By CHARLES RICHARDS
Sparks flew during a city council candidate forum Thursday evening after District 7 incumbent Rhonda Rogers said the city’s underground infrastructure problem cannot be addressed now because the city’s bonded indebtedness is already as high enough.
Dr. AJ Hashmi, one of two challengers of Ms. Rogers in District 7, interrupted his own response to another question minutes later, using his final 30 seconds of time to challenge her stance on the previous question.
The director of cardiology at Paris Regional Medical Center turned to face her and said: “This is why I am (running) for city council. Do not close your eyes and delay the matter. I would like to ask what we have done to correct the debt. Answer that question and then tell me what you are doing about water and sewer.”
Kenneth Kohls, the third candidate in the District 7 race, had called the city’s underground infrastructure “a $100 million project” that has to be addressed..
“We have lead pipes that water runs through to your house, we have a sewage treatment plant that needs to be upgraded, and somehow all of this has to be done with money,” Kohls said.
Rogers followed by saying:
“Nobody wants to talk about raising taxes. We don’t want to talk about those things. Yes, floating bonds is one way. However, we currently have the amount of debt that I think we need to carry. To ask for more debt at this time, until we get some of the debt paid off, I think would be irresponsible. We need to wait on those bonds.”
Hashmi ended his comments to Rogers with: “We cannot have the same thing happen over and over and … and keep discussing the matter over and over. Come up with an answer.”
Rogers did not respond.
Here are the comments of all five candidates at the forum, sponsored by the Lamar County Republican Party, to the question:
“What infrastructure improvements do you see necessary, and how would they be funded?”
Dr. Richard Grossnickle (District 4): I believe that the amount of money is going to be very high. Several ideas that I have would be to consider reviving the idea of some type of development that the city would benefit in a large way around the Lake Crook area. We have a lot of acres; I’m not sure of the exact number, but it’s not some kind of behind the scenes deal but an open and above deal of finding a developer who could help create an elderly retirement community. We have a lot of people who would love to retire to this area, a lot of elderly population right now. So that would be an area where we could raise a significant amount of money to help redo the city and water problems we have. Another way would be the airport, if we could increase the usage of the airport. Perhaps again there could be private development or public development of more hangar space around the land that we own around the airport. Those are just areas that there is a possibility of raising funds. And I think the last would be the increasing recruitment of businesses and retail establishments to make this city a more outstanding place to live and visit and shop.
Jeff Higgins (District 4): I definitely believe we do have a growing problem with our city’s infrastructure. I am against raising taxes. I do believe we pay enough in taxes as it is. I would be open to the idea of researching more grants. We do have people writing grants for us – that’s what their job is, to write grants – and I do believe we need to pursue that avenue. Also, we need to get our tax base up. If we bring more industry in, we bring more jobs in, our tax base will increase, which will help offset some of those funds. It’s not a problem that was created overnight, and we’re not going to fix it overnight. It’s going to take progress each and every day, week in, week out, month in, month out, year in, year out. Not something that we can fix. I would love to sit there, close my eyes, tap my heels three times and say it’s done. We can’t do that. You’ve got to take the proper steps.
Dr. AJ Hashmi (District 7): The infrastructure improvements that I see which need to be funded and which primarily concern me are the antiquated water and sewage in our community. Our water and sewage system continues to break down. I think the amount needed to correct the water and the sewage system is a huge amount, and corrections of inefficiencies in our city government will not cover it, so I think we will have to resort to some other issues and some other ways of getting the money, and one of them can be the floating of bonds. It’s a hard topic, and I think it’s a little bit of concern. Certainly we don’t want to raise our taxes. I think citizens are already overburdened by taxes. I’m not one for raising taxes, but I think that is one of the ways of doing it. Another one way that I do feel is that we do have a hotel tax that is still lower in our community compared to surrounding areas, and I think part of the hotel tax can be raised. The hotel tax certainly does not affect the city residents, and even if you raise it a small amount, like 2 percent, it really doesn’t even affect, and one doesn’t really feel it, among the residents who will come and stay at hotels, average hotel room price being about $69. If you raise it by 2 percent, you still are at about $70.50, or so. So those are my thoughts about it.
Kenneth Kohls (District 7): The infrastructure in the city, like every city in the country, has deteriorated. This is a long-term objective that must be addressed at some time. It’s just like making a journey. Now that first step is going to be a small step, but this is a $100 million project to repair the infrastructure in the city of Paris. We have lead pipes that water runs through in your house, we have a sewage treatment plant that needs to be upgraded, and somehow all of this has to be done with money. We cannot tax the citizens of Paris enough to raise this kind of money. Now I have a couple of ideas how to do that. By developing a “Buy Paris” program. In cooperation with the chamber of commerce, if we can raise the sales of goods and services in our community just a million dollars a month, that would generate $10,000 a month in the city of Paris revenue. Times 12, that’s $120,000 a year, at no cost to our citizens. That’s one way. The second way is to be aggressive on finding grants. Cities get grants all the time; we need to get our share.
Rhonda Rogers (District 7): We do have some infrastructure that we’re going to have to take a look at. We’ve been looking at it. We’ve been looking at different alternatives, different methods of taking care of the water treatment plant, the sewage treatment plant, the pipes and – just the other night I asked for a study on our drainage system. As I go around looking and talking to different people in our district, I find we still have drainage. Yes, we’re cleaning out those drains, but we need a long-term solution. Our new public works director that has just come on has been tasked with helping find out what we can do about our long-term drainage system to fix that problem. So he’s going to be working on that, to pay for it. Nobody wants to talk about money. Nobody wants to talk about raising taxes. We don’t want to talk about those things. I agree with my challengers. There are ways to look at it. Yes, floating bonds is one way. However, we currently have the amount of debt that I think we need to carry. To ask for more debt at this time, until we get some of the debt paid off, I think would be irresponsible. We need to wait on those bonds. Are there other ways? Yes, there are other ways. We look for grants. We have a grant writer that looks for grants all the time. And if those grants are out there, she’s finding them. She’s doing a great job. This is not a question that can be answered in a sound bite. You want a two-minute sound bite. I can’t give you a two-minute sound bite. I can tell you, I’ve been looking at this issue for two and a half years, and we need more time to complete the issue and really work it.
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Jeff Higgins responds to a question during Thursday night's candidate forum. Also in the picture, from left, are moderator Johnny Williams, Dr. Richard Grossnickle, Dr. AJ Hashmi, Kenneth Kohls and Rhonda Rogers. (Photo by Charles Richards, www.eParisExtra.com)
By CHARLES RICHARDS
The most pressing business for the new Paris City Council – after the May 14 city election – will be selecting a new city manager.
The position has been vacant since Kevin Carruth resigned under fire on Jan. 1, accepting a $140,000 buy-out of his contract by the city council. He had been in Paris since August of 2007.
Gene Anderson, the city’s finance director and acting city manager, has received more than 50 resumes from people interested in the job, and current city council members have been looking through the applications.
The job of hiring the manager, however, will wait until a new council is in place. Mayor Will Biard and District 4 councilman Steve Brown are leaving the board, and councilwoman Rhonda Rogers faces a re-election challenge from Dr. AJ Hashmi and Kenneth Kohls in District 7.
Matt Frierson has no opposition in District 5 to succeed Biard, while Dr. Richard Grossnickle and Jeff Higgins are vying for Brown’s seat on the council.
Grossnickle, Higgins, Hashmi, Kohls and Rogers on Thursday night, at a candidate forum sponsored by the Lamar County Republican Party, were asked about the city manager issue.
The question was: “What would your solution be to recruit and retain a long-term city manager?”
Dr. Richard Grossnickle (District 4): Well, I think the City Council has already been interviewing quite a few people, and having looked at the resumes and perhaps, I believe, already started the interviewing process. I would join that group and look for the man with the proper credentials, look for a man who would fit into our community and be accepted across all segments of this city. I think as a city council we need to do what’s best for Paris and not worry about each individual district so much as meet the common goal. So I want a city manager that will have the ability to work with the employees and the citizens. I want to make our city more business-friendly and cut down on nit-picking permits if we can. We just need to really accurately assess the candidates and try to pick the right one. It might not happen, but we can all try our best to see that we get a good person for the job. And then give him not a short rope but a pretty long rope to perform his duties, and not let some individual ego get in the way of him doing his job. In the past, there have been people that have taken disagreements to a personal level that they then took a personal vendetta to see that that city manager was terminated, and I don’t want to see that happen again. It needs to be a grievous offense before we fire a city manager.
Jeff Higgins (District 4): First off, I believe this is the most crucial aspect of the city council. I’ve been in sales long enough to know that sometimes even the most seasoned sales person just doesn’t work. So sometimes with city managers, their resume makes them look good, their references are amazing, but you don’t really see how they’re going to work until they get here. You know, I would like to see the city council work well with the city manager. Too many times, like others have said, personal vendettas become involved, people get their feelings hurt, and it becomes their mission to get rid of them. I don’t agree with that. And, you know, it’s hard enough to work for one person, but when you have to work for seven, I can’t imagine. We have to give our city manager his guideline, and let him work freely within those guidelines, and not be harsh on him unless he crossed one of those guidelines. We don’t need to micromanage him. We need to let him run the city that we hired him to do. You know, if it takes time get the right one, then let’s do it. Let’s find that right person. This is not something we can do overnight. We need to find the right person and get them going.
Dr. AJ Hashmi (District 7): Like hiring any individual for any organization – and the bigger the organization, the bigger the requirement – first and foremost, I think we must get the credentials of the individual and look at how he has performed in other places, and see why he wants to come to Paris. No. 2, I think when you select a person, you must make sure he is a good communicator, communicates well to the city council, with his own employees, as well as the residents of the community and keeps them informed and updated on what he’s doing. And the city council I think needs to quit micro-managing him, and I think you need to put benchmarks of what he needs to do, and what time frame he needs to do it in. And he needs to be sure that he follows those guidelines, but the answer must not be that if he does not follow the guidelines to kick him out. Give him time and see if he follows. If he does, then I think we will have a good city manager.
Kenneth Kohls (District 7): The current city council fired the city manager in December of last year. Four months ago. We are no closer to having a city manager now than we were the day we fired him. There has been no plan to hire that manager, except “We’ll let the new council do it.” The job description that went out did not have a closing date, so they’re still taking resumes on this position. So what’s going to happen is, this new council is going to come in and have to start the process from square one. We can take a look at the resumes that have come in and go from there, or we can hire an outside source. That’s a decision the council is going to have to make. But here’s what we need to do about the city manager. We need the qualifications that I wrote down a week ago. He or she must know budgets, must be organized, be able to set objectives and priorities, be flexible with dealing with people, know city government, and be able to manage people. And then the city council must be able to leave the man or woman alone. Therefore, the process that we’re going to have to have with the new council is from square one. We’ll take a look at resumes and find a person that meets the qualifications the city needs for city manager.
Rhonda Rogers (District 7): We are closer to getting a city manager than we were in December. I’ve been reading resumes. We have about 50 resumes right now. I’ve looked over them and it takes a lot of time and analysis to actually go through those resumes. That will take time. We don’t want to hurry the process, because we want to get it right this time. I met with with elected officials who have new city managers at a conference I went to in February. I met with them. I talked with people who have a new city manager. I have several e-mail and phone numbers so that I can get further information from them on how they went about the process of hiring a city manager. One of the reasons I need to be here to help find a new city manager is that I’m the only one on the city council and the only one of the candidates that has the same degree that we are looking for in a city manager – a master’s degree in public administration. My focus on that was in budgeting and analysis. Those are the things we need in a city manager. I know how to find one. I know how to look for that person. I know how to read resumes. I’ve taught resume writing at the high school and college level, and I know how to read a resume, I know how to analyze them. I am the best qualified to help us find that city manager as they come on board. It is a difficult process. We want the right one. We want the right one this time, and we want to help the team that we’ve developed. We’ve got a great chamber of commerce president. We’ve got a great PEDC director now. We want to continue that team. We want to build on that team so that we can work together city, county, small cities, the PEDC, and the chamber, all working together and forward so that we can accomplish these things that we are just talking about as far as economic development. And I will be there to help.
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By CHARLES RICHARDS
Five candidates for two open positions on the Paris City Council fielded questions at a candidate forum Thursday night about a proposal that the City of Paris get out of the trash business and turn over to a private company the collection of residential garbage.
They talked about several issues: how much money could be saved if the City of Paris were to turn over its residential trash collection to Sanitation Solutions or to Waste Management; what would happen to existing city trash collectors; and whether people are happy with the service they now have.
Here are the responses from each of the candidates at Thursday night’s forum, sponsored by the Lamar County Republican Party:
The question was: “What do you see as the pros and cons of privatization of trash, including but not limited to the expense/savings of current staff and assets?”
Dr. Richard Grossnickle (District 4): I don’t know how many of you have read Charles Richards’ columns that he has put on eParisTexas.com, but he has a wealth of information there, and it seems to be very trustful information … it appears to be good … and the numbers appear to be good. So I think there’s a potential to save money. Apparently there are only five (trash) employees that are fulltime employees, and the other five are actually temporaries hired from Hiring Partners, and those employees could be offered the choice of either joining the private company or finding another city position such as in city park maintenance or some other suitable endeavor. Privatization of trash is not a radical idea. The only cities around in Northeast Texas that have their own public service are much larger than us, such as Tyler, Longview, Sherman-Denison. Everyone else, including Texarkana, is using a private trash service. I believe that we could have better service, especially with all the Monday holidays (that the city observes, but Sanitation Solutions does not). I don’t know that that’s a good reason for trash not to be picked up. The city does provide good service, but the city’s job is to provide good services at the lowest price. So I hope we’re given the opportunity to at least explore this, that the city council can … assess whether a private company would be preferential to the existing service.
Jeff Higgins (District 4): I believe privatization of trash should be left up to the people. Seven people should not make that decision. It should be left up to the citizens. If you looked at Sunday’s paper, Gene Anderson (interim city manager) listed all the monies that were involved in it. Money savings is good. I’m for that, but I do want to know, what are we going to do with our employees. If we can absorb them in other areas, great. But by no means do I want to take dedicated employees who have been doing it for years and tell them, “See you, nice to know you.” Saving money, I do believe that we are going to get good service, no matter what, if we maintain with the city or if we do privatize, I do believe the service will still be fine, exceptional, but I think we need to research it a little more before we make these decisions, because gas prices are going up, everything is going up, we cannot base today’s numbers on tomorrow.
Dr. AJ Hashmi (District 7): I think there are two aspects to this question. The first aspect is a simple answer: it depends on the voters, what they want. But since the question was asked, I’ll give my opinion. One has to weigh the benefits of the potential savings that you might get from privatization versus the fact that you have these employees that are residents of our community, which we don’t want residents losing jobs, versus the acceptance of it by the residents of the community. Now, if one reads Mr. Richards’ articles – it’s an interesting article and again has to be verified, but he’s given reliable information so I count on it – the savings that one potentially sees is somewhere between $500,000 and $750,000 for the city. But by the same token, I think we have to consider the residents and the employees who might potentially lose their jobs. I think we need to be provided more information by the city so that we can make an accurate judgment based on that.
Kenneth Kohls (District 7): As I said earlier, as I walked the streets of the city and talked to the people, I heard two things: eliminate the fighting at the council and leave our trash alone. That’s what they want. Now, the citizens are going to decide that issue the same day they vote for the people here. The city will find out that answer – what the citizens want. This is what we need as a city government is, listen to the people. Remember, this is a government of the people, by the people, for the people. We talk about the pros and cons of it. That’s a major business decision. We’ve got to look at expenses, and I don’t have those figures. I don’t think the city’s got those figures. The only way you’re going to do that is put it out for bids and let the city compare the cost factors. What’s it going to save? I’m for private enterprise, but I’m also willing to listen, and will listen, to the citizens, of what they say. And we leave with our personal opinions in our pockets, and listen to our public, and vote the way they say.
Rhonda Rogers (District 7): There are pros and cons to both sides, but I really think that each individual should make up their mind what they want to do. There are three areas that they need to look at in making a decision before they go vote on this issue. Those three areas are: personnel in the city, cost, and primarily, are you happy with the service you have now. And, do you think you will get the same service with a private company? I think that, probably, for most of us is the most important. I’ve lived in seven other states and one other country, and frankly in most of those cities I didn’t have a clue who picked up the trash. As long as they picked it up and it was gone, I was happy. I didn’t care if it was a private organization, a business or the city. What mattered to me was if I put my trash in the morning, it was gone when I got home that afternoon and it was not strewn all over the road. At this point now, when I put out the trash – I’ve got lots of limbs, lots of leaves. If it’s gone, I’m happy. The city has served well. They have done a great job of picking up my trash. If they have done a great job with yours, that’s a major issue. Will a private company do as well? They’re in business to make money and in business to please. Maybe they will. Perhaps they can. The second issue is cost. I really don’t believe we have all the accurate figures that we need to make a decision. We do know that the landfill – because there was competition – is going to save us money. That alone, we have proven, is going to save us money. The third issue is the personnel currently, and I have learned – and I have discussed this with Gene Anderson recently, we feel like we can absorb the current employees into our system so that they do not have to go out and look for another job or work for the privatized company. They will have that choice.
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By CHARLES RICHARDS
eParisExtra.com
Three candidates for the District 7 seat on the Paris City Council, and two candidates for the District 4 seat showed up in the District Courtroom of the Lamar County Courthouse Thursday evening for a political forum.
The forum lasted for about an hour and 15 minutes – sandwiching an opening and closing statement around a series of four questions :
Here are the opening and closing statements of each candidate:
Dr. Richard Grossnickle, Candidate for District 4
(Opening Statement):
Dr. Richard Grossnickle
I believe I would be an excellent city council member because I know the people of this city and county from all walks of life, all races, all socio-economic backgrounds. I’ve dealt with the people on almost a daily basis for almost 30 years here.
Dr. Richard Grossnickle, Candidate for District 4
(Closing Statement):
I’ve lived here for 30 years, and I love the city of Paris, and I’d love to see us grow and become a better place than it already is. I have managed my own practice for 30 years. I now budgets and how to allocate funds for purchases. I have an analytical mind and am able to judge the pros and cons of issues. But I also don’t have a personal agenda. I really want the city council to be a harmonious place to have meetings, and I hope we can accomplish a lot without as much bickering as sometimes is portrayed. You know, I know there’s a lot of votes that aren’t 4-to-3 on the city council. In fact, a lot of issues have been decided by the majority of the council, and I just hope that we can see more of that and see the city of Paris prosper and grow, and I think I’ll be a good candidate to represent the city. Thank you.
Jeff Higgins, Candidate for District 4
(Opening Statement):
Jeff Higgins
Robert Kennedy once said, “There are those who look at things the way they are and ask why. I dream of things that never were and ask why not.”
Jeff Higgins, Candidate for District 4
(Closing Statement):
Being a new politician, I’m encouraged by the words of Ronald Reagan. When asked by a reporter if he thought he had all the answers, he said, and I am paraphrasing, “No, but it’s my responsibility to find the answers.” And that’s my pledge to you: To work hard, to be open minded, and to find the answer. Once again, thank each and every one for coming out tonight. My name is Jeff Higgins and I am a candidate for City Council, District 4.
Dr. AJ Hashmi, Candidate for District 7
(Opening Statement):
Dr. AJ Hashmi
I have had a very interesting life, but the last few weeks of my life have been more interesting. As I walked the streets of Paris and met a good majority of the 1,544 voters from District 7 that voted in the last general election, every one had a different opinion about how we should improve the city.
Dr. AJ Hashmi, Candidate for District 7
(Closing Statement):
Many years ago, I came to study in the land of the free and the home of the brave. I love my adopted country and love the city that adopted me and made me successful in my endeavors. It is now time for me to give back. It is my promise to you today that I will not let your vote go to waste and will do justice to the city council job that I am running for, and at the end of my term will leave no unfinished business. I have followed a moral all my life well reflected in a verse from the Bible that I will leave for you, and it is from Micah 6:8; “And what does thy Lord want you to do: Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your Lord.” And that is what I will follow when I am on the city council.”
Kenneth Kohls, Candidate for District 7
(Opening Statement):
Kenneth Kohls
As I walked the neighborhoods, the citizens told me why they were upset with the city council. They were tired of paying off the contracts of city managers, and the infighting of the council itself.
Kenneth Kohls, Candidate for District 7
(Closing Statement):
I want to thank each and every one of you for coming tonight and giving your time so you could be more informed. I also thank the Lamar County Republican Party for setting this up. It has taken a lot of time and effort and a lot of people’s work to make this accomplished for our community. I also would like to say to the citizens of District 7 I would be proud and honored to serve as your representative. And I would like to say this to all the citizens of the city of Paris: It is your right to go vote, and I encourage each and every one of you to vote. Exercise your constitutional right to go vote. And I want to thank God for the United States of America. Thank you.
Rhonda Rogers, Candidate for District 7
(Opening Statement):
Rhonda Rogers
Although my professional background and educational achievements combine to make me the most qualified city council member or candidate, the question in most people’s minds is “what have you done for me lately?”
Rhonda Rogers, Candidate for District 7
(Closing Statement):
I think we have already established that I have, by far, the best credentials of anyone who is a candidate for this position. I am also NOT a politician. I do not have a hidden agenda of any kind. Anyone who has followed the activities of the city council for the last two and a half years knows I am an independent thinker. I do my homework. I am constantly working on things to improve the city. I listen to all of the people of my district. Further, I, am one of the people. I am accessible. People know they can call me or e-mail me directly and they WILL receive a response and some type of action. I understand the culture. I understand the values and character of our city, because I grew up here. I went to school here, and I came back here several times a year for all of those years that I was gone. I have a broader perspective because I have lived in six other states and one other country. Because of my interest in the local community, I’ve been able to learn much about how other cities and communities that have helped me in what I do here. Being a successful member of the city council requires being a team player. Each voice is one of seven. When a member comes in with their own agenda, it can wreak havoc. I do not have an agenda. I just want what’s best for the city of Paris.
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Dr. AJ Hashmi, a candidate for the District 7 seat on the Paris City Council, is at the podium Thursday night at a candidate forum sponsored by the Lamar County Republican Party. Others in the photo are (from left) moderator Johnny Williams, District 4 candidate Dr. Richard Grossnickle, District 4 candidate Jeff Higgins, District 7 candidate Kenneth Kohls, and District 7 candidate Rhonda Rogers. (Photo by Charles Richards, eParisExtra.com)
In the minutes after the forum ended, here's part of the crowd of about 75 people who came to the District Courtroom at the Lamar County Courthouse on Thursday for the forum. (Photo by Charles Richards, eParisExtra.com)
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