Tuesday’s KVOE Candidate Forum featuring the Lyon County Commission Third District dealt in large part with experience, budgets and zoning.
Incumbent Rollie Martin is seeking his fourth term in office. On the budget, Martin says the county has been doing its best to operate as a business, meaning a debt-free approach and enough reserves to offset six floods and the coronavirus pandemic over the past year. He says Lyon County needs to play a bigger role in economic development to help reduce the tax burden, although he says the county’s reliance on the Regional Development Association for large-scale business should remain along with an increased pursuit of small business.
Both Chris Bartel and Jarom Smith are political newcomers. Both say they would like to put a fresh set of eyes on the issues facing county residents — and neither are pleased with the level of Lyon County’s mill levy. Bartel credits the county for being debt-free, but he says the current tax burden — and spending as a whole — are frustratingly high.
Smith says the budget is too big and the levy has not come down far enough, even with a projected four-mill decline once the current budget discussions end next month.
On appropriations to Emporia State, Flint Hills Technical College and Newman Regional Health, the candidates had divergent views. Martin says those appropriations are investments in the county, while Bartel said the county puts too much money into those entities. Smith said the revenue streams need further study.
Zoning has been a hot topic with lengthy discussions and now a fourth draft of a new set of regulations. Smith says the document is full of “homeowner association-like” policy and he says his business and others would suffer if the draft regulations are approved. Bartel says the new plan offers unnecessary regulations and puts the enforcement power in the hands of two people — City Zoning Specialist Joe Foster and County Zoning Administrator Sam Seeley. Martin says the plan will streamline some of the process by eliminating the Metropolitan Area zoning and appeals boards.
KVOE’s Candidate Forum returns at 10:06 am Thursday with Lyon County Commission Second District candidates Robert McClelland, Phil Mott and Doug Peck.
