Jeffery Schielke: 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: BataviaWebsite: NoneTwitter: NoneFacebook: Jeffery SchielkeOffice sought: Batavia Mayor Age: 68Family: Wife --Linda. Married 30 yearsOccupation: Real Estate BrokerEducation: AA Degree -Waubonsee Community College BA Degree Aurora UniversityCivic involvement: Co-Author of book "John Gustafson's Historic Batavia" Past President Batavia Historical Society. Retired member Batavia Fire Department. Served on Batavia Auxiliary Police Force 1969-1978.News reporter for both radio and print media 1968-1980. Chairman of Tri-City Ambulance Board of Directors 1982-PresentElected offices held: Mayor - City of Batavia 1981-2017; Chairman,Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) Council of Mayors 1997-Present; Chairman, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus 2007-2008Questions Answers What should the city's financial role be in development, if any? In particular, are the incentives the city provided for projects such as the proposed One North Washington Place, and the Walgreen development, and possibly a deal for the Blue Goose Supermarket: Too much, too little or just right? Is it justified for the city to borrow money or pledge property taxes to fund such incentives, until increased taxes come in from TIF districts?Nearly every city in the surrounding area has utilized TIF funding or assorted tax rebates as tools to attract economic development to their towns. In the case of One North Washington, the future property tax income created by the redevelopment of the site will create a very substantial property tax revenue increase for all local governments to benefit from in future years once the current TIF expires. In the case of Walgreens, there were several utility/site related enhancements that needed to be put into place for the Walgreen's deal to work. As the Blue Goose Supermarket deal is still a work in progress in whatever location they decide upon, I note that there remains much continued public support to attract a store with the Blue Goose model to our town. The city staff and myself are continuing to communicate with the Blue Goose ownership in hopes that a working agreement which will allow them to open up in Batavia. In some respects TIF funding should be regarded as an investment for existing taxing bodies of our community given what appears to be the increases in property tax revenues which new development using TIF funding will generate in future years. Batavia enjoys one of the lowest municipal (city) property tax rates in the region but when the rates of other local taxing bodies are added to the overall tax bill,its high. Thus,the city's lower rate is a benefit to all taxpayers within the city limits.Should the city do something to increase the amount of affordable housing in Geneva, as the Chicago Metropolitan Agency on Planning study calls for? If so, what?I am not sure what powers the City of Batavia can implement to increase the amount of affordable housing in Geneva. On the Batavia side of the line, the Daily Herald has done a nice job in the past year to report and highlight the amount of affordable housing units found in Batavia which, as you know, are at a much higher number than many of the other communities in our region of comparable size. We have recently approved construction of a new affordable senior living facility on Hawks Drive west of the Walmart Store at Randall Road and Fabayn Parkway, which will further increase the amount of affordable housing units in Batavia. As you may know, I serve as Chairman of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning's Council of Mayors (CMAP). I am generally in their offices at Willis Tower once or twice a month. I hear from the CMAPstaff that Batavia has a good reputation as a community with a wide variance of housing options that service residents of all income levels.Is 40 years too long in office? Why or why not?I waited until the last couple of days before the petition filing deadline to circulate my petition for re-election. The reason for this is that I wanted to take the time to talk with a large number of residents and ask their opinion as to whether or not I should seek another term of office or just retire from public office. During my conversations I heard from the vast majority of those I talked with that said they very much wanted me to seek another term. Several noted that because of the other governmental positions that I hold in the region including Pace Bus Board member for Kane County, Chairman of the CMAP Council of Mayors for the Chicago land region and the seat I hold on the CMAP Policy Committee that I have been able to assist with a number of positive projects for Kane County and Batavia.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?Given all the discussion at the state level relative to freezing property taxes on all local governments we may very well be faced with the challenge of reducing expenses. The City Council may well have to determine just what is "vital and necessary services" and what are "expendable services." These would be very difficult decisions to consider in that expendable services may very well impact such areas as community attended events, decorative presentations where we honor holidays, or services where we share in civic supported programs. Another area that could be impacted would be city supported economic development projects which serve to attract new business to our town. We are currently proposing to expend funds to provide for a city communications coordinator to respond to citizen questions and better inform residents in on line formats. We are also funding necessary engineering to fix storm water problems in several areas of town that have created repeated problems in recent years. Again, we are attempting to keep our municipal tax rate for city expenses one of the lowest such rates in the region and it looks like the next tax cycle we should retain our low property tax rate status covering city expenses.What is one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?I am going to focus on the plan that the city join with the Friends of the Parks Committee and hopefully undertake additional efforts to clean up the Fox River banks around downtown Batavia between the Challenge Dam and Clark Island to further highlight the beauty and natural connections with Mother Nature. The wild flower sanctuary adjacent to Riverain is one of the crown jewels of our river bank and further efforts to enhance it should be supported. Areas just north of the Wilson Street bridge should also be targeted to remove dead trees, large overgrowth of weeds and poison ivy so as to allow for future expansion of the bike trail network on both sides of the river. The river frontage of the former Larson Becker property also should be cleared and transformed into a river front park space to facilitate expansion of the east side bike trail and help to eliminate the need for bikes to navigate around vehicles in the Wilson and River Street intersection. I also would like to explore what I will describe "as trash parties" where we ask service clubs and supportive citizens to walk throughout downtown and the river front and pick up the litter and garbage that is not properly disposed of and left as trash for the public . We have an ongoing need to clean the downtown area on a regular basis.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I am very concerned about what is often referred to as "unfunded mandates" enacted at the state and federal level having a direct impact on our budget. I am aware of several, what I would describe as "bad ideas" now being proposed for enactment at the state and federal level which could very well bring new costs to our city budget. I find it interesting that these bills seemingly are coming from members of both political parties and seem to ignore the campaign promise about not enacting unfunded mandates. Should any of these unfunded costs be allowed to take place, I shall be among those from the locally elected level to scream loudly during public opportunities about what these unfunded mandates are and who among are local legislators at the state and federal level voted to place these unfunded mandates on the backs of local property taxpayers.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Former Senator Mark Kirk because of his willingness to take independent public policy positions and actions and his efforts to overcome his personal health issues.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Have respect for every person you meet and carefully listen to the opinions of other people.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Seeking more formal education in a world wide setting and attain higher degrees than my current Bachelors.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Speech class in high school because later in life I've given scores upon scores of public speeches.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Understand that the world is filled with people of various races, religions, and ethnic backgrounds and you should respect and appreciate each as an individual.