GARFIELD -- Three people are seeking the mayor's seat -- Mayor Gary Blackburn, Dale King and Katherine Shook. They each answered questions posed to them during a forum.
Question: Garfield accepted numerous roads into the city limits. If roads are not up to city standards or roads are damaged by city work, such as road grading or repairing water lines, causes damage to private property, what would you as mayor do about it?
King: I think the people that had the property has to take a part in it. They're using the tax money and rebate money. Roads are number one on survey about what people want taken care of.
Blackburn: If work done by a city road causes road to private property, the responsible party needs to make it right. If the city causes damage to private property, make it right... respect the right of property owners.
Shook: The city is currently experiencing a law suit, we had a county road, a whistle/low water bridge was removed and a number of years later, city annexed road, and low water bridge was never replaced; then highway went in. The city had to grade this road and covered this man's fence, so just about a foot is sticking out and his cattle can jump right out. The road graded to allow big trucks through.
Question: Residents have complained that trash service in Garfield is some of the most expensive. How can you improve the trash service to residents of Garfield at a reasonable cost?
Blackburn: The city's contract with waste management will be up next year. We'll readvertise. It has varied from $10 to $17 a year. Citizens of Garfield will be given an opportunity on contract that will be let; they need to express to their aldermen what kind and when I'm elected mayor I will act accordingly.
Shook: Garfield has more expensive trash service than rRogers, etc., even Sulphur Springs. I feel I can reduce trash rates. People are saying their trash is not picked up and leaving rubbish on the roads. I won't choose a trash service because they're friends but because it's a good business decision.
King: Authority goes back to council; I was on council for eight years. I don't think that's an issue.
Question: What would you do to improve the water service -- quality and cost -- and eliminate leaks to make a more efficient service?
Shook: If elected, I'm bringing back previous water superintendent. I took meeting minutes since 2014, minutes plus personal data directly from water superintendent ... I really feel someone with 40 years experience can help fix our water leaks.
King: If you have a leak, not found for several days, we got a lot of water goes through that. It can be done and taken care of by a little preventative maintenance.
Blackburn: I recently graduated from water distribution operator school... and believe that has put me in a really good position to work with our people.
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Editor's note: This is the last in a three-part series about the candidates for mayor in Garfield.
General News on 10/18/2018