Candidate Q&A: Dale Gilmour
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By Times staff | Wednesday, September 26, 2007 |
Dale Gilmour (FILE PHOTO) Buy this Photo
Office sought: Davenport, 6th Ward
What are the most significant challenges facing neighborhoods? How would you address them?
Each individual ward has challenges of their own. As a potential alderman of the 6th Ward, I would like to address the two I hear most often. The first issue that I am told, is that most 6th Ward residents feel they are left out of the loop, ignored, or in kept the dark. As their alderman, I feel it is both my duty and responsibility to change that. I would hold monthly ward meetings, return all calls within 24 hours, and put information specific to 6th Ward residents on my Web site, which is www.the6thward.com. The second issue is the traffic, primarily speed. With the exception of Elmore and 53rd streets, the 6th Ward is primarily residential. Even Locust Street east of Jersey Ridge is residential. As their alderman, I would work with the police to monitor the traffic speed. Raising the speed limit is NOT the answer. Speed enforcement is.
What’s most important, providing basic services, or adding amenities for residents and visitors? What approach would you take?
Have you ever heard the saying, “It a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there”? Amenities will bring visitors, but they do not bring residents. JOBS will bring residents. Davenport will never be a tourist destination. No one will ever move to Davenport because of our skybridge. I’m not saying that amenities are unimportant, I’m saying it is all a matter of priorities. Basic services, including infrastructure, will bring jobs, residents, and a larger tax base to Davenport. I believe that while amenities are nice, they are of a lower priority than basic services. If budgeted properly, some amenities can be included, after all basic services have been met.
What are the city’s most important infrastructure needs?
The west-side sewer diversion tunnel should be our top infrastructure priority. Our growth is currently being restricted because of our lack of sewer capacity. Did you know that when someone at Farm & Fleet, or the Wal-Mart on West Kimberly flushes a toilet, it travels east to Jersey Ridge, down the Jersey Ridge sewer to the river, and back west to the treatment plant? The pork processing plant that is locating in Silvis actually looked at northwest Davenport, but we did not have the sewer capacity they needed. Whether you feel a pork processing plant in northwest Davenport is a good idea or not, the sewer capacity was the factor in their decision. What if a Widgit factory wanted to locate in our industrial park, but needed sewer capacity we didn’t have? We can’t afford to not build the west-side sewer diversion tunnel. Davenport can only grow to the northwest. In the last 10 years, the cost has risen by $10 million. It would be safe to say that in the next 10 years, it will increase by at least another $10 million. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. There are some state and federal dollars available for this project.
How would you approach economic development?
We need to promote economic development in more ways than just monetary incentives. We tend to “give away the farm” as an incentive, rather than promoting the other issues we have that are also important to businesses. Although some economic incentives may be needed, we need to emphasize why Davenport is a good place to locate a business, not just how much money we can give them. Businesses that bring a large number of livable wage jobs should be a priority, but not at the expense of the smaller, yet livable wage jobs. I can see no reason to offer economic incentives (TIF money) to any retail establishments.
Does the city have enough police officers? Are they deployed properly? What is the council’s role in promoting public safety?
As long as there is crime, you can never have too many police officers. It would be unrealistic to have a police officer on every corner, and even if we did, there would still be crime. I think the issue here is efficiency. Are we getting the biggest bang for our buck? It is the police chief’s responsibility to determine officer duties and deployment. I would not attempt, as a council member, to micromanage the police department. It is the responsibility of the chief to control the day-to-day operations of the department. As a council member, I would have the police chief set realistic, measurable goals, and propose what he/she needed to reach those goals. If I believed the goals and needs were within reason, I would appropriate the necessary funding to have those goals met. The goals must be realistic and measurable. That’s the only fair way.
We also have to put some of our crime problem on the courts. Both juveniles and adults travel through the courts like a revolving door. If we don’t have the jail space, then I would like to see more community service. If the police arrest them, and the courts let them go, it’s not the fault of the police.
How would you handle situations in which you disagree with another council member or members? Or does it matter?
In two ways. First, with communication with the other council members before the issue comes to a head. Committee meetings and Committee of the Whole are just two opportunities. If there is an issue concerning something in a certain ward, I would go to that alderman for more information. If the issue was favorable to the residents, and supported by their alderman, I would support it. With exception to motions presented during the meeting, I can see no reason for debate during the meeting. Discussion, yes. Debate, no. If you want support for projects and issues in your ward, you have to communicate your position to the other council members before the meeting. You also must be willing to support projects and issues in other wards, when asked. That’s called politics.
The second way is to treat all council members and members of the public with respect. Respect isn’t given, it’s earned! I tend to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, unless they show me otherwise. If you treat people with respect, the chances are greater they will do the same.
I don’t know who the consulting team was that was hired to teach the aldermen to all get along, but I want my money back!
Should the Isle of Capri take over the RiverCenter South? If not, what should the city encourage the Isle to do?
Under NO circumstances should the Isle of Capri take over the RiverCenter South! It’s long past time the Isle of Capri puts up, or leaves. According to the 2005 agreement, the Isle of Capri agreed to: Pay for the demolition of the old Dock Restaurant, build a hotel on the riverfront, and operate the Blackhawk as a “working” hotel, just to name a few. They have broken almost every promise they have ever made, and to say that I don’t trust them would be an understatement! If the Isle of Capri wishes to truly become a part of Davenport, they need to purchase property, construct a casino complex and pay property taxes to the city. With their expansion in Bettendorf, I don’t see that happening. We need to take a lesson from Bettendorf, and find a new company to take over the operating license the Isle of Capri now holds, when it expires.
What is your vision for Davenport?
My visions require more effort than money.
I see, through promotional efforts, an industrial park filled with businesses that pay a living wage. I see crime reduced in our downtown area. I see a primarily privately funded revitalized downtown. I see cleaner streets. I see the private and public sectors working more closely together to make Davenport a better place to live. I see better cooperation between city, county and state governments. All in all, I see a community that takes at least some responsibility for the situation we are in.
Too often, the public feels it is the responsibility of the government to “fix” things and make them better. We are the government, and it’s up to us. Don’t complain about trash lining our streets. Who put it there? Don’t complain about the juvenile crime problem, when there are irresponsible parents. Don’t just sit back and wait for the government to do something. We are the government! It’s our responsibility! Take charge! Get involved! If you expect any elected official to take the responsibility for your actions, or inactions, please stay home on election day. If you are ready to take some responsibility for the future of your community, and would like to have a say in how it will be done, I would appreciate your vote on election day.
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