By MELINDA J. OVERSTREET
for Glasgow News 1
Fifteen of the 17 candidates for Glasgow’s city council took their turns introducing themselves and answering questions Monday evening at a forum dedicated to helping the community get to know their options better.
Voters may choose up to nine candidates of the 17 that will be listed on the ballot.
Economic development was one of the issues named as a priority for many of the candidates, and the question of whether the council members should have term limits arose in multiple variations, with most who answered it saying they would support them, but one was opposed.
Two incumbents were missing from the stage in the Family Life Center of First United Methodist Church where the event organized by Concerned Citizens of Barren County took place. Stan Palmer, the moderator, announced at the beginning that James “Happy” Neal had had a prior engagement and Marlin Witcher cancelled due to illness.
Palmer, who said the fact he doesn’t live within the city limits adds to the level of fairness in the way the forum was conducted, had worked out a way to randomize two of the three questions the candidates were asked to answer. Before they went on stage, the candidates each drew a number. That number determined the order in which they spoke as well as which questions they got.
The Concerned Citizens group had come up with 17 “unique” questions that would only be asked of one candidate, and Palmer had numbered the questions weeks in advance of the event, so then whoever drew No. 1 was asked the corresponding question No. 1, and whoever drew No. 11 answered question 11.
There were also seven “random” questions. On the sheet where the numbers 1 through 17 were listed, those questions were matched randomly through a drawing. Whoever drew No. 8, for example, was preassigned random question No. 4.
All candidates were asked the common question of what the most important issue facing the city in the coming year is and how they would address it.
Libby Short, who would be new to the council, was asked about her plans to improve economic development by attracting new industries. She said that as technology arises, the focus should be on tech companies such as chip manufacturers as well as subsidiary businesses that manufacture the components used in electric vehicles and their batteries.
“And we also have to have a ready workforce and available housing to attract those jobs.”
When she was asked about the city’s overall budget in relation to use of what is known as the Fund Balance – the amount carried over from the prior year – she suggested a deep dive into each department’s spending to cut any waste, but on the flip side of that, she said, “I do believe that if we’re not willing to invest in ourselves, why should anybody else be willing to invest in us.”
The most important issues she noted were addiction and affordable housing, and state and federal resources are available for the latter that are very “doable in our community.” She mentioned the possibility of changing some zoning to make locating sober living houses easier.
Cherie Vaughan agreed that housing is one of the most important issues. She said she had spoken with someone at the Housing Authority of Glasgow and learned that a former mayor had been able to get community development block grants to rehabilitate older homes and make them livable again, so that’s an option she’d like to explore for building new homes, which in turn can help bring industries to the community.
She said she would favor term limits, because then candidates would know their work would be for service and for a certain amount of time and not a career.
Vaughan, another would-be newcomer, was asked about a rise in administrative costs, and she said she didn’t know the source of it and would have to investigate it.
Elizabeth Shoemaker said as the most important issue, economic growth “is essential to Glasgow,” and she said she wonders why the city isn’t growing as fast as Bowling Green, for example. She said it’s necessary to ask what can be done to entice people to want to stay here as well as attracting new residents. She said, “Education is at the top of that, specifically school safety for our kids, and if I could do anything for Barren County, I would love to see metal detectors in school systems.”
When asked what her No. 1 objective to accomplish is, she mostly reiterated her answer to the prior question.
Shoemaker, also not an incumbent, was asked about the more than $2 million increase in the parks and recreation expenses, but she said she didn’t know what all was bundled into that.
Freddie Norris, who has served several years as a councilman, was asked about the city’s recent purchase of a property for what was cited as $6.5 million but, as corrected by Councilman Terry Bunnell later, was actually $6,080,000. Norris said some of the potential uses of the land were to develop intermediate housing, in the $200,000 range; a small business or two on one corner; and an updated recreational facility. He said all of that could help bring new businesses to town.
Norris was asked about the swimming pool cost increase of more than $3 million. He is on the council’s parks and recreation committee, and he spoke about the master plan created a few years ago with public input, and much of the park costs have been from implementing those visions.
“It takes money to do that, and we have planned for that,” he said.
He ran out of time and barely got in a mention that if someone has been by American Legion Park, they can see what’s going on there.
Almost the entire park is being overhauled; as a major part of that, the pool that was more than 40 years old and perpetually in need of repairs, often with parts that were difficult to find, was demolished and a new aquatic center is being constructed at the top of the hill behind where the pool was.
Regarding the most important issue to him, he said it’s important to improve participation among younger people in city government or local civic groups, for example.
Marna Kirkpatrick, who’s been on the council since 2017, was asked about what the city is doing to help the homeless and what could be done for them in the future.
She said substance abuse and other mental health issues are major factors, but those aren’t in the realm of what she can do, but it also has to do with housing, and she believes they could look at rezoning some residential areas to allow for more density, such as fourplexes.
During the last legislative session, two laws related to vaping were enacted, and Kirkpatrick was asked whether she would support a city ordinance requiring such businesses to obtain a specific license that could then be revoked if they are convicted of selling such products to minors. “Absolutely,” she said.
With regard to the most important issue for the next year, she said they can’t see into the future, but it would probably be related to the housing situation and homelessness. She said it’s important that they not jump at implementing answers without doing their homework first.
“When things arise, we look into it,” she said.
Randy Wilkinson, who would be new to the council, had worked in administrative positions for Glasgow Independent Schools since 1982 but is now retired. He said he likes to solve problems by getting input from a group of like- and different-minded individuals.
As someone who had been to a lot of homes in Glasgow as part of his job as a truancy officer, he said there is a poverty issue here that needs to be addressed, and industry could be one way to help with it. He said he’s heard a lot of reasons for why industries are not coming here, “but there cannot be an excuse.”
Wilkinson said a facility that pays people $50,000 to $60,000 per year to help them get into better housing and such, but he acknowledged there are “a lot of prongs to that.”
Referring to the council, he said, “I don’t even know what part you really play on that. I think we have somebody hired that’s officially recruiting people. That’s the way I understand it. I also think you have to be accountable.”
Another issue he’s heard from a lot of people about is speeding in town, he said, and with that, he had 30 seconds left, and he was asked whether he would support putting term limits on the ballot in a future election for voters to decide.
“I certainly would,” Wilkinson said.
Matt Keith, founder/owner of Overdrive Performance and later other small businesses, said that he has seen what it takes to create jobs and income and what has the opposite effect.
“I’m doing this because I love Glasgow,” he said. “I think the taxpayer deserves a transparency in the decision-making process, and they also deserve a voice.”
He said he disagreed with the major property purchase, saying it shouldn’t be bought out from under private investors, because they are ones who will build up the city and county, and taxpayers should not be sharing that cost.
Keith, another would-be newcomer, was asked whether he would voluntarily limit the number of years he would serve and how long he would serve, and he said he was 100 percent in favor of term limits.
“I’ll bring it up to vote every chance I get,” he said. “I wouldn’t serve but two years if I could get accomplished what I want to get accomplished. I’d be happy with that. I think term limits bring about a continual new set of growth. New people, new leaders, new ideas, and I think we always need that.”
Keith was asked whether he would support some kind of attendance guidelines, and he said he would, 100 percent.
“I’d commit to, even the committees I’m not on, I’ll attend those meetings, because I think as a council member, you need to be fully aware of every aspect of what’s going on with the city, not just the committee you’re on,” he said.
Tommy Burris said the most important upcoming issue he sees is that better jobs, specifically better-paying ones, and that would go a long way toward helping with housing and homelessness, and it would bring growth.
With a precedent from Georgia cited, Burris was asked whether he would support removal of the monument to Confederate dead that is on the courthouse lawn. The courthouse lawn is county property.
“That’s a hard one,” Burris said, adding after a pause that that question is not about a problem in Glasgow. “We need to concentrate on what’s happening right now in our city.”
His next question pertained to the council’s vote to allow medical marijuana to be sold here and what his position would have been.
“It would bring more jobs. It would help the people who need it. Also, it could be bad for Glasgow,” Burris said. “But as a city council member, I would be in favor of the growth of the medical marijuana industry.”
Chasity Lowery, an incumbent of 10 years, was also asked about the attendance guidelines, which she said she would support. She said she serves on five committees or boards, and it’s important to show up and to be prepared for those meetings, because if they don’t happen, things that are crucial can end up being delayed.
Her next question was whether the Barren County Economic Authority is performing well. She said that BCEA is the force behind recruiting industry, and to be supportive to them, there are things the council needs to do, such as help ensure a good infrastructure for that growth and provide occupational tax credits.
“I know they’re working tirelessly behind the scenes to try to get businesses in here, so I think they’re doing the best they can,” Lowery said.
For her, the most important upcoming issue is making sure that infrastructure, such as sidewalks and streets, is provided as well as recreational opportunities.
“As we know, businesses don’t just come into a community; their families come with them, and they are looking at our school systems, our parks and that infrastructure that’s there,” she said.
Max Marion, who is wrapping up his first two-year term on the council, was also asked about the homelessness issue. He said of some of the places where those without homes tend to cluster, “We’ve to get them out of there. It’s not a career for them to be there. I understand people get down and about,” he said, adding that we all have been down and out.
He said, “We can set something up, whether it’s six months or a year, and get you back on a path for success.”
Marion was asked what processes are in place to ensure that occupational taxes are collected and paid by employers. He said there is someone in charge of this and one of the committees keeps an eye on it, but he’s not on that committee.
The biggest upcoming issue he sees is the budget. He said he was not in favor of the $6 million land purchase.
“If we have that much money to spend on a chance …. That’s like buying a lottery ticket. That’s a risk that we don’t know if we’re going to get that back or not. We could have taken that money and helped out our homeless population and the people that are here right now rather than bringing in refugees that we don’t know where they’re from or anything about them. I’m all about taking care of the people here, and that’s you all,” Marion said.
Joe Trigg, another incumbent, was asked about that property purchase and its purpose. He was specifically asked, “Would you support the property being used for low-income, immigrant or government-subsidized housing?”
He said that, generally, the idea behind the purchase was to control the development and growth of the city.
“There’s been much said about defunding the police,” Palmer said, asking for Trigg’s opinion on such an initiative, “not that it’s here.”
Trigg said that not only is this city government not trying to defund its police department, it just recently approved the addition of more officers.
When asked about the most important issue, the Air Force veteran said that he’s been around the world and seen a lot of things, and Glasgow is really just a snapshot of what’s happening everywhere else.
He said that what is needed is to look at ourselves and to our left and right and in our own families, and say, “How can I help with any or all of these issues. What can I do to alleviate some of them.”
Justin Martin, who would be a new face on the council, said that as a human resources professional, he manages 750 employees in a million-square-foot facility and has traveled a lot with work. He’s originally from London, Kentucky, and moved to Glasgow in 2018 and “set roots here” and loves the community.
In addressing the “most important issue” question, he said he feels that Glasgow doesn’t seem to get as much attention as it deserves.
“I want to be a councilman who works collectively with our community officials and partners to create a plan for growth in our community,” Martin said. “By doing this, we can open the door for people to move to Glasgow, create more jobs within our community, so residents can stay, put money back into our community and have a sense of appreciation instead of seeing Glasgow just as a place to buy a home and commute to and from.”
Next up, Martin was asked whether he would support a “fairness ordinance” that would add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes against discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations.
“Being the career that I’m in, I see this a lot,” he said. “And I would support that in Glasgow.”
When he was asked about the No. 1 objective he’d like to accomplish, Martin said the city needs more industry.
“We’ve got a lot of things here to offer companies to come here, and I think that would help a lot,” he said.
Phillip Gearlds, another nonincumbent, said the most important issues he sees coming are living within a budget and economic development, including advertising to recruit more small businesses and midsized industries.
His next question was why the city pool needed to be demolished for the new “water park” at American Legion Park and what his opinion of the park project is.
Gearlds said the pool was the entrance to the park, which he has visited for sporting events through the years, and he understands why it was demolished. Noting that he has visited the water park in Bowling Green before, he said the new facility would provide a place for youths to spend time.
In answering his third question, he said he is absolutely for term limits, possibly four (8 years) for council members and three (12 years) for the mayor. He said it would help rotate people and give more the opportunity to serve. He added that if he is on the council 10 years, his next step would be to run for mayor.
Terry Bunnell, an incumbent of six years, got the “random” question about his plan to help economic development.
“The one role that the Glasgow city council has in economic development is through our representation on the Barren County Economic Authority,” he said, adding that he is the city’s representative to that group, to which the city also makes an annual financial contribution of $120,000.
One challenge they face is that everyone across the country, across the world, is looking for industry, but the current industrial parks are full, and two speculative buildings are being constructed at the new South Cooper Industrial Park as a way to attract new companies. He said the director of BCEA has recently been in Germany trying to recruit industries.
“We’ve got to have a community that’s open to industry. We’ve got to have [an] employment force, and we’ve got to have the capability to serve their needs.”
Bunnell was also asked what the life expectancy for the current landfill is, whether there’s a land acquisition or expansion plan for it, and where the money for it comes from.
He explained that the funds come from the fees that are paid by those who bring their refuse there. He said the city has purchased a property (not the same one referred to earlier) adjacent to the landfill to be able to use some of the dirt from it to cover a cell, or portion, of the landfill as it gets closed, but the current location has “several” years left.
For his “most important issue” response, Bunnell said the city needs to diversify its revenue options more and, but his No. 1 concern is how they manage limited resources.
Patrick Gaunce, an incumbent whose turn came last, said he is not for term limits, because he believes that’s what elections are for. His next question asked about the possibility of dividing the city into five or six districts, with one council member for each and that member would have to live within that district. Gaunce said he would need to research that idea but was willing to look at it, but he does believe the council should have fewer members.
In discussing the most important issue he sees coming is that the community leaders need to show unity. He also encouraged people to research the control the council actually has, because not all decisions are up to those people.
And that wrapped up just the first round of the forum, but the second was briefer.
Round 2
Each of the 15 were given one minute each for a general closing, to respond to what another candidate said or to answer a question they didn’t get earlier.
Short said she agreed that the city should not have made the $6 million property purchase unless they’d had a very specific plan and end goal for how it would be used. She mentioned resources to help with housing and even home ownership, and said she firmly supports term limits and would like to see the council only have six members. She added that she has 35 years of management experience, 25 of which was in the housing industry.
Vaughan said she may not be good at public speaking, but she is a good networker and is on several committees and gets things done. She recapped some of the issues that had been mentioned, but she said that one that hadn’t been was the process of government. She said there is a need for compromise, for transparency, the ability to enforce legislation and the ability to get input from the community, and those need to be addressed.
Shoemaker said she started thinking more about the council about three years ago when she was complaining a lot and decided that running for office would be more productive. Most of her work has been in the medical field, but she spent 14 years at a factory and worked her way up into a supervisory position, and in that time, it was drummed into her to never be satisfied and always look to improve.
Norris said his heart is the young people and wants to do what he can to help them. He said he’s finding that it’s critical for the church to do its part, in conjunction with the schools, toward character building in youths.
Kirkpatrick said she’s a Christian and, as such, is called to serve, and that’s what she strives to do for the residents of the city. She said actions speak louder than words, and she has taken courses offered by the Kentucky League of Cities, earning an Achievement in City Governance certificate and subsequently one for Excellence in City Governance and then a Master’s in City Governance, and she’s the only known council member to ever do this.
Wilkinson said he’d learned a lot listening to the people on the stage and has spent time listening to past council members and current and former mayors to learn more so he can hit the ground running.
Keith used his remaining time to thank those involved and attending the event.
Burris said he would like the city to be greater and more efficient, and with the aquatic center coming in, the price point needs to take everyone’s budget into consideration. He reiterated the need for more higher paying jobs.
“For the younger generation, I want to be the voice of the people. If you have a question or problem, I will listen to you and take it to the council,” he said.
Lowery said her final vote on the medical cannabis issue says a lot about her and how she does things. She had done her homework and looked at all the information provided before the first reading of the ordinance when she voted against it. In the interim before the next reading, though, she did more research and talked to numerous people about it, and she changed her mind and her vote.
Marion said he listens, he goes to his meetings and he listens and brings up things that people want.
Trigg said with regard to term limits that it’s really an individual issue, because if you’re doing good and people want you to stay – or return, as the case has twice been with him – they ask.
“I’m happy to serve. I’ve enjoyed serving,” he said.
Martin said he firmly believes they need term limits, because he feels it’s a positive way to ensure new ideas and progress, but he believes it should be on the ballot rather than having the council members decide.
He added that if he’s elected, he aims to be the kind of council member who can point to several accomplishments in a two-year term. He said that, historically, problems have been addressed repeatedly without resolution, and he wants to take a different approach and be known as someone who is part of the solution, not part of the problem.
Gearlds said he believes in being transparent and keeping the public informed, and he believes that can be done by posting a “living document,” one that can be updated as needed, with short-, mid- and long-term plans for the community.
He added that he’s had experience with formal decision-making processes to form courses of action.
Bunnell, after correcting the dollar amount of the property purchase, said it was an investment in the community for controlled development. He said the city is not looking to be the developer there, but rather invest it, as the desire is for a developer to come along with a vision that fits with ways to increase additional revenue.
“We need to be thinking strategically and long-term with that; we’ve got to have sources of money and then uses for it,” he said.
Gaunce said his heart is with kids, who are our future. There is a need to make them the future and find ways to help disadvantaged families. He said 25 percent to 30 percent of kids go to bed hungry every night, “and that’s unconscionable with 64 churches and we live in a country that we live in.”
He said a lot of individuals who were homeless are now back working in the community.
“I just say, just because somebody’s down doesn’t mean they stay down,” Gaunce said.
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RELATED CONTENT:
— To read candidates’ responses to a Glasgow News 1 questionnaire, click here.
— To learn more about Concerned Citizens of Barren County, see our preview report about this forum, click here.
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