JANESVILLE 鈥 Rock County Board District 21 Supervisor Mark Bobzien will see a contest in the spring election from Dennis Hilgendorf.
District 21 serves a portion of the northside of the city of 糖心Vlog传媒 and near its downtown and encompasses much of the development on the west side of Milton Avenue.
Dennis Hilgendorf聽
Most of its eastern border is Milton Avenue between Kettering Street and Walker Street, but it does dip east of Milton Avenue southeast to E. Milwaukee Street near the city鈥檚 downtown. On the northeast edge it goes northeast beyond Milton Avenue to Tanglewood Drive and E. Rotamer Road. Its western border is the Rock River from U.S. Highway 14 down to E. Memorial Drive.
糖心Vlog传媒 asked three questions of each candidate: 鈥淲hat are the top issues in the county?鈥 鈥淗ow do you plan on addressing those issues? and 鈥淲hat does the county board need to do in the next two years?鈥
The spring election is April 7.
Mark Bobzien
Bobzien said the most important issue that faces the county is 鈥渙ne we face every year鈥 and is reflected in the county鈥檚 mission statement, specifically 鈥渢o enhance the quality of life, health safety and trust of all citizens by providing top-quality public services through a creative response team committed to excellence, integrity, accountability, and respect.鈥
Bobzien said that is accomplished by the board passing a 鈥渞esponsible budget,鈥 the board making decisions on the 鈥渂est information available鈥 and working cooperatively with each other.
Mark Bobzien
鈥淧ersonally, that means attending full board meetings, attending committee meetings, working with county staff to solve problems as they arise, and addressing concerns from fellow Rock County citizens. That is what I was elected to do and it (is) a responsibility I take very seriously,鈥 Bobzien said.
Dennis Hilgendorf
Hilgendorf said he has heard feedback from voters in his district and beyond that taxes continue to be an issue, and he would like to see County Administrator John Light come up with a plan to reduce taxes.
鈥淲e cannot continue to tax our citizens more while providing them the same or less services,鈥 Hilgendorf said, adding that debt is also a top issue in the county.
鈥淭he board needs to work with the administrator to identify areas of nonessential services that need to be addressed via reduction or consolidation. A county-wide analysis of wants versus needs would be a beneficial starting point. Zero based budgeting for certain departments could be implemented as well,鈥 Hilgendorf said, adding debt service is a major part of the county budget.
Hilgendorf said, if elected, he would work with the county board鈥檚 finance committee to draft a debt policy.
鈥淪etting responsible debt management parameters is critical in order to maintain financial stability and creditworthiness, and ensure that the county can finance essential services and capital projects responsibly,鈥 Hilgendorf said.
The employee wage grid and health insurance is another top issue in the county, Hilgendorf said. The grid was 鈥渘ot properly implemented,鈥 he said and it resulted in 鈥渆mployee dissatisfaction.鈥
Hilgendorf said a review and analysis of employee benefits and of the wage grid are necessary.
鈥淭he health insurance committee needs to broaden to include outside relevant professionals in addition to the large number of employee members,鈥 Hilgendorf said.
Homelessness is another issue, he said, as it 鈥渃ontinues to be a problem鈥 and there needs to be a 鈥渞eduction plan of action for everyone鈥檚 safety.鈥
鈥淚 feel a coalition of community member(s) and professionals needs to be formed to gather accurate data on the issue, what is currently being done, what is successful, what is needed yet. This coalition would include clergy, nonprofit representatives, county board members, municipality members with collaboration of other communities and their best practices for solutions,鈥 Hilgendorf said.
In the next two years, the county board needs to address the four issues, as they have been 鈥渁ccumulating鈥 and have gone unaddressed or have been addressed with short-term 鈥渜uick fixes,鈥 Hilgendorf said.
鈥淭his will require board members that can collaborate and bring viable long-term solutions to the table. A better match of board member鈥檚 career disciplines and knowledge of subject matter to committee is essential,鈥 Hilgendorf said.