FS_030917

frankfortstation.com Election 2017
the frankfort station | March 9, 2017 | 5
Name: Dick Trevarthan
Occupation: Retired golf
course superintendent and
small business owner
Age: 79
Elected Political Experience:
Village of Frankfort
trustee 1971-73, 1975-79, Trevarthan
1993-present
Year first elected to current office: 1971
Why are you running for Village trustee?
Because of my love for the Village of
Frankfort. I have lived here for 50 years,
with my wife Janet (deceased), and raised
four children here. I have always believed I
should take an active part in the community.
While others choose Lions Club, Chamber
of Commerce and church boards, I choose
to be a Village trustee. I want to continue to
use all of my past experience to help build a
community that cares about one another, is
fiscally responsible, can achieve economic
growth and provide all of the amenities necessary
for its residents.
I want to continue to keep “watch” over
Frankfort that we maintain our “1890
charm” as we continue new growth. I have
always made a point of being prepared on
issues and being available for all citizens
now and in the future.
What do you see as the three biggest
issues for Frankfort, and what do you plan
to do to address them?
Completion of Frankfort’s new waste water
treatment facility in five years:
• At present, Frankfort is operating three
waste water treatment plants. Two of the
plants (Colorado Avenue and Frankfort
Square) are more than 55 years old, were
built by real estate developers and meet
minimum standards. They are obsolete, cost
a fortune to run and a fortune to modernize.
Therefore, the decision was made to close
the two old plants and direct all liquids to
our newest plant, which is being remodeled
to process all additional flow. Five engineering
companies, with one engineering company
taking the lead, are designing this project.
This one new plant will handle all of the
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s
mandates for years to come. This large project
is on schedule and within budget.
Funding $2.3 million dollars per year for
the next 14 years to repair Frankfort’s 33
miles of roads:
• This would include re-surfacing, curb
repair and striping, along with miscellaneous
patching. Some monies can come
from the yearly existing budget (half a
million per year), some from federal grant
money and more from state motor fuel tax,
etc. This funding to upkeep our roads has
been put on the front burner. Other methods
of funding are being studied.
Revitalization of all new properties purchased:
• White and Elwood streets: Expand the
downtown commercial area for new shops,
restaurants, small businesses and proper
parking
• Continue to repair and replace old underground
water mains
• Complete the ash tree program, with
new varieties of trees replacing removal of
old diseased Ash trees
• Continue new landscape improvements
along with good maintenance for existing
landscaping
• Refurbish existing water towers
• Continue our stable financial balance
with strong cost control of expenses
• Work with all committees and staff on
new initiatives/goals set for the Village year
2017-2018
What can you point to as your biggest
accomplishment?
• Formulated the Village Landscaping
Ordinance to expand landscape beautifi-
Name: R. Douglas Walker
Occupation: Energy executive
Age: 57
Elected political experience:
16 years
Year first elected to current
office: 2001
Walker
Why are you running for Village trustee?
We have just embarked on our largest infrastructure
project ever with the consolidation
of the wastewater treatment facilities.
This project has been in the planning stages
for a number of years and we expect it will
take at least a few more to complete. We
estimate that this project will cost $60 million
and is only in its beginning stages from
a construction standpoint. I would like to
see this project through to completion.
Additionally, Frankfort has a long record
of running balanced budgets and funding its
capital plan. We recently completed the expansion
of the Village Hall with cash on hand
and carry no debt on the municipal side of our
government. This fiscal prudence is achieved
through proactive programs and focused financial
planning. We need to continue this
focus in an uncertain future. Equally important
is that our financials are completely transparent
to the citizens of Frankfort.
What do you see as the three biggest
issues for Frankfort, and what do you plan
to do to address them?
The biggest challenge is maintenance of
our fiscal strength. Staying fiscally strong
requires an ongoing effort. My goal is to
maintain Frankfort’s debt-free status under
any economic situation. There is great uncertainty
regarding funding from Springfield
now and into the future. We have
growing street resurfacing requirements as
the town matures from those boom years
from my early time on the board. Those
street surfaces are now reaching the end of
their expected 15-year useful life. We also
have growing police pension obligations
so we can assure that our first responders
receive the pensions promised to them.
We can manage all of these obligations by
growing revenues and by managing costs.
This leads to the second challenge.
Frankfort needs to continue to have an attitude
that encourages development in our
town. One focus needs to be on making
Frankfort contiguous to I-57 on the southeast
corner of our town. This is our first and likely
only opportunity ever to be directly connected
to an interstate highway. There are opportunities
galore for development in this area. We
also need to encourage developers to focus
on the area east of Mariano’s and build on the
outstanding first step we accomplished there
when we brought them to town. Successful
commercial development will enhance our financial
position by bringing more sales taxes
to town.
It is critical to balance the above while we
continue to maintain the highest expectations
of quality development. Developers must understand
that we will not diminish quality just
to achieve a faster sale. Quality permeates all
aspects of life in Frankfort. Frankfort’s experience
has been that quality begets quality.
We need to maintain diligence and patience to
assure any type of new development in town
meets our standards.
What can you point to as your biggest
accomplishment?
When I was first elected to the board, our
downtown business district was shrinking
from its once strong position as a destination
for antique shoppers. We went into a lull for
several years. The Trolley Barn was barely
occupied; we lost two major restaurants to
fire. To address this, the board and administration
became educated in downtown redevelopment.
We learned many things through
that effort, including such things as residential
density is a good thing in a downtown district.
This was contrary to our thinking in other
Please see Trevarthan, 18 Please see Walker, 18
er architectural structures.
Fiscal responsibility: The Village portion
of your property tax bill is approximately
4 percent, and we work closely with staff
to keep costs low. Transparency and confidence
in local government is important to all
of us. Frankfort once again received a “Certificate
of Achievement for Excellence in Financial
Reporting.” It is the highest form of
recognition in governmental accounting and
financial reporting, and its attainment represents
a significant accomplishment.
We continue to pursue infrastructure
grants and look for responsible revenue
sources that will not negatively impact the
finances of our residents or degrade the
quality and reputation of our community.
Planning for the future: The wastewater consolidation
project is one of many projects that
look toward the future needs of Frankfort. As
the Village footprint expanded, we also acquired
additional roads that require maintenance.
Our police department accounts for 45
percent of our Village corporate budget. We are
actively planning for ways to meet the needs
of Frankfort, and are reviewing and updating
many of our policies and strategic plans.
More information is available at www.
keithogle.com
What can you point to as your biggest
accomplishment?
I am always looking for ways we can improve
and make what we have better.
Previously as president of the Frankfort
Public Library District, I spearheaded and
oversaw the building of the Learning Annex
addition. It was built on schedule, on budget
and without raising taxes. I bring that same
skill set and approach to the Village.
What makes you the best candidate for the
position?
I invested several years on the Village of
Frankfort Departmental Operations Committee,
learning about Frankfort’s processes
and issues, before joining the Village Board.
I committed myself to attending all board
meetings and committee meetings (where
the real work gets done), and being informed
and prepared. My attendance is a matter of
public record.
I have a proven record of leadership and
accountability on the Village Board, as president
of the Chamber of Commerce, and as
president of the Library District.
I am an independent voice, but able to
find common ground to move ideas forward
to the benefit of our entire community. This
comes from being accessible in the community
and listening. I will continue to work
hard for all the people of Frankfort and ask
for your vote for Frankfort Village trustee in
the April 4 election.