
Taylor, who’s seeking his third term on the commission, noted his background as owner of a surveying company and his experience as commissioner.
The county has been growing and progressing, he said.
“I believe we’re moving to the goal of making Franklin County a better place to live, work and raise children,” Taylor said.
Hirt, a former Bendix technician and labor negotiator who operated a small business in Ottawa, said he’s running because he’s been annoyed with how commissioners communicate with citizens. Hirt is challenging Taylor.
The commissioners have little interest in hearing complaints from voters, Hirt said.
Riddle, a plumber and heating and air-conditioning technician, said the commission hasn’t shown any leadership. Riddle is also challenging Taylor.
“The county is going to be in some hard times coming up,” he said. “I’m willing to take responsibility and be that leader for the county.”
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