The seven candidates running in the Nov. 2 Carroll city elections participated in last night’s (Wednesday) Carroll Chamber of Commerce forum to share their views on the issues facing the community. In recent surveys, Carroll residents have identified city streets as a priority for future city leadership. The candidates agreed that Carroll has done a good job correcting surface level issues through regular milling and recoating. However, Ward Three incumbent, Clay Haley, says the issue is deeper than the occasional pothole or excessive cracking.
Carroll has approximately 62 miles of roads within city limits, and estimates show it could cost upwards of $500 million to fully rebuild all of them over the course of the next 50 to 100 years. Ward Three candidate Kyle Bauer, says we are fortunate to have quality streets and supports the effort to repair and maintain what we have. However, he says current and future councils will need to weigh the need against the cost.
Business owner and Ward One candidate, Tom Bordenaro, says he considers himself an out-of-the-box thinker and approaches the topic the same way he would with a similar issue at his business.
The other Ward One candidate, Jay Norgaard, says it is city government’s job to take care of immediate needs first, and he considers quality streets a critical component for any successful town.
Mayoral candidate, Jerry Fleshner, says the city council has and will continue to prioritize high-need areas for repairs. It is just a matter of allocating the funding in a manner that does not put too much pressure on the budget.
Mark Beardmore, who is the other candidate for mayor, says city infrastructure is what taxes are meant to be spent on, so it is more a matter of how to do it efficiently to him.
Video of Wednesday’s Carroll Chamber of Commerce forum can be found in its entirety below.
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