Karrsten Goettel: 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: Saint CharlesWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: St. Charles Park Board Age: 45Family: Married, Kathleen3 ChildrenOccupation: AttorneyEducation: Bachelor of Science - Economics (UW-Madison)Juris Doctor (Loyola Univ. - Chicago)Civic involvement: St. Charles Park Board (12 Years);St. Charles Housing Comm. (Appx. 10 years);Celtics Soccer Org. (Board Member);Campton United S.C. (Various Committees);Norris Cultural Art Ctr. Board Liaison (2004-2007);Elected offices held: President (2 Years);Vice-President (4 Years);Treasurer (Current);Asst. Secretary and Treasurer;Questions Answers Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what is it?I am seeking my fourth consecutive term as a Park Board Commissioner and am as excited and motivated as ever to assist in leading the St. Charles Park District for the next four years. What excites me in particular is a renewed energy you can sense in the community as a whole to come together and work toward projects that will better the St. Charles area in many facets for a long time forward. Relationships with other governmental agencies and local civic organizations continue to bloom and develop. Ideas and concepts such as the extension of a bike and walking trail through town by acquisition of the abandoned Union Pacific railway or the active use of the Fox River through trails, kayaks and other means as proposed by the River Corridor Foundation are those that have been actively addressed and supported by the Park Board in the past and will continue to be by me personally as a citizen and Board Member. As a lifetime resident of the St. Charles area, I have a personal commitment to give back to the community and be active in both providing and developing new ideas. The Park District has given me that opportunity and I would like to continue in helping make the District one of the leading governmental agencies in the area.How do you assess the state of the district's finances? What, if any, changes do you propose to alter the district's financial picture, whether through cost reduction or revenue increases? Please be as specific as possible on where you would propose cutting or how you would propose increasing revenue.The finances of the St. Charles Park District are, in my opinion, in a good place. We have continued to receive only the highest marks for fiscal soundness and continue to readily meet the needs and expectations of our residents in all aspects of services of both active and passive recreation. Just recently it was noted under the community survey we conducted in late last year that 80% of our residents believe that the share of the property taxes paid to the District is an excellent or good value considering what is received in return. Current form aside, it is a must that the Park District as a whole continue to be diligent and look for opportunities to both increase revenue and trim expenditures. As a commissioner going forward, I will continually request revenue opportunities be explored. In particular, I will encourage growth through the use of the existing facilities and through creative ideas for some of the very precious and unique assets of the park district, including the vast array and variety of parks, our wonderful staff, Hickory Knolls and Primrose Farm. As for the reduction in expenditures, I will continue to pursue and advocate for projects that are brought about through cooperation and cost sharing of both the intergovernmental units and the private sector.What programs aren't paying for themselves? Would you keep, eliminate or change them? How and why?I had answered this question in 2013 and upon review of my answer, I would answer the same now, even with four more years of experience. I noted then that the analysis of whether a program should be kept, eliminated or changed is a constant question that needs to be asked by Park District staff and Board. The Park District is continually updating and introducing new programming and to that end, when programs generally are unsuccessful, they are either changed or eliminated. There are certain programs though which are too important to be evaluated and analyzed simply on the basis of whether or not the program is self-sustaining. Certain core missions of the Park District through facilities which do not generate a net budget surplus cannot and should not be abandoned solely for fiscal reasons. Examples of these include: Primrose Farm - which educates and preserves our agricultural history; both the Teen center and Adult Activity Center - which provide necessary valuable and safe opportunities for community members to get involved; and Hickory Knolls Discovery Center - which continually educates our residents on the importance of conservation and preservation of our natural areas and is active in our area schools. These programs still must always be evaluated critically with care to make sure they are yet true to their overall purpose but with eyes open for creative ideas for potential revenue. Finding balance in the overall budget of the Park District is the thought process I believe should be followed.Are there any unmet recreational needs? If yes, what are they and how would you propose paying for them?About five years ago, the Park District through extensive community surveys, identified indoor recreation space as a key unmet need. In response, the Board brought forth a referendum in 2015, proposing a facility that would, in the eyes of the District, address and meet some of these needs. This referendum did not pass and is seen as a healthy direction and mandate to the District, to please see if these identified needs can be addressed in other ways. We again have completed a community survey and identified many instances whereby the community feels very strongly e.g. walking/biking trails, natural areas and parks and playgrounds, and we rank very high in meeting those needs. The needs which are still there, are general indoor programming space and the preservation of more open space for passive use. A multi-court gymnasium to provide space for general use, basketball, pickle ball or volleyball or the walking/bike trail identified earlier as the abandoned railway, would go a long way in solidifying for the future our ability to meet the needs of our residents. Adding the Norris Recreation Facility, with the cooperation of the School District, has already brought positive results in the community and helped address some of the identified needs and goals. Going forward and in order to obtain funding for any additional facilities and land, I believe the efforts will need to be much more collaborative, seeking funding from all related government agencies, state and federal grants, and the private sector where appropriate.If you are a newcomer, what prompted you to run for the park board? If you're an incumbent, list your accomplishments or key initiatives in which you played a leadership role.Over the past twelve years, I have held a number of leadership positions and have served as a liaison to many other community boards and commissions. Currently I am the Treasurer and in the past years have held the positions of President (two years); Vice-President (four years); member of the St. Charles Housing Commission for many years and Chairman and participant in various ad hoc committees. In describing key initiatives, I view my role as a Board Member to be one of a group, to lend insight, thought and a questioning perspective as to whether the Board and/or the District is headed in the correct direction. Personally, through my tenure, I have been in involved with and, at times, have led the Board through land acquisition and development, staff retention and contract negotiations and intergovernmental relationships. While a member of the Board, many great facilities and parks have been brought online, including Otter Cove, Hickory Knolls, River Bend Community Park, Belgium Town Park, Delnor Woods expansion, Norris Recreation Facility and support for Sculpture in the Park program in Mt. St. Mary's Park. In addition, capital improvements to existing facilities such as regional and neighborhood park and playground renovations, sports fields, the golf course and the Swanson Pool have been a constant. I feel that throughout, in most instances, I have had a positive impact on the development of those ideas and goals and will continue to do so in the next term.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?The primary issue of importance I see moving forward for a candidate of this office is the ability to continually work with other key interested organizations, both government and private, in the St. Charles community. Right now, the Park District has a tremendous staff, a balanced budget and very high rankings as to community approval. Moving forward on some of key initiatives, in the current climate, will require organizations and groups to work together to provide a better overall quality of life for the St. Charles community and complete some of the really valued and worthwhile ideas I identified in the first question.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Candidate did not respond.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Candidate did not respond.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Candidate did not respond.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Candidate did not respond.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Candidate did not respond.