Beech Tree News Network

1)     Please describe the duties, as you see them, of holding the seat of which you are seeking and how you plan to fulfill those responsibilities.
A councilman’s responsibility is to pass an annual budget for operating the city government and to seek out potential commercial and industrial development for Morgantown and Butler Co. It also includes work sessions and gathering information from city residents and other county and state elected officials.  

I keep in contact with state representatives and senators to make sure voices in Morgantown and Butler Co are heard.

Current council members use work sessions and one on one visits with industry and commercial business leaders in our city to gather info and to show appreciation.
 

2)       What do you feel is the #1 issue that needs to be addressed in Morgantown/Butler County? If elected, what specific steps will you take to address this issue?
At this moment, I feel that Morgantown needs a revision of the planning and zoning ordinances.  Some of the current ordinances are out of date and entirely too vague and cause lots of confusion for Morgantown business owners and it’s residents.  In most cases they just need to be simplified.

Currently the council is already working with new members of the Planning and Zoning board to simplify these ordinances.  In my opinion a code enforcement officer is needed and should be an officer of the Morgantown Police Dept.

3)      What do you see as Morgantown/Butler County’s greatest asset? How do you plan to expose and promote this positive feature?
I believe Morgantown’s greatest asset is undeveloped land.  The city owns 69 acres and I would love to work with council members to get this land ‘site ready’ to attract new industries.
 
4)      Where do you see Morgantown/Butler County in five years?
My dream would be to see a road built that would connect Hwy 231 at Ashley Dr to Academic Way at Hwy 70, widening Hwy 231 with sidewalks on each side of the road to the high school, and new commercial businesses where people could do their weekly shopping here at home.

5)      What qualifications do you believe you possess that would make you qualified for the position you are seeking?
A councilman in my opinion should be involved in multiple organizations to gather information and feedback from a variety of Morgantown’s residents. I have served on the Butler Co Conservation Board, the Butler Co Stockman’s Assoc., and the Butler Co Extension Service Council. I believe to be an effective leader you have to be a good listener, and at times, to agree to disagree. This is something I believe I have gained during the time I have served our community.