Council seat contenders address city's money woes

SHAMOKIN - Two political newcomers, Democrat and former Shamokin Fire Bureau Chief William D. Milbrand and Republican Barry W. Weikel vie for a two-year term to council.

Following are answers to questions posed to the candidates for city council by The News-Item.

1. What's your take on the status of the city deficit at this point? Has the city done enough to save money?

Milbrand: At this point I'm not really sure if there is a deficit. At one point reports are that the city is near broke and then reports come out that there was money found and we will make it through the year out of debt. I'm not sure the deficit, if there is one, is as bad as has been reported.

Weikel: First of all, I am not surprised. The rising cost of everything, and at the same time the tax base going down. The second part of this question is a little difficult to answer because I don't know all the facts and figures that the city has to work with. I will say this, I don't think they spent enough time trying to save money, they seemed to have glossed over it.

2. Do you believe layoffs will be necessary next year? (Would you advocate cutting the police secretary, or officers, if that were the case?)

Milbrand: I do not believe layoffs are necessary. We can not run the city efficiently if we are understaffed. I also don't believe that every time layoffs are mentioned all eyes should turn to the police department. Our police department is a vital part of keeping this community safe. We can't afford to lose any police officers.

Weikel: I would have to look at each department in order to access what each one of the needs, and what isn't needed. Cutting the police department would not be conducive, especially the way crime and drug rates are up. The street department is working with a small crew, so again let's be more cost effective; let them do their work.

What no one has addressed is "what if the state takes over the city?" Then what do we do?

3. Do you believe any major services will have to be cut next year?

Milbrand: I am not sure. If I am successful and win the election I would have to sit down and look over the budget, but at this time I do not have enough information to answer this question.

Weikel: I would not want to cut any major services. The budget needs to be gone over with a fine-tooth comb.

4. How would the above questions be answered IF the court doesn't approve another 5-mill increase.

Milbrand: Let's cross that bridge if we come to it. Again, I haven't looked over the actual budget and expenditures so I don't know how much not being approved for the 5-mill increase will affect the city.

Weikel: With a dwindling tax base and depressed area, I will be the taxpayers' watch dog and try to be very cost effective at a price this community can live with.

5. Should the pool drainage system be upgraded and the pool open next year, even if it takes all of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money to do so?

Milbrand: In talking to elected officials from various other communities, the community swimming pools seem to be the heartache of almost every one of them. I do not believe all of the CDBG money should be used for the pool. There are many other important projects that the money needs to be used for. I am not opposed to allocating a portion to the pool, but if the pool expenses are more than we can afford, the pool may have to sit idle for a year until we can save enough money to complete the repairs.

Weikel: Priorities should be set, preventative maintenance should be done first, before a big dollar sign appears. CDGB money is to be spent wisely.

6. Beyond finances, what other major issue (or issues) does the city need to address?

Milbrand: Our major issue is the decaying properties around the community. We need to get tough with the owners of these blighted properties to either fix them or raze them. We also need to sit down and develop a long-range plan and stick to it. The problems we have in the city today were not created in one year and they are going to take time to fix them. We also need to try to attract some new business and industry to the area. I know this is easier said than done, but let's face it, are we really doing anything to try to attract business or industry?

Weikel: Blighted buildings. We should try to bring business to downtown and take a serious look at the drug lords in our area, and clean the community of this problem.

7. What are you most proud of in regards to the city?

Milbrand: I am proud of our heritage, and if elected, I want to preserve our past heritage and set the stage for our present and future heritage so that this community can live on for another 145 years and longer.

Weikel: Our community can be proud of the police department, the fire companies and the street department. They are all working with limited bodies, and instead of putting them down, we should be praising the jobs well done.

Councilman Michael Snyder and City Controller William Strausser are both on the ballot for a four-year council seat. With two open seats, Snyder and Strausser are assured a general election victory barring any write-in campaigns.

Neither Snyder or Strausser responded to The News-Item's election questions.