Batavia 3rd Ward hopefuls talk budget, bridge

Third Ward Alderman Linnea Miller speaks of the vitality she thinks younger people can bring to the city of Batavia. Her opponent is one of those younger people ready to get involved.

Miller, 60, alderman since 1995, faces Kyle Hohmann, 31 in the April 7 election. Hohmann is a territory manager for PNA Construction. He has done volunteer work on city-owned historical windmills and the "Peek Into the Past" historical display at the city's 175th anniversary celebration.

Miller works part-time for her husband's business. She has been involved with Batavia MainStreet, Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley and Scouting.

Finances

Before cutting workers or their pay, Hohmann wants to see if there are other ways to save money, such as outsourcing noncritical services. He suggests hiring private firms to do some snowplowing, instead of paying overtime to city workers to do it. But if a budget needs to be trimmed more, he favors pay cuts instead of layoffs.

Miller said coming up with a budget that calls for laying off seven people "was horrible for us," and city staff did first look for other cuts. "We know already 2010 will be a tough year as well," she said.

Second bridge, taxes

Miller believes the city needs a second bridge, but wants it as a downtown circulator, not one that makes it easy for people to go right from Randall Road to Kirk Road. "I don't think Batavians should be on the hook for what would in effect be a regional bridge," she said.

"My take on it might be different," Hohmann said, questioning whether traffic congestion is so bad that a second bridge is needed. He proposes asking voters if they want it. "Is it that bad? Are they willing to raise taxes?"

Should non-sales-tax-generating uses be allowed on Randall, such as office buildings or medical facilities? "I think it is probably a little too soon to make a call on that," he said. Once the recession ends, retail expansion will resume, he said. "We need to give it some time."

Miller said city officials realize that they can't just rely on the sales tax from Randall, especially since North Aurora has developed shopping centers. It is allowing non-sales tax businesses in strip centers that are on adjacent streets. But "reserving Randall Road for retail is not yet dead," she said.

Housing

The 3rd Ward contains the Lorlyn Apartments, one of three major complexes in Batavia that have reputations for having criminal activity. Hohmann thinks that the solution is to enforce laws requiring landlords to keep properties well-maintained; he believes that landlords would then be disinclined to rent to troublesome tenants. But he also thinks that other areas, including neighborhoods with rental homes, have problems with this too. "We need to look into it (maintenance) all over town," he said.

Miller worries about affordable housing, especially for those in their 20s and 30s, or for single parents. The town needs young people, she said: "They bring life, activity, vitality." She said the city has worked with Lorlyn management and seen improvements in building maintenance. "In some ways it (the reputation) might get more attention than is merited, but there are problems in many types of living situations."