Debt, economic development top Round Lake trustee issues

Six trustee candidates on opposite local political slates are addressing what they see as major issues confronting Round Lake, with debt and lack of commercial development topping the list.

Voters will hit the polls April 7 to select candidates to fill three open trustee seats on the Round Lake village board. Incumbent Trustees Brian Brubaker and Donald Newby are seeking re-election, but on opposing slates.

Mayor Bill Gentes is fronting the Round Lake United Party slate with trustee candidates Cynthia Pruim Haran, Al Villasenor and Brubaker.

Gentes' mayoral opponent, James Dietz, is heading the United for Change slate with trustee candidates Sonia Sandoval, Susan Triphahn and Newby.

All six trustee candidates responded to a Daily Herald questionnaire and listed what they believe is the biggest issue confronting their town and how best to address it. The candidates on each slate had similar ideas.

Debt was the theme of the three United for Change candidates.

Newby said he's most concerned about $13.8 million debt Round Lake incurred from the purchase of land that at one time was set aside for a hospital. He said he doesn't favor restructuring the loan and eventually placing more debt on taxpayers.

"We need to look at our capital plan and see what projects can be put off to make the bond payment so we do not have to restructure at this time," Newby said.

Sandoval also cited debt as a problem in Round Lake government. She said it should be paid down or restructured in a way to not extend it for more years, increasing the cost.

Triphahn said the debt incurred in 2007 could be paid down with sales of property owned by Round Lake. She said the idea of redoing the terms of the loan without extending its payback time could be worth pursuing.

Round Lake United Party's theme was economic development.

Haran sees commercial development as the biggest issue confronting Round Lake.

"We must concentrate on utilizing the land we have available for sale/development to bring commercial dollars into our community," Haran said.

Villasenor said while Round Lake lacks economic development and has high property taxes, much of the problem is market-driven and out of the village's control. He said the village can help spur development by making investments in property, infrastructure and staff within budget constraints.

Brubaker said additional retail or commercial development is the only major revenue stream the village can partially control because it doesn't have home-rule powers. He said Round Lake still has to work with other local governments to pursue development ideas.