Chamber Hosts Council Candidates Forum

Seven candidates for three seats in the upcoming Grove City Council Election April 3 took the stage Friday at the Grove Chamber of Commerce's "Eggs N Issues" breakfast, alternately agreeing and jabbing at each other. All seemed to have been well briefed on the questions posed.

Candidates first had two minutes for Opening Remarks. Some samples:

Harry Worley--"you don't have to always win to be ahead in the race." "I want to bring a spirit of teamwork and move Grove forward.
Dustin Phillips--"I am running in order to bring new and exciting business to Grove, lower the sales tax and keep from adding a new property tax. I have no axe to grind, I just want to help the community."
Carolyn Nuckolls--"I would like to finish the projects we have going, I have lived here since 1946 and am very interested in what happens here. My door is always open."
Gary Trippensee--"We need an open and fair government, to provide services the people need at a reasonable cost. Some of our utility rates are the highest in the nation; we don't need high engineering fees."
David Adzigian--"I offer unbiased mediation, fair representation; I want to complete the Downtown project and put the city on a sound financial footing."
Larry Parham--"Selecting a new city manager will be very important; the June utility increases are not necessary, I'm against consultants, I want to use local people for road building, and get a city-owned trash service."
Mike Davenport--"Why do we live in Grove? Let's keep moving Grove forward in a positive direction."

The group then went to a period of answering specific questions directed at all of the candidates.
"What race is the most important in Grove, excluding yourself?" This question clearly made no sense and some struggled to answer it.

Worley: "The selection of a new city manager."
Phillips: "I'm standing on my own."
Nuckolls: "I have a problem endorsing other candidates and will never endorse anyone else."
Trippensee: "I support Mike Davenport."
Adzigian: "I don't endorse any but we need to elect independent candidates."
Parham: "Signs are posted at the request of the business and property owners; they want people to know who they support."
Davenport: "I support Gary and Larry but can work together with anyone."

Second question asked was "what is your opinion on council members serving on the city's trust authority boards?"

Worley: "In a lot of cities, the Council is the boards. I don't believe in Council being on these boards."
Phillips: "One council person per board."
Nuckolls: "I want to clear up misinformation. The mayor is elected by Council. I used to believe that no council people should be on the boards but they were constantly at each other's throats. But everyone should have a chance."
Trippensee: "Only one per board."
Adzigian: "A minimum of one, maximum of two. We have no active pilots on the Airport Board and we should have at least one, with three or four independent members."
Davenport: "Same as Adzigian, one per board, professional people with new ideas for the rest."

Question: "Will you support Chamber of Commerce full funding?"

Worley: "I was on the first council that gave money to our Chamber and will support it and other business organizations with funding."
Phillips: "Full funding for the Chamber, I agree."
Nuckolls: "I would like to see an audit of the Chamber once a year and have them support all business in Grove, not just members. They do a lot for the city."
Trippensee: "I fully support them, they do a great job."
Adzigian: "They are the marketing arm of the city; attract visitors and prospective businesses and people. I support funding but the Chamber should justify its requests. I fully supported them three years ago when I served on the Council."
Parham: "I have fought for the Chamber and did vote for full funding. If we can give $50,000 to a bass tournament we can fully fund our Chamber."
Davenport: "Let's keep everybody accountable, I support funding."

"How will you finance a new Civic Center or city swimming pool?"

Worley: "I don't think the citizens will pass it but maybe we should ask them, and don't build sell the old center without first building a new one."
Phillips: "We need a new civic center; I am in favor of selling the old one, with a vote of the people."
Nuckolls: "Must have a vote of the people, no way to build a new one without the sale of the old one and we will have indebtedness.
Trippensee: "We have two groups working on it and have spent $45,000, let them come up with answers. We do need a new pool."
Adzigian: "There are lots of ways to raise money, benefactors, and contributions, without taxes; we need a vote of the people and the taxpayers will have their say."
Parham: "It does not have to go to a vote of the people and it was not necessary to spend $45,000, just look at other cities and do our own studies. And $85 a year in property taxes is too much."
Davenport: "I am definitely for a new pool but let the Blue Ribbon Committee study determine how to finance it. It the people want it, we need to get it."

Turning to individual questions:

for Parham: Do you have a financial interest in the Family Dollar Store as mentioned by David Adzigian? "It's a lie. I asked for the tape of that council meeting and I said I actually leased to this company in another city. I sold a local store that I owned to avoid a conflict of interest."

response from Adzigian: "It was clearly stated at the meeting 'I have an interest in the Family Dollar store.'"

for Davenport: Now that the city manager has retired, what are your plans? "We have other issues, roads, a new hospital, and I assure you my interests are with new projects."

for Nuckolls: Why didn't you answer the Chamber's questionnaire? "I did, I mailed it on deadline day." Response from the Chamber: "We didn't get it."

For all the candidates: "What is your vision for encouraging economic development?"
Worley: "our best bet is with small businesses. I don't know we can give them a tax break, as some have gone away after getting it."
Phillips: "we can give a tax break to bring in new business; we need to lighten up on the P&Z requirements."
Nuckolls: "I agree with Worley and I do support small business coming to town."
Trippensee: " I support economic development and providing incentives, but don't penalize existing businesses."
Adzigian: "We have some outstanding companies here but there is a gap in the skill level; NEO and Votec are working to improve this. Retirees coming here are an industry to itself, which will grow the service industries."
Parham: "The new highway 59, new hospital, giving city business to local contractors are important. All State Tank was denied a bid on the new water tower because of some Kansas City engineer said that bolt-on was not acceptable. Our local businesses should be supported.
Davenport: "We are not set up for large businesses and our downtown has empty buildings. We need to bring downtown back."

Question for all: A new casino is coming to Grove, anyway to prevent it?
Worley: "Anything that brings in people is good for Grove."
Phillips: "I agree."
Nuckolls: "It is totally out of the city's hands, regardless of our personal feelings."
Trippensee: "Correct, but we will have to work on fire and police protection and make the best of it."
Adzigian: "We don't have a choice. We need to negotiate with the tribe so that the taxpayers do not have to pay one cent extra for services to the casino."
Parham: "We cannot prevent it. Control the situation. We will need more fire equipment and police personnel."
Davenport: "We will work with the tribe to help us fund costs to the city."

Each candidate then had one minute for closing remarks.
Worley: "I have said it all."
Phillips: "I will work hard, I think I can do a good job."
Nuckolls: "This is a tough job, any new members will have to learn to count to three."
Trippensee: "I would be only one of five, keep moving, get back together."
Adzigian: "Listen and communicate openly, I am an Independent person.
Parham: "This is not an easy job, I do not agree with others most of the time. I will represent your voice, listen to the people, and put aside personal agendas."