John Prigge: Candidate Profile

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Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: ElginWebsite: www.JohnPrigge.comiTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: John Prigge - Elgin IL City CouncilmanOffice sought: Elgin City Council Age: 58Family: I have a 19 year-old daughter currently in college.Occupation: AuctioneerEducation: Elgin High School, 1976 Worldwide College of Auctioneering, 1990Civic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: Councilman, Elgin City Council, 2009-current.Questions Answers The Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin is funded by a $135,000 yearly contract with the city, and future funding will be discussed by the city council. The DNA could continue to be funded by the city, or by a new special tax imposed on downtown property owners, or by a special sales tax increase for downtown only. Or by a combination of all three. How do you believe the DNA should be funded? Please explain.With the recent resignation of its director, Deirdre Higgins White, I am undecided about future taxpayer funding of the Downtown Neighborhood Association. While I'm thoroughly convinced that all of Elgin's economic development should be categorized as a fourth core service along with police, public works and fire, and taken back in-house, I have found some value in the DNA's abilities.Ã#130;circ;#160; Taking economic development back in-house not only is cost effective, but also gives Elgin taxpayers more value for their investment.Elgin straddles Cook and Kane counties. Cook County approved increasing the hourly minimum wage from $8.25 to $10 effective July 1. Elgin, as a home rule community, can opt out. Do you support opting out or allowing the $10 minimum wage to take effect? Why?I support opting out. I am for letting the job market determine if employers should raise their employees' wages to get quality and value in return. Raising the minimum wage could cause stress in the compensation structure of many Elgin businesses, especially our smaller businesses. Any mandate from our local government that buys into increasing the cost of doing business could very well result in a number of consequences, mostly negative, at least as I've seen them through my two terms on the city council. First, opting in could cause prices to rise as local businesses attempt to protect profit margins. Next, it could cause a loss of jobs, Elgin jobs, if a particular business is forced to reduce expenses, again, to maintain profitability. It could also lead to an increase in automation, depending on the specific job, a related number of which would be found in our northwest quadrant.A task force told the city council in summer 2015 that the Hemmens Cultural Center should be expanded with a new performance space for up to 450 patrons, new restrooms, dressing rooms, a box office and more. The cost hasnÃcirc;shy;t been estimated but it would be in the millions. Do you believe an expansion is necessary? Please explain.It's absolutely not necessary, as we already have a high occupancy rate and I'm not at all aware that the local, regional or national entertainment market could support the expansion as explained to us, the city council, in 2015. Perhaps the most telling anecdote is this one: In 2013, I suggested that the Elgin Symphony Orchestra completely take over operation of the Hemmens. In exchange for rent payments to the city, the symphony would make scheduled building improvements over a five-year term.Ã#130;circ;#160;The symphony refused, even though the Hemmens has been home to their concerts for many, many years. That refusal was a key component in shaping my current opinion.The city council set a policy of gradually spending down the cityÃcirc;shy;s reserves to 30 percent of operational expenses. By the end of 2017, the general fund will have $37.9 million in reserves, or about 32 percent, as per this yearÃcirc;shy;s budget. Do you agree with the policy? Or do you believe the city should be more prudent with reserves? Or should it spend down reserves even more? Why?Yes, we should spend down reserves, with a goal of going no lower than 28% of our budget, but that spend-down must be part of a larger plan, a plan that addresses overall city spending. Using reserves while not looking at potential cuts or reductions is more enabling and indicative of bad business practices than the smart usage of funds.The city is working on a creating a Ãcirc;not;code compliance academyÃcirc;® for residents who want to find out more about property-related regulations, and help keep an eye on problems. Do you think this is a sound approach? If not, what is your alternative?Interacting with and informing our citizens about code ordinances is a sound, strategic approach. I have suggested to Elgin Community Development Director Marc Mylott that we carry this effort to the city's website and social media outlets for reference. I do not support using the code compliance academy as a recruiting tool for citizen inspectors, empowering and emboldening them to take to the streets with clipboards and cameras. To begin with, there's an element of potential reprisal against code compliance academy members from the neighbors that they name as code violators. That's something with which I'm not comfortable and I will not support the city being responsible for sanctioning or encouraging any recruitment for self-appointed deputies.We have a valuable asset in our 311 system which taxpayers paid a substantial amount of money for. It is designed for accepting concerns and questions. Our 311 system has brought an unprecedented level of openness and accessibility to city government. I'm satisfied with that being a much better answer and approach than to support the public display of roving neighbors taking to the streets as self-appointed inspectors.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?As I mentioned in an earlier answer, I believe that we are overdue in our need for a professional economic development. That is a key issue for me as we have been under-served for years. We need an expedited solution as our border communities are coming on strong against us sensing our weakness in this field.I have ideas on increasing our street lights at intersections, implementing a bullying ordinance, writing an ethics ordinance, rewriting our vehicle code, initiating an incentive plan for new Elgin companies to hire Elgin citizens, develop a program which allows Elgin citizen student-athletes to get discounted or free memberships to our rec centers and a neighborhood parking plan, among the issues important to me. All can make Elgin a better city and are posted on my Facebook page and website.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Elgin High School principal, Jerry Cook. He is a homegrown leader who goes all in, loves his job and is always smiling.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?That everyone needs help in something.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Spending more time with my relatives growing up.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Journalism. It taught me when and how to ask the right questions and how to recognize disingenuous answers and people.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Treat the people you meet as if they live on the same street as you do.