Council candidate debate Part II

Continued from last week.

Question three: What are the critical, non-negotiable services the city must continue to provide, and are there services that must be cut through financial times?

Conrath: Listed non-essential services that could be cut including leaf and brush pickup, which has been done in the budget in the past. He noted that he has heard community support for said services and therefore would not be in favor of cutting them. He also stated that parks would be one area that could be reduced, as there is an “overabundance of parks” in Waseca.

Ebertowski: Noted that reducing parks services would affect the draw to Waseca for families, adding that there are multiple essential services that need to be kept. He said that city employees should not have to “take a hit” from services being reduced or cut.

“If our middle class can live on a budget, I feel like our city should be able to as well.”

Tackett: Mentioned the possibility of an “adopt a park” program that would utilize community volunteers to free up city employees for other tasks. He noted that there are many essential services that the city cannot do without - snow removal, law enforcement, trash removal, etc.

Schroeder: Talked about looking at ways to combine areas to increase efficiency of employees and services or possibly outsourcing services, either on a volunteer or paid basis. Agreeing with the other candidates, she noted that emergency and public safety services - police, fire, ambulance - are critical and cannot be cut or reduced.

Question four: Future of Waseca - what are the biggest challenges facing the City of Waseca in the next five years, and what would you do on the council to ensure that Waseca’s quality of life is high for its citizens and appealing to potential citizens?

Ebertowski: Talked about the importance of focusing on lowering taxes, mentioning the empty building left by Delta that “with taxes being as high as they are, I don’t see any blue-collar, family businesses that [would want] to move in.” He noted plans for Gaiter Lake currently in progress with the council are a “step in the right direction” and suggested bringing in more voices from those with more knowledge to help lower tax burden.

Schroeder: “I would like to see the city stop spinning the proverbial wheel and put a little gas behind it. I would like to see growth within our housing and industry, and it’s very hard to attract a business to come in and pay those taxes if they don’t have an employee base to draw from or a place to bring their employees to.”

Schroeder stated she would like to see the city partner with private enterprises for something such as an enterprise fund or business incubator, sourcing outside of the taxpayer base. She also said Waseca needs to look at how it is marketing itself and look toward the future in terms of business and housing.

“I think things work better when you try to partner versus trying to take it on yourself.”

Tackett: Noted the empty buildings in historic downtown Waseca and discussed moving businesses into that area as a start. He discussed the importance of housing and multitasking rather than focusing on one project as well as looking at and making plans for making land available for larger businesses in the future. He said that private companies have the funds to take risks that the city does not, which is why bringing businesses in is so important.

“We have to be good stewards, friends, and neighbors, and talk to people outside of Waseca to convince them to be part of our family.”

Conrath: Agreed with the other candidates in terms of housing, mentioning a previous tax abatement and noting the importance of filling empty buildings with new businesses. Discussed infrastructure that is essential for Waseca to compete with communities surrounding it, and noted that multitasking is necessary to get taxes reasonable.

Question five: Business growth - do you agree with the decision by the City of Waseca last year to offer a generous tax abatement to Conagra in exchange for continuing to be a part of the Waseca economy? Do you favor this approach to encourage businesses to locate here?

Tackett: “I do agree with the tax abatement. We need them, and at some point they’re going to start getting that money back. Having Conagra stay here is going to keep people employed, and those people are going to be buying houses and paying taxes and hopefully we can entice more people and businesses to come.”

Schroeder: “I did agree with the tax abatement. BirdsEye/Conagra has been here for a long time, and if it meant keeping them here, I don’t see why we wouldn’t. I know other communities have been very successful in attracting businesses by offering such things as a tax abatement.”

Noted that investing in businesses results in them investing in the town, which is a benefit to the community.

Conrath: “I do agree, and I was part of it. The deal was not perfect. We hear on the city council that we don’t do enough for businesses and to keep businesses in town, and we kept them in town.”

Noted that some employees lost jobs through optimizing operations, but hopes that employment will be expanded in the future.

“In 20 years when that tax abatement ends, you will be astonished at what a difference that makes to the levy.”

He also said that the impact of the tax abatement was similar to that of 52 new houses being built in the community, which along with keeping the jobs Conagra provides, would have made the 2023 tax levy impact 11% rather than 4.49%.

Ebertowski: Also agrees with the tax abatement, noting that while it wasn’t a perfect deal, it worked out and kept a big business in town that will hopefully help grow the community in the future.

“I think it was as good of a job as they could have done with what they were given.”

Added that he would like to see smaller businesses receive similar help and breaks and overall openness to work with by the city council. 

In closing statements, Conrath noted that he has enjoyed serving on the city council for six years and would enjoy serving for four more. He said he’s most proud of not missing meetings and being available to the public.

“You are not going to please 100% of the people, but whenever I make a decision, I put my personal feelings aside and try to think of how the majority of people of Waseca would want it done,” Conrath said.

Ebertowski said that he enjoyed serving the community as a paramedic and looks forward to serving the community on the city council.

“I hope to do a great job - I will do my absolute best,” Ebertowski said. “I’ve heard over and over again, ‘Listen to the people, make them feel heard’ - I may not always agree with you, but I will listen to you. I may not have all the answers, but I will ask thought-provoking questions and hopefully get people headed in the right direction.”

Schroeder noted that most can agree that quality of life needs to be maintained in Waseca, and that she is willing to ask questions and bring forth concerns of the community.

“I’m not only working for you, but I want to work with you,” Schroeder said.

Tackett mentioned that he and his opponent, Stacey Schroeder, share a lot of the same values. He believes council members need to work with the people in their ward in order to make positive change in the community.

“You’re not going to go wrong with either one of us that you vote for,” Tackett said. “You need to listen to people and hear their concerns, issues, and answer their questions as best you can. Sometimes you don’t always have the answers, but we can bring those questions to the city council. We need to be transparent in all of that.”