Interview was conducted on 3/2 at Dr. Quibell's office.

What do you see as most important qualifications for a council person?

Level headedness and being able to listen to the public.

43 years

Graduated from high school in Warrensburg, CMSU and Logan Chiropractic College in St. Louis

Kiwanis, Boy Scout Troop 400, Veterans Assistance League

• Warrensburg is running out of land and will have to annex more land to expand the city and the industrial park.
• Roads and sewers are always a problem but the city is working on them and doing a good job.
• Downtown revitalization; Phase II will start this spring.

Finances:

• Would you support additional taxes for city services?

  Don’t think so, people are taxed enough already. Whether or not additional taxes would be needed would depend on what additional services are desired.

• What do you believe is the maximum sustainable sales tax rate for the city?

  The projected rate with the park tax and possible jail tax would put us at about maximum level.

Think it is vital to have some sort of transportation other than taxis. Think enough people would use it, but need to advertise more and get more riders. Unlikely to be self-supporting.

Since the parks tax passed, think needs will be more properly addressed, so can do more for the parks.

Yes. Part of the money could come from the Parks budget somehow since the project would be helping kids. Look into grants. Maybe if it would keep kids off the street other city funds could be looked into.

The county commission & the council should get together & work things out. Need to talk about problems when we have them.

CMSU is a major contributor to the city with students and faculty. However, I don’t know that it should influence government decisions.

They’re receiving taxpayer dollars which helps run the city.
• Main Street – what’s view on how (or if) downtown could be best revitalized in long run?

  Main Street is doing a good job. Phase II of the downtown project will start this spring. They need to do a better job of inviting people to their fund raisers.

• Chamber (room tax) – What should (or can) be done to increase Warrensburg’s desirability as a tourism destination?

  They need to promote what’s going on and what’s happened here. Don’t know if are using the room tax money for tourism as have not looked at the chamber books. Expect that City Manager would be looking at them.

• Warrensburg Area Economic Development Corporation (WAEDC)

  City gives it money but cut it last year. It also works with other towns in the county, I think it gets some funding from them, as well, but don’t know how much.

• What’s your view on using TIF or commercial/industrial tax breaks?

  Tax breaks are probably food to lure industries to come. Don’t know if TIF for retail is good. Don’t know what abatements have been granted, but don’t remember any while in office.

• Should government use eminent domain for economic development purposes?

  Under the right circumstances, yes, such as a plot not being kept up. Opposed to taking people’s homes.

Not mandatory recycling, but would support voluntary. Mandatory would likely force smaller trash haulers out of business. 1 hauler has recycling, but charges customers an extra fee.

No, I don’t think government should force businesses to do this.

In favor of raising wages, but to raise wages need available money. Firefighters have a high turnover rate, but other areas don’t. Wage survey is a problem when other cities close by.

Firefighters have union.

Streets and sewers. Older sewer lines need to be replaced; the city is doing this as it can. Plants are fine now, but will likely need a new one in the future.

Like to see it like Westport – after a certain hour the street barricaded and given to pedestrians. Hard to do something about underage drinking since allow 19 year olds in the bars. Not really the bar staff’s fault, since the underage kids get the legal ones to buy them beers.

No

"I have been on the council for the last three years. I have been mayor for the last year and think things have run very well in that year. I would like to see the city run as well over the next couple of years. Good things are happening to Warrensburg and I’d like to be part of them again.”