John Krummen: 2021 candidate for Naperville City Council
Incumbent John Krummen, one of 11 candidates running for four 4-year terms on Naperville City Council, responds to the Daily Herald candidate questionnaire for the April 6, 2021, local elections.
In-person early voting with paper ballots is now available at the DuPage County Fairgrounds Building 5, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton. In-person early voting with touch-screen voting begins March 22 at locations throughout the county. Learn more at www.dupageco.org/earlyvoting/.
For more election coverage, visit dailyherald.com.
Bio
City: Naperville
Age: 57
Occupation: Engineer, college professor at North Central College
Civic involvement: Chairman and council liaison for the Public Utility Advisory Board (2011-present); council liaison to the Financial Advisory Board (2015-present); champion and council liaison for the Sustainability Task Force (2020-present); youth minister and church volunteer (2008-present); Project Help, parent mentor (2019-present); board member of Xilin, multicultural community center (2018-present); Rotary (2019-present); Public Leaders for Inclusion Council (2019-present); Exchange Club of Naperville (Rookie of the Year 2011) (2011-2019); and associate director of the Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation (2012-15)
Q&A
Q: How do you view your role in confronting the pandemic: provide leadership even if unpopular, give a voice to constituents - even ones with whom you disagree, or defer to state and federal authorities?
A: The COVID pandemic has affected everyone in many and unpredictable ways. The concerns are physical health, mental health, and restarting our economy.
The COVID pandemic has taken over 400,000 American lives. However, there is great optimism and hope that the vaccines can be deployed with the greatest of speed. However, until this can be accomplished, everyone should follow the CDC guidelines of wearing a mask, keeping 6 feet apart, and washing our hands.
Even before the COVID pandemic, many of us were becoming more aware of the mental health concerns throughout our community. Social isolation has made these concerns more prevalent. I have met with local mental health officials from Linden Oaks, the National Awareness of Mental Illness, and SamaraCare. By championing new grants for mental health initiatives and police crisis intervention training, we can address the growing concern of mental health.
Social isolation caused by the COVID pandemic has greatly damaged our economy. Many are unemployed, and small local retailers and restaurants have been badly hurt. I continue to meet with and listen to many small businesses and local restaurant owners to brainstorm possible solutions. Both the electric and water utilities are owned by the city of Naperville, and both have sustainable financial reserves. The city just announced a utility payment relief plan for struggling businesses and residents.
Q: Did your town continue to adequately serve its constituents during the disruptions caused by the pandemic? If so, please cite an example of how it successfully adjusted to providing services. If not, please cite a specific example of what could have been done better.
A: This pandemic has been difficult for everyone, from working from home, home schooling, to unemployment, to caring for those afflicted, and mourning those who have died. Given these headwinds, the city continues to serve our residents well. Both the police and fire departments have performed not only professionally but often have responded above the call of duty. The electric and water utilities and public works have performed at their acknowledged high standards. And, financially, although tax revenues were greatly reduced, the city was able to secure both federal and state grants and ended the financial year with a $2 million dollar surplus over budget.
Even a year into the pandemic, there continues to be conflicting information from both national and state health authorities. It should also be remembered that the city does not have its own public health department. So how does the city communicate and pass along information we have little confidence in and cannot independently verify? This is a heavy lift for any organization. But we expect the highest professionalism from our city, and we must look for ways to better communicate with our residents.
Q: In light of our experiences with COVID-19, what safeguards/guidelines should you put in place to address any future public health crises?
A: I believe we should follow CDC guidelines, and wear a mask, stay 6 feet apart, and wash our hands often. There is great optimism in the distribution of the vaccines. Federal and state health officials should work in cooperation with local governments to distribute the vaccines as quickly as possible.
Q: What cuts can local government make to reduce the burden of the pandemic on taxpayers?
A: Financially, although tax revenues were greatly reduced, the city was able to secure both federal and state grants and ended the financial year with a $2 million dollar surplus over budget. I am proud to have led the way on the implementation of the financial principles back in 2015 and have strongly championed the reduction of city debt. These were hard discussions and were hard votes to take. However, thanks to these strong financial principles, the city of Naperville is on solid financial standing. Since 2015, we have retired $60 million in debt, resulting in $4 million in annual savings.
Additionally, our general fund reserves are well above $20 million. I am proud to have supported structurally balanced city budgets from 2015 through 2021. Although no one can predict the future, I do not see any major cuts to service from the city of Naperville.
Q: What do you see as the most important infrastructure project you must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what infrastructure project can be put on the back burner?
A: It should be remembered that capital projects are funded by issuing municipal bonds. Over my 6 years on the council, the city has maintained our AAA (highest) bond rating. This means we pay the lowest possible interest rates on our bonds. The most recent issuance of bonds garnered a historic low-interest rate of 1.76%. Our bonds are issued for a 20-year time frame. Over the next 20 years, it is more likely than not, that inflation will be higher than 1.76%. In short, the city could be paying back less money than we owe due to these historic low-interest rates. As a professor of economics and council liaison to the Financial Advisory Board, along with the Financial Advisory Board, we see no reason to restrict our capital improvement projects.
Q: What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?
A: Recently, GM announced it will be going all-electric by 2035. At first glance, this appears to be a positive move for the environment and the residents of Naperville. But Naperville is part of the Illinois Municipal Electric Association. In turn, the IMEA is part owner of coal-fired electrical power plants known as Prairie State. The electrical power mix provided for Naperville is approximately 90% coal power and 10% renewable. Naperville enjoys a higher portfolio of renewable energy than ComEd.
But as electric vehicles become more mainstream, we need to do better. I have been the chairman and council liaison of the Public Utility Advisory Board for over 10 years. I am the only engineer on the city council and have cultivated strong relationships throughout the power and sustainability communities. In 2020, I initiated and championed the city's sustainability task force (N.E.S.T) and secured a new full-time sustainability manager during budget negotiations for 2021.
We must look for new sources of electrical power beyond IMEA, such as more distributive generation. This may include rooftop solar, community solar, and other technologies. We cannot simply rely on coal-generated electricity, and we must start talking more about it now.