Concerned Citizen Questions
1. MP is approximately 83,000 in population with an estimated growth rate for 2017 of 2.75%. What growth rate is acceptable for our future?
Our current growth rate is high when considering Mount Pleasant's public services, roads, and schools. While I cannot pinpoint an optimum growth rate, I believe the optimum growth rate would be less than our current rate to allow our infrastructure to catch up and meet the existing population of Mount Pleasant.
2. What mix of structures do you envision for the town? {single family vs multiple dwelling, rent vs own, industrial, commercial?
While the town should have a good mix of townhomes and apartments, I believe the focus for building should be on single-family dwellings, including single family homes that are affordable for all residents of Mt. Pleasant.
Property rights allow owners to determine whether to rent properties or sell them, so while I think home ownership is ideal, the Town Council has no control over and should not control that issue.
I believe Mount Pleasant is suited to light industrial and commercial facilities in the appropriately zoned areas.
3. Where do you see population growth locating?
Population growth is currently locating on the north side of town.
4. Comments on short term rentals?
The Town Council needs to update its ordinance to address short term rental restrictions to allow homeowners to utilize their properties while being appropriately taxed.
5. Traffic is a growing problem. Do you see the town making investments in state owned roads? {e.g. rt 41, Coleman blvd}
Unfortunately, due to lack of support from the state, the Town Council may, at times, need to invest in state-owned roads.
6. What priority would you give road widening as needed? (e.g. Rifle Range, Rt 41)?
Highway 41 widening should be first priority. Second priority is a project in the pipeline to create a third north-south corridor running parallel to Rifle Range and 17 (Billy Swails 4B).
7. Better bus transit is badly needed for commuting service workers and civil servants who cannot afford to live in MP. What solutions do you see if any?
One solution would be Mount Pleasant investing in its own bus system, creating a loop around Mt. Pleasant that intersected with CARTA stops and added new stops to allow commuting for service workers and civil servants.
8. What would you propose to attract more good paying jobs to MP? What industries?
I propose the development of a small business network to encourage and support innovative small businesses.
I would also support incentives to encourage medium-sized businesses (50-100 employees) to headquarter in Mount Pleasant.
9. Income growth in the MP budget has exceeded inflation by a good margin in the last 5 years, but outlays have kept pace. How would you propose to shrink expenses to provide surpluses in the future?
Mount Pleasant is currently operating in the black with a reserve of approximately $30 million with a third of the annual budget focused on infrastructure.
I believe the remaining budget should be spent wisely to encourage livability and quality of life, in particular supporting our public services, public safety, public arts, and the recreation department.
10. What do you see as the appropriate expense categories to harvest?
I believe the funds generated by the hospitality and accommodations taxes could be used more wisely to the public benefit.
11. Do you see the town as aggressive in this area? Where? How?
Rising costs in Mount Pleasant make it challenging for public servants and young families to afford a home. I would look for ways to encourage and incentivize development that allows people of a broader demographic to live in Mount Pleasant, particularly to keep our public servants and teachers in Mount Pleasant. Affordable housing does not necessarily equate with higher density housing; we need to be creative in this area and listen and consider all options.
12. Your position?
If the Mount Pleasant voters generate a petition with enough signatures to place the issue on the ballot, then it should be on the ballot.
Personally, I believe the current at-large system would be more effective because it requires Town Council members to represent the city as a whole, not individual neighborhoods.
Our current growth rate is high when considering Mount Pleasant's public services, roads, and schools. While I cannot pinpoint an optimum growth rate, I believe the optimum growth rate would be less than our current rate to allow our infrastructure to catch up and meet the existing population of Mount Pleasant.
2. What mix of structures do you envision for the town? {single family vs multiple dwelling, rent vs own, industrial, commercial?
While the town should have a good mix of townhomes and apartments, I believe the focus for building should be on single-family dwellings, including single family homes that are affordable for all residents of Mt. Pleasant.
Property rights allow owners to determine whether to rent properties or sell them, so while I think home ownership is ideal, the Town Council has no control over and should not control that issue.
I believe Mount Pleasant is suited to light industrial and commercial facilities in the appropriately zoned areas.
3. Where do you see population growth locating?
Population growth is currently locating on the north side of town.
4. Comments on short term rentals?
The Town Council needs to update its ordinance to address short term rental restrictions to allow homeowners to utilize their properties while being appropriately taxed.
5. Traffic is a growing problem. Do you see the town making investments in state owned roads? {e.g. rt 41, Coleman blvd}
Unfortunately, due to lack of support from the state, the Town Council may, at times, need to invest in state-owned roads.
6. What priority would you give road widening as needed? (e.g. Rifle Range, Rt 41)?
Highway 41 widening should be first priority. Second priority is a project in the pipeline to create a third north-south corridor running parallel to Rifle Range and 17 (Billy Swails 4B).
7. Better bus transit is badly needed for commuting service workers and civil servants who cannot afford to live in MP. What solutions do you see if any?
One solution would be Mount Pleasant investing in its own bus system, creating a loop around Mt. Pleasant that intersected with CARTA stops and added new stops to allow commuting for service workers and civil servants.
8. What would you propose to attract more good paying jobs to MP? What industries?
I propose the development of a small business network to encourage and support innovative small businesses.
I would also support incentives to encourage medium-sized businesses (50-100 employees) to headquarter in Mount Pleasant.
9. Income growth in the MP budget has exceeded inflation by a good margin in the last 5 years, but outlays have kept pace. How would you propose to shrink expenses to provide surpluses in the future?
Mount Pleasant is currently operating in the black with a reserve of approximately $30 million with a third of the annual budget focused on infrastructure.
I believe the remaining budget should be spent wisely to encourage livability and quality of life, in particular supporting our public services, public safety, public arts, and the recreation department.
10. What do you see as the appropriate expense categories to harvest?
I believe the funds generated by the hospitality and accommodations taxes could be used more wisely to the public benefit.
11. Do you see the town as aggressive in this area? Where? How?
Rising costs in Mount Pleasant make it challenging for public servants and young families to afford a home. I would look for ways to encourage and incentivize development that allows people of a broader demographic to live in Mount Pleasant, particularly to keep our public servants and teachers in Mount Pleasant. Affordable housing does not necessarily equate with higher density housing; we need to be creative in this area and listen and consider all options.
12. Your position?
If the Mount Pleasant voters generate a petition with enough signatures to place the issue on the ballot, then it should be on the ballot.
Personally, I believe the current at-large system would be more effective because it requires Town Council members to represent the city as a whole, not individual neighborhoods.