MONROE - The two candidates vying for the Ward 7 chair on the Common Council in April see economic development a little differently, but both find it extends far beyond the downtown central business district that their ward encompasses.
Incumbent Alderman Louis Armstrong said the city has made some great strides in business retention and potential jobs creation, with Quest, Lamers and Amlat taking up or preparing to take up residence in the north industrial park. He credits Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Green County Development Corporation, which received city funding, with those successes.
But he also noted the city's supporting entities of economic development.
"The airport new terminal is a draw or possible draw (for new businesses)," he said. "(Spending) $40,000 for a $1 million (facility) was a good buy."
"And I support improving the parking ramp," Armstrong added. "It's costly but part of a growing and surviving downtown."
Future economic development projects are "part of an on-going discussion," he said, and in the top five goals of the city for 2014.
But his opponent, past-Mayor Ron Marsh (2006-2010) said the city needs to grow, not just in industrial areas but in commercial and residential areas as well, in order to extend the tax base.
"Otherwise, it will get extremely expensive for the taxpayers," Marsh noted. "The taxes can only spread so far."
While he was mayor, the city had a marketing plan introduced in 2006, which Marsh would like to bring back for council approval. He said it included such ideas as getting businesses to partner with the city on projects and developing an Internet system.
Marsh said the plan would need to be adjusted to where the city is now and that position used as a "springboard" for moving forward.
Included in the plan is the intent to "bring aboard different entities involved in economic development," he added. Examples of those entities that he gave were business in town, commercial real estate developers and surrounding land owners.
"The city is locked-in," Marsh noted. "If you look around, you'll see there are very few places to build a house anymore."
Armstrong said he voted for a 2-percent increase in the city budget for 2014, even after the Finance and Taxation Committee had initially requested no increase, mainly to "get two street (department) positions" that had gone unfilled. The street department was undermanned and that lack of labor was taking a toll on maintenance of the streets, he added.
Next year, he wants to work again toward a 0-percent increase. In the meantime, the city is in talks about hiring part-time employees, and the parks department is requesting its increased labor needs be considered also.
It's all "part of the talks," Armstrong said, "how to cover the work and more ways to do it."
Marsh said the budget needs to be paired down to needs, not wants, and should include marketing for growth and continuing services to the taxpayers and residents.
And lately, he noticed, the city has had problems getting the Common Council to pass the budget that is presented by the Finance and Taxation Committee.
"There are always things in the budget you can look at, (and ask) "Can we look at this differently, or do things differently?' for less tax liability," Marsh said.
With a budget prepared in this fashion, Marsh believes "the Finance and Taxation Committee should be able to take that to the council to get things done."
Incumbent Alderman Louis Armstrong said the city has made some great strides in business retention and potential jobs creation, with Quest, Lamers and Amlat taking up or preparing to take up residence in the north industrial park. He credits Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Green County Development Corporation, which received city funding, with those successes.
But he also noted the city's supporting entities of economic development.
"The airport new terminal is a draw or possible draw (for new businesses)," he said. "(Spending) $40,000 for a $1 million (facility) was a good buy."
"And I support improving the parking ramp," Armstrong added. "It's costly but part of a growing and surviving downtown."
Future economic development projects are "part of an on-going discussion," he said, and in the top five goals of the city for 2014.
But his opponent, past-Mayor Ron Marsh (2006-2010) said the city needs to grow, not just in industrial areas but in commercial and residential areas as well, in order to extend the tax base.
"Otherwise, it will get extremely expensive for the taxpayers," Marsh noted. "The taxes can only spread so far."
While he was mayor, the city had a marketing plan introduced in 2006, which Marsh would like to bring back for council approval. He said it included such ideas as getting businesses to partner with the city on projects and developing an Internet system.
Marsh said the plan would need to be adjusted to where the city is now and that position used as a "springboard" for moving forward.
Included in the plan is the intent to "bring aboard different entities involved in economic development," he added. Examples of those entities that he gave were business in town, commercial real estate developers and surrounding land owners.
"The city is locked-in," Marsh noted. "If you look around, you'll see there are very few places to build a house anymore."
Armstrong said he voted for a 2-percent increase in the city budget for 2014, even after the Finance and Taxation Committee had initially requested no increase, mainly to "get two street (department) positions" that had gone unfilled. The street department was undermanned and that lack of labor was taking a toll on maintenance of the streets, he added.
Next year, he wants to work again toward a 0-percent increase. In the meantime, the city is in talks about hiring part-time employees, and the parks department is requesting its increased labor needs be considered also.
It's all "part of the talks," Armstrong said, "how to cover the work and more ways to do it."
Marsh said the budget needs to be paired down to needs, not wants, and should include marketing for growth and continuing services to the taxpayers and residents.
And lately, he noticed, the city has had problems getting the Common Council to pass the budget that is presented by the Finance and Taxation Committee.
"There are always things in the budget you can look at, (and ask) "Can we look at this differently, or do things differently?' for less tax liability," Marsh said.
With a budget prepared in this fashion, Marsh believes "the Finance and Taxation Committee should be able to take that to the council to get things done."