Independent Chris Pippenger was elected Mayor on November 6th!
Congratulations Chris Pippenger!
Interviews below conducted by Jon White via email and phone.
OUR QUESTIONS:
*changes made to Chris Pippenger's responses, due to email mixup, at 9:10pm on October 23rd.
(posted on October 23rd 2007) 1. In your eyes, what is the role of the local mayor?
STOCK: The Mayor’s job is to enforce the ordinances and maintain the budget the city council enacts. The mayor also should listen the residents that have concerns and try to address them. I believe that I have done just that with my open door policy. And by engaging the residents in helping city government solve problems. An example is The Comprehensive Plan and our trash issues.
TONEY: Overseer for the whole city. Make sure the government agencies run the way the taxpayers are paying for them. Making sure the money is spent is spent where it is supposed to be spent.
PIPPENGER: To enforce laws, rules, regulations. Work with the people of Frankfort, and my employees. (for a couple of examples of this, google, 287g-ice)
2. What do you perceive as the top issues, in your mind, in this community?
STOCK: Economic Development, raising the quality of life, (addressing the illegal issues in town). Building a water treatment facility, infrastructure to I65 and The Quadra Project.
TONEY: Infrastructure. Without repairing the infrastructure, we are maxed out on water supply, maxed on wastewater treatment. If we repair one, we have to repair the other. We cannot support the businesses come in here, if we don’t get this repaired. Maish road flooding. This is county problem. I want to partner with the county, as I feel it is a city and county issue. We need a solution. Main goal, again, is not to raise taxpayer money. You are all taxed enough! Illegal immigration – I can enforce the laws that are there. The mayor doesn’t do that. This role of the police department. I am in favor of better communication, understanding the situation better, and making the best decision possible. I have heard of measure, 287g, but at the same time, I want to study it, and make sure it’s not going to be an incredible tax burden on the city of Frankfort.
PIPPENGER: Illegal immigration – enforcing laws and codes for EVERYONE. Uninsured vehicles, our park systems are suffering from drugs and gangs. Speaking of gangs, and drugs, I think they need to be dealt with along with messy looking neighborhoods. I seek responsible government workers, as I want to keep them working, and most importantly, I want to keep them happy.
3. How can the city generate more money? What are the top ways, in your mind, to accomplish this?
STOCK: One of the ways to generate more money for the city is doing what we are already doing, enforcing the ordinances. In the four years we have worked on 724 complaints. The four years before us 237. Over the last year through property maintenance and grass liens we have brought $32,600 from tickets and City Court. Bud’s office is 100% effective in the city court cases. The Police Department since January 1 have written over 200 tickets dealing with cars parked on sidewalks, parked the wrong way, junk vehicles, parked in the grass, that has brought in over $8,000. We are working hard in this area.
TONEY: The city is there to provide a service, and I’m not looking to run things as a business, to make money. Raises will most likely be done through taxes. Anyone who tries to kill the annexation here in Frankfort, is going to give Frankfort a death sentence. Then, we will have to tax the taxpayer.
I will go after smart grants. I would like to hire a grantwriter if possible. Chamber of Commerce’s responsibility is to bring business, and I don’t think it is the responsibility of the mayor. If we create more pride in this town, it will carry over to the business. What can I do as a mayor to draw people to Frankfort? Not too much. But I can work with other people, that can make it happen. And that is what I intend to do. I think a lot of creative things can be done.
PIPPENGER: Boost the local economy, which is done by finding and creating jobs. This would include the industrial sector, private sector, small businesses, and some other ideas.
(for a couple examples of this, google 287g - ice)
Grants, bonding, bond issues. Private party funding are some more options.
4. What power does the mayor of Frankfort have, to curb, or stop, illegal immigration?
STOCK: Unless illegal residents break a State or Federal law the only thing a mayor can do is to look into ordinances. By doing so it will curb a challenge that we face in dealing with illegal activity. With the South Historic District we have formed a partnership that has begun to reestablish our neighborhood. That is also one of the comprehensive plans agendas. We have started to rezone residential districts to move the establishment of more multi-family apartments in areas that support that type of living. We have started to investigate multi-family living in one home. By doing this type of action we will raise the quality of life in our community that will make some people leave. I know that there has been a lot of talk about the federal law 287g. This law will not allow us to do any more than we are doing right now. I have spoken with Mayors in Laporte and Goshen and they also see that this law will not help.
TONEY: I can enforce the laws that are there. The mayor doesn’t do that. This role of the police department. I am in favor of better communication, understanding the situation better, and making the best decision possible. I have heard of measure, 287g, but at the same time, I want to study it, and make sure it’s not going to be an incredible tax burden on the city of Frankfort.
PIPPENGER: Enforce laws and regulations. It’s just that simple. I am a member of the South Frankfort History District along with Donna Bower, and others. Declassification of houses could be one small solution. Southern Jackson street, for example, you could have these houses downgraded to a “C”, in which only 2 families could occupy. Not offering all the freebies. As opposed to having, say, 17 in one house, this could be one solution of many.
5. Sidewalks are said to be a problem in Frankfort. How do you pay for the sidewalks, and is it a major issue?
STOCK: It was a major issue. I have worked a long time in placing a sidewalk program together. We are not using tax dollars on this program. We have had other cities looking at our program and marvel at the fact that we our not seeking funding. It is a fifty/fifty program that has brought a solution to a challenge by using gambling money. It is another way that we have partnered with the residents of this community.
TONEY: I don’t think it is a major issue. I don’t agree with the way the funding is, as I like to help the fixed income people, instead of hurt them. How are you going to get old ladies, who have nothing left, after getting social security, to pay for sidewalks? It isn’t feasible. It is not a city problem, it is a homeowner problem in my view. Now, we have a code enforcement officer, and I can enforce it, but are you going to like it? (everybody is for it, until it affects them personally) You take each issue one by one, and try to solve it the best you can.
PIPPENGER: Oh yes. I feel we have some options. River boat gambling money comes from the state. That is one instrument. Increasing the pool of contractors that can bid for these jobs, as currently, I feel we are only using one contractor at this point.
GO TO PART 2 OF THE INTERVIEW