Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Winsted mayor candidates



Opening statement

Floyd Sneer: Thirty-seven years
ago, my wife and I moved here and became residents and taxpayers. For 25
years, we published the Winsted Journal. I spent a lot of time running for
various committees, and this is one thing I haven’t done.

I’ve been the city’s economic development director for
10 years, served on the Ridgewater College board, and other things listed
in the paper.

In the upcoming years, the city will have problems, and
I hope my experience will help us take those problems, figure them out,
and propel us into the next millennium.

There’s talk about regional government – you don’t want
that. It’s likely we would become the Winsted Township of Hutchinson.

My experience will assist me, and I seek your vote.

Aaron Wiemiller: Are you looking
for a mayor with Winsted pride and values? Then let me introduce myself.
My parents always taught me the value of pride in the community.

I graduated from Holy Trinity, then graduated from Alexandria
Tech in ’93 in law enforcement, and started in ’94 as a deputy with the
McLeod County Sheriff’s Department. My Winsted upbringing helped me accomplish
goals, and now we’re raising our children in the community I grew up in.

I would provide leadership and dedication for the citizens
of today and the future. I am open-minded and would work with the citizens
together. Approach me with your ideas. We want Winsted to be a step ahead.

Winsted should be what the citizens want it to be, not
just what one, two, or three people think it should be. I would strive to
serve all residents.

A series of yes/no questions were asked:

Are you in favor of a municipal swimming pool?

Both said yes.

Would you favor a junior/senior rec center funded by
public funds?

Wiemiller – no, Sneer – yes.

Should the city have its own police department or share
services with the county?

Both said have its own.

Would you favor changing the speed limit so all city
streets are 30 mph?

Both said keep it the same.

Is it important to have the new Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted
High School here?

Wiemiller: It’s important to
be looked at closely, with the Catholic school in town. If there’s an opportunity
for a public school to be in the Winsted area, it would be in the best interest
of the citizens to go ahead and try to get it. It would boost the economy.

Sneer: Everyone wants the new
school located in their town. There is a committee appointed to study the
issue and until that report comes in, it’s a moot question. All of us have
said “I know where there’s a spot.” We still have to wait and
figure it out, weigh it against the parochial school, and see what happens.

Recently, the council granted itself a pay raise and
hired a city administrator. Would you rescind the raise since the administrator
will handle some of the work the council did?

Sneer: Leave it as it is.
People who serve don’t get much glory, they might as well get a few bucks.
I’m for the city administrator 100 percent. It will free up the city clerk
to devote full time to her job.

Wiemiller: I wouldn’t change
it. I would respect the decision of the council. It’s not a lot of money,
but carries a lot of responsibility.

Wiemiller: It’s important
to develop the industry we have now and keep growing. If we start to lose
industry, the town will close its doors and people will move out. For tomorrow,
I can’t give an answer now. I want to know your views and will work closely
with you to accomplish that.

Sneer: I would say probably
something that is really jobs-oriented to bring people in. It probably should
be high tech, that’s usually not polluting and is the wave of the future.
Technology has come into its own and is here to stay. We might as well get
used to it.

Sneer: See where the industry
we have now is. Some are being sold, and that’s not a knock against them
– they’re too successful.

Try to develop the industrial park, put grants together
to expand trails, get funds for a library.

Wiemiller: First, get grant
money from the federal government to better the city. Look strongly at developing
the industrial park.

Sneer: There are many variables.
Before we build, we would need a general obligation bond of $1.3 million.

The Economic Development Agency of the state builds buildings
like this. That’s how Hopkins, Edina, Eden Prairie got beautiful edifices.
The state builds them and leases them back.

We could fill up the old building with a museum, a library,
or offices. We have to wait for the re-use committee, which should take
about two months yet. Then sit down and determine the options. Ultimately,
the taxpayers have to make the decision.

Wiemiller: It’s important
the city establish a permanent place for its offices. It costs money and
things are damaged to keep moving. Wait for the re-use study to know what
the options are. It could be great for a senior citizen center, or a family
center.

It is a historical building, and it would be tough to see
it used for other than a city function. It’s important for people to vote
on it.

Wiemiller: I think decisions
of the city administrator will have to be discussed with the council. The
council needs to approve or be informed. If it’s by council approval, the
administrator and council are held accountable.

Sneer: He has five bosses.
The city administrator does what the council and mayor want him to do, normally
city business. It’s not one person telling him what to do. It’s the city’s
business.

Sneer: The League of Minnesota
Cities got the statutes changed so cities could summarize minutes of meetings
and just have a line item of bills paid without a listing. It didn’t say
you couldn’t print the full amount, but that you could summarize.

Wiemiller: It’s important
that residents know where their money is going. I would want that published.

Wiemiller: My three biggest
things are:

1. City hall – first priority to complete.

2. Once a week have the city offices open longer than they
are now. People who work can’t get in there. One night a week it should
be open to benefit the residents.

3. Industrial park. It’s vital to the economic and physical
growth. If we develop it and attract more population, it’s means more revenue
and a better city.

Sneer: Everyone wants industrial
development. It’s hard to get, but everyone wants it. We’re doing well in
promoting residential development. Population is important because we get
paid by the state based on population.

We know Winsted is pushing 2,000 in population, but the
state demographers will only give us credit for 1,700. I sit on a board
with the president of Hutch Technology. I told him we have 40 acres to build
on. He said “I’ll pour the foundation tomorrow if you can promise me
one thing: workers.”

We need the city to grow. Industrial development helps.
Residential development helps.

Sneer: For 25 years, JoAnn
and I have preached the gospel of shopping at home. I would be very remiss
to drop that now. I would buy anything I can locally.

Wiemiller: It’s important
the city gets its goods within the city. That looks good and brings business
in. For large purchases, we have to look for the best possible price and
go outside if we need to.

Wiemiller: I will work with
the citizens and council to get what you want. Stop by my place or give
me a call. I’m more than willing to discuss any issues or concerns you
have.

Sneer: I’m like an old fire
horse: when I heard the alarm, I took off. Some people asked me to run for
mayor, and I thought “Why not? I haven’t done that yet.” My experience
should help me with this job.

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