Town growth is vital

GARFIELD -- All candidates running for three City Council seats agree that the town needs income to fund infrastructure needs.

Three council members are seeking re-election; all have opposition.

Alderman Dale Watkins said he would not change anything from what he has been doing. "What I've been after is the infrastructure in this town ... get it down within the budget," he told the public at a candidate forum recently.

Susan Morrison is seeking Watkins' seat. She said she is a native of the area and retired from AT&T after 35 years of service. She said "fresh faces, fresh ideas, fresh approaches" are needed in city government. She said she is also interested in the infrastructure and says there are many water lines in town that are in trouble. "We don't have the finances in there to replace those. I think that's a priority with Garfield right now," she explained.

Incumbent Leonard Matthew Jr. did not attend the forum. Seeking his seat are LaNette Amador, Dale King and Jim Teeselink, all of whom were at the forum.

Amador said she has served on a School Board elsewhere and does not like the conflict she's seen at City Council meetings. She said the city has issues with water and streets as well as with cleanup.

King said he wants to make communication better between city officials and residents for the betterment of Garfield. "United we stand, divided we fall," King, a former council member, said. "We've fallen a long ways ... now there's chaos. There's no use in it ... the time is right to move forward."

Teeselink said the people of Garfield should be able to look up to the leadership of Garfield -- the mayor and the council men and women -- and be comfortable coming to meetings. Teeselink said infrastructure, including roads and water, are priorities as is drawing more reputable businesses to the city to add to the finances to fund the infrastructure.

Alderman Kathy Shook said she wants to see more transparency in government and wants to have access to requested information in order to do what she is bound by law to do, control the finances. She said the water system needs to be upgraded and would like to see the city obtain a grant for sidewalks for access from City Hall to the school.

Scott Wassman is seeking Shook's seat. Wassman said he believes city business should be handled in a professional manner. He said the city is growing and has more businesses now but the water system is aging. He said the city officials need to address the water system.

Asked how they would improve communication between city officials and the residents, candidates mentioned a city website that should be updated and kept current. Teeselink and Morrison both said placing a bulletin board in front of City Hall on which to post notices would be a good idea.

Wassman said he believed the current mayor has "done a fine job" with email and the notes on the bottom of water bills.

Shook and King said aldermen should talk to their constituents face to face when possible.

When asked what they're hearing from the voters of the city, each candidate said the conflict in the City Council meetings is disturbing.

"Everybody's got the same thing in mind," King said. "The thing that shocked me... raise the gavel, pound the table, 'you're out of order' ... it's disgusting."

Both Teeselink and Amador said the people with whom they've spoken don't like hearing bickering at city meetings.

"They have felt the sting and don't want to come back," Amador said. "We need to make it a welcoming environment and bring more ideas; volunteer and be a bigger part of the community."

"Lack of professionalism, bickering back and forth," Teeselink said people say of the meetings. "We need to show respect for one another."

"I think it's a crying shame," Morrison said, "people are seeing us as a joke, a three-ring circus... that's not what we want. I'm proud of this little town. We do for each other. We care about each other. What's going on at City Council does not represent that."

"This is a fantastic community," Watkins said.

"Some people want a farmers' market," Shook said, adding that some people talk about wanting to keep Garfield with a country atmosphere and are concerned that the highway is changing that.

"Ice cream!" Wassman said, referring to the popular delicacy offered at the Short Stop, a business on U.S. Highway 62.

"Better streets, the sewer thing, improving water systems, communications," Wassman continued. "It's a great community; great people -- just come together."

Conclusion

Morrison: "I would love to be alderman. I love this community. There is so much potential to slowly grow and be something here when this bypass goes through."

Watkins: "This park out here... we're going to invite a lot of businesses out here." Watkins also commended his opposition and fellow council member Shook.

Shook: "I would like to be alderman again... I am passionate about facts being laid out so we can all make decisions. I'm passionate for honesty and am a conflict resolution person. I want to do what's best for this city."

Wassman: "I love this city. It's home. We're raising our two children here... I want to serve the city of Garfield." He praised Mayor Gary Blackburn for being a "hands on" mayor.

Amador: "I would like your vote. I want to see it change and grow and reach more potential than it has."

King: I'd like to see the little town of Garfield be more like Pea Ridge, united, so people can raise their families like they should. Keep it like rural Arkansas should be. My goal is to see this happen in Garfield."

Teeselink: "We have a fantastic future ahead. I love the community. It's going to grow. It's going to prosper with proper leadership and getting along respectfully."