By Press Times Staff
SUAMICO – The at-large seats of two of the six village trustees will be up for new three-year terms April 6 with incumbents Michelle Eckert and Dan Roddan being challenged by Nick Bonafilia.
Suamico voters may choose up to two trustee candidates on the ballot with the top two vote-getters being elected.
The Press Times emailed each candidate the same questions and gave them 100 words to respond to each.
Michelle Eckert
Why should people vote for you?
I’m a proven fiscal conservative on our village board.
It’s my pleasure to serve and represent the citizens of Suamico.
I have lived in Suamico for 25 years.
I didn’t just move here to enter into politics.
I’m accessible to my constituents and very budget conscious.
I voted against this year’s budget in protest to high NEW Water rates and because even though we needed a new fire station, I believe we spent too much on it.
What can be done to improve the village’s relationship with NEW Water and limit sewer rate increases in Suamico?
Residents are concerned with exploding sewer rates.
I would like to see better representation on the NEW Water Board of Commissioners.
That board should have people that personally have to pay this bill and therefore should be concerned with efficiency and eliminate wasteful spending.
How can Suamico provide for future residential growth with current lot availability?
Suamico residents are also concerned with privately-owned green space.
We pride ourselves on our bigger lots, and I don’t believe in pushing for smaller ones.
Village government shouldn’t tell a private landowner he can’t develop his land, but we, as board members, shouldn’t approve smaller lots to make developers more money.
What is Suamico doing right to attract businesses in the village?
Lineville Road reconstruction and good village roads should help to keep good businesses and attract new ones.
Whenever possible, we need to work with our businesses so as to not burden them with excessive permit processes and other restrictions.
What’s one thing you’d like to see changed in village government?
I’ve worked hard to reduce debt, but I’d like to continue to see less debt.
I’d like to see less spending.
Dan Roddan
Why should people vote for you?
Being a local elected official isn’t something I take lightly; understanding how board decisions affect our residents and community is imperative.
Over my tenure, I have gained a thorough knowledge of our village dealings, which provides the ability to navigate the tough decisions we will face over the next several years.
Some of those decisions include the wetland mitigation bank project, village debit restructuring, infrastructure projects (Lineville corridor), TIF (Tax Incremental Financing) district funding, law enforcement and many other critical areas of our municipal government.
What can be done to improve the village’s relationship with NEW Water and limit sewer rate increases in Suamico?
For many years, the rate increases and changes in billing methodology have been an issue for not only the Village of Suamico, but all municipalities that utilize NEW Water.
These substantial year-over-year increases are simply unsustainable for our residents that utilize these services.
The biggest issue is a lack of municipality representation on NEW Water’s executive board.
Having that voice on their executive board is finally becoming a reality with the hard work of multiple municipalities, administrators and village trustees, like myself, coming together to navigate this long-term frustration.
How can Suamico provide for future residential growth with current lot availability?
The Village of Suamico continues to explore every development opportunity that is proposed to determine how it may or may not fit within our strategic plan.
I’m excited that the Chambers Hill project has finally started after several years of diligent planning.
This subdivision not only has future expansion opportunities, but it is also located in our water and sewer area, thus, providing much needed users to our system.
What is Suamico doing right to attract businesses in the village?
When business opportunities arise, the village finds ways to encourage that growth if that opportunity fits within our strategic plan.
The Village of Suamico currently has three active TIF districts that have allowed growth along the Lineville corridor, East Deerfield Avenue and historic downtown Suamico.
Those districts have brought national chains, but also a great mix of local businesses that have provided our residents the opportunity to shop, dine and live without the need to leave our village.
What’s one thing you’d like to see changed in village government?
I may be biased; however, I believe we currently have a great leadership team and a village board that is truly focused on our core community values.
Our energy is not wasted on in-fighting, but is utilized to move our village in the right direction; a direction that betters our community for all our residents and those that visit.
Nick Bonafilia
Why should people vote for you?
It’s simple. I’m trustworthy and want the best for my community.
People should vote for me over my competitors because I:
• Listen carefully, and ask questions before I pass judgment on issues.
• Lead by example by following CDC guidelines and wearing a mask in public.
• Have a proven track record of using evidence-based decisions to run a cost-effective and efficient organization (as a production manager and engineer, I lead nearly 200 individuals, a budget of $7 million, and have saved my company $2 million per year).
• Don’t allow partisan politicking to cloud my judgment or to interfere with the job at hand.
What can be done to improve the village’s relationship with NEW Water and limit sewer rate increases in Suamico?
Let’s partner with other municipalities and leverage their expertise.
Other communities have been able to deliver wastewater services at a manageable cost.
With the right strategy, expertise and partnerships, we can, too.
To defray the sewer system costs among a larger user base, the trustees must say “no” to new subdivisions outside of the sewered districts, and instead create strong incentives for developers to build within the sewer zone.
We need municipal representation on the NEW Water board.
Alex Kaker, our village administrator, has paved the way to make sure Brown County ratepayers are represented on the NEW Water board.
How can Suamico provide for future residential growth with current lot availability?
Areas of the village that are already served by public utilities need to be infilled.
This strategy will help get sewer costs under control.
With that said, we need to authorize only quality developments, with a focus on conservation design, in order to preserve Suamico’s rural character and keep our village an appealing place to live.
Lastly, we need to provide a variety of residential styles on a variety of lot sizes to attract and retain community members in all stages of life, from young families to old age.
What is Suamico doing right to attract businesses in the village?
Suamico is further investing in Vickery Village and the Riverside Drive area, in order to make pedestrian-focused downtown area even more appealing.
We need to continue favoring walkable, small-scale commercial development.
Our neighbors want us to preserve the rural character of our village.
Prioritizing our character will mean tough choices – including saying no to scattered commercial development, sprawl and strips along our major roads.
We must be very selective about the location, type and scale of business development that we permit, and adhere to the recommendations laid out in the 2016 comprehensive plan.
What’s one thing you’d like to see changed in village government?
While dissent is healthy, I’d like to see a village board that is united in pursuing the objectives laid out in the village strategic plan.
The people of Suamico have given the board of trustees a mandate – now we need to execute.
So instead of debating whether or not to act, let’s instead debate how we are going to get these things done.
This means that we will have to set aside our partisan beliefs, make some tough choices and work together, but that is the trustee’s job, and that is exactly what I will do if elected in April.