Creative ideas from candidates to lead Falmouth

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For Falmouth City Council, candidates were posed the question, “One thing that seems obvious is that the same old, same old just does not work in these days and times. What out-of-the-box idea do you have for the future of Falmouth?” They were limited to a 250-word response.This is the last installment of the series. All candidate answers of questions can be reviewed at www.falmouthoutlook.com under Election 2020.

 

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By Tammy Johnson

    Same old, same old just does not work in these days and times.
    Live by three C’s- choice, chance and change.  You need to make a choice to take a chance and make a change.
    We need to start with a PLAN:
    Proper budgeting: ensuring that funding is properly budgeted for any entity maintained by the city. Less Debt- Continue to decrease the debt the city obtains; making good decisions on future purchases and needs.
    Accountability for all funds- Entities maintained by the City should be required to maintain within budgets.  Audits should come close to budgets.  All funding should be accounted for.
    NO MORE utility increases- Citizens should not continue to see increases in utilities for maintaining any entities for the city.
    I like to see more focus put on improvements accomplished for the city.  Citizens should see that their tax dollars are well spent and accounted. Safety should be top concerns; lighting the city up with proper lighting, enforcement of ordinances to clean up the city and holding homeowners accountable.
    I would like to see more citizen involvement and communications to citizens. Unfortunately, not everyone is online or reads the paper. Communications can easily be sent to citizens through the billing statements monthly.
    How about a monthly communication Newsletter?
    I look forward to continuing to research and attempt to find the best solutions for the betterment of our community and our next generations if chosen to be your voice on city council.
    VOTE TAMMY LYNN JOHNSON

By Amy Beckett Hurst

    My out-of-the–box idea, for the future of Falmouth, would be more citizen participation.  I am a member of several organizations and clubs within our city and county.  We are always looking for citizens to volunteer to help with events that are held within our city.  If you need to know of an organization that needs help, please contact me.  I will happily give you their contact information.  
    Another idea would be for citizens to form community service groups. These groups could help in cleaning up the city, create welcome events during the PC Fair, sporting events, Art Walk, Relay for Life, Wool Festival, and many other events held throughout the city. As of right now, we have a few groups from PHS that help us out.  
    I would like to see more citizens participate at city council meetings.  Our meetings are the 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm for a caucus (discussion) and the 3rd Tuesday at 7:00 pm for our regular meetings.  The council agenda has a time for concerned citizens to voice their opinions at the meetings and a sign-in sheet for you to speak.  Unfortunately, we have had very few people attend and voice concerns before the entire council or even attend a meeting.  
    Wouldn’t it be great to see citizens taking an active role within our city whether it be attending meetings, volunteering with an event or even a city clean-up?  

By Shannon Johnson

    I would like to concentrate more on the Gen X’ers to Millennials and what they might need to be successful and contributing members of our city.  These groups tend to be the working group of people that get lost in the shuffle.  They leave the area for work, often times even relocating outside the area for that work, and then there is very little going on for them if they return.  For one, it would be fantastic if we could get businesses here to draw in these groups by providing more jobs but also keep them here or at least wanting to come back.  Ideally, we would have housing options for these groups of people as well.  That would also create an even bigger need for childcare options.  I am aware that we are deficient in some of these things.  We need to create these opportunities.  Once they are here, there needs to be something for people to do.  It’s a trickle effect.  As I mentioned in one of my previous responses, I feel like an entertainment destination area in our downtown would be ideal.  That would be a place for these people to relax and easily walk from one place to another without hesitation.  Other cities are creating this kind of atmosphere and I feel we should follow in their examples.  These are just a few of the ideas I have but the big key is opportunity and growth.

By Sebastian Ernst

    Although it may seem obvious that what we are doing isn’t working, you wouldn’t think so by reading the responses to these questions the last few weeks. The consensus on Council is that what we’re doing IS working, it’s why they aren’t changing anything. Each of them has stated that they won’t outsource our failing utility departments. They also said they won’t even consider merging our police department with the sheriffs in order to save the kind of funds we need to rebuild our town. How can you make a decision on something you haven’t even researched, or even talked about for that matter? Those answers alone should tell you everything you need to know about why things haven’t improved around here.
    What I’m proposing is something vastly different than what we’ve been doing for the last half a century. With a single vote in favor of merging our police with the Sheriffs department, the city would free up over $600,000 EVERY SINGLE YEAR. It is with those funds that we will be able to rebuild our community.
    Over the next two years I would like to upgrade our streets and sidewalks, rebuild Veterans Park into a splash park/playground, invest in new signage and landscaping to beautify our town, build a new fire department on 27 that’s out of the flood zone, host city sponsored events to include festivals and community clean up days, as well as offer support to people who need help cleaning up their dilapidated properties, specifically the elderly and disabled.

By Craig Owen

    As much as I’d like to come up with a clever and creative response to this question I honestly can’t.  Before you can start thinking outside the box you need to be sure what you’re trying to fix or improve already has a solid foundation to work with, and currently I don’t feel Falmouth has that.  Once the problems that have already been discussed in previous questions can be addressed and hopefully fixed, only then can you start thinking outside the box to determine the best way to start Falmouth on the road to success for current and future generations.

By Luke Price

    I don’t believe it is going to take a out of the box idea to get Falmouth back on track.
    We need to continue to invest in our infrastructure. Without infrastructure key business that will be needed to push Falmouth ahead in the future. We need to invest in infrastructure to assure business that we as a city are ready for the industry that would provide the jobs that Falmouth would benefit from having.
    I think it is also important that we continue to support local business in Falmouth and Pendleton County.
    I also think it is important to invest not just funding for our local utilities but support or local utility and maintenance dept. as they are a key resource for success in our community.
    Once again, we as a community must invest in our future. It is up to us to look out for or family, friends and the great small-town community we have, and I believe that every citizen of Falmouth truly loves this great town that I am proud to call home.

By Joyce Carson

    Lifelong and new residents can agree that revitalizing our city’s downtown district and vacant buildings is vital. While the city cannot do it alone, as we must have investors, the city can help set conditions to support and grow small business development. I’ve researched fellow cities of our size with similar barriers. The key is to support and develop incentives for new small businesses.  
    My ideas include (1) inventory vacant properties and identify which owners are interested in selling, renting or restoring. This shows who’s willing to help us revitalize. (2) Develop a business welcome resource page for entrepreneurs and potential investors including city resources, properties available and information for first-time small businesses (3) Financial incentives during year one to help new small businesses get on their feet. For example, a lower tax rate or utility rate. (4) A long-term goal would be to create a small business incubator space like Maysville did where new businesses could apply to have reduced overhead for one year until more financially stable.
    There are many resources available to help us including, but not limited to NKU Small Business Development Center, NKADD, National Business Incubation Association, Catalytic Fund Group of Covington who is helping with the Klee property and most important is our citizens willing to cooperate, volunteer, and offer input during this process. Cooperation is key, and we must work together to get this accomplished. As a small business owner myself, I know the value of new small businesses and they need support.