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Ed Muncie: 2021 candidate for Campton Hills village trustee

In the April 6 consolidated election, five candidates are vying for three, 4-year terms on the Campton Hills Village Board. The candidates are incumbents James McKelvie and Michael D. Millette, and newcomers Timothy W. Morgan Sr., Ed Muncie, and Kimberly Weiss.

The Daily Herald asked the candidates several questions about issues facing the village.

Below are Muncie's responses.

In-person early voting begins March 10 only at the Kane County Clerk's Office, 719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. B, in Geneva and the Aurora satellite office, 5 E. Downer Place, Suite F. In-person early voting at locations throughout the county begins March 22. Learn more at www.kanecountyclerk.org/Elections.

Bio

Town: Campton Hills

Age: 48

Occupation: Vice President and Risk Manager at Curran Group, Inc.

Civic involvement: Planning Commission contributor, Illinois Asphalt Pavement Association Chairman, Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association member, National Asphalt Pavement Association former chairman, Chicagoland Construction Safety Council's Safety Professional of the Year

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: As risk manager for a group of four companies with over 2,400 employees I've led our efforts to ensure that we protect not only the health and safety of our people, their families, and our communities - but that we protect their jobs and our companies as well. We operate in street and road construction, manufacturing, and railroad contracting all over North America and all of our operations were deemed essential and able to continue to operate with appropriate controls. I developed and led our corporate pandemic response team and through our active involvement on a daily basis we've been able to keep all of our operations up and running while still maintaining full compliance with CDC, state, provincial, and local guidelines, contract tracing, isolation, and quarantine requirements.

Two of our companies are not large enough to qualify for federal funding for COVID sick leave, so we took it upon ourselves to fund that out-of-pocket so our employees would know if they had to stay home sick or care for a loved one they would continue to be paid.

While operating four companies through this pandemic has been challenging, I've stayed determined to lead our efforts and help our people and their families stay safe both at work and outside of work - and protect their paychecks as well.

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: Through my active involvement with the village as a member of the public, I've observed the village of Campton Hills taking multiple actions to help the residents and businesses through this pandemic. The village has reached out to all 90 businesses in the village more than once to ensure that they were aware of all of the different federal, state, and local loan, grant, and benefit programs available to them.

The village posted signs and included regular information in the community newsletter encouraging support for the local businesses and restaurants. Through the police department the village has quietly and with dignity provided a means for those facing additional difficulties to receive gift cards, meals, and other support funded by the generosity of residents during the pandemic. The village also showed fiscal responsibility by making appropriate budget adjustments which resulted in maintaining a balanced budget without any significant reduction in services through the pandemic.

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: The village should maintain and regularly update a pandemic response plan that allows it to remain prepared for current and potential future health crises and to allow it to respond quickly and appropriately.

Q: What cuts can local government make to reduce the burden of the pandemic on taxpayers?

A: Campton Hills has operated since inception without the residents paying any municipal tax to the village. In 2020, the village acted with speed and fiscal responsibility to respond to the pandemic and as such the budget has remained balanced and the village continues to operate without any tax burden on the residents.

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: The village has a very effective intergovernmental agreement with the Campton Township Highway District which allows the township to maintain the vast majority of roads. However, there are some roads which the village has identified that will need attention in the future at a potential cost to the village. The village is working through their finance committee to find the revenue sources for these anticipated future expenses.

The village is also completing a remodeling of the village hall to reconfigure what was a former law office into a space where the police department has a safe environment separate from the general office to process arrests and conduct their operations. At this time, I do not see the need or support for any additional infrastructure or capital improvement projects so the village can focus on supporting and maximizing the use of existing business space and the success of the existing and new businesses.

Q: Do you plan to address businesses that don't adhere to the governor's order to close or restrict business?

A: As I understand it the village and police department have no legal authority to enforce Gov. Pritzker's emergency orders and the enforcement of those falls on the Kane County Health Department and Kane County State's Attorney. However, if the village continues to look into ways to help businesses facing pandemic-related difficulties, like eliminating or reducing permit fees, those benefits should only be available to businesses that are making valid efforts to adhere to the governor's orders.

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the stance your board has taken on permitting recreational marijuana sales in the community? What would you change about that stance, if you could?

A: I agree with the stance the village and voters established that we are not permitting the sale of recreational marijuana sales in our community.

Q: What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?

A: I'm very committed to the village's mission and vision statements and the fiscal responsibility this village continues to maintain. I look to continue to support our semirural environment and lifestyle, our ability to control our own destiny as a community, act so that property values continue to increase over time, and support our aesthetically appealing, fiscally viable, family-oriented community striving to provide excellent educational, social, recreational, and cultural opportunities.

I will also remain actively involved in the zoning code rewrite project to ensure that our village's zoning accurately reflects these things that we hold so dear about our community. I support current and increased methods of strengthening community relations and bonds, such as the 2021 farmers market proposal, events to support Police Dog Officer Koda, and other events as our community recovers from this past year so we can emerge stronger and more connected. I also support and would actively encourage increased communications between the village and residents so we can be aware and proud of what we're achieving together in our community.

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