Stark County Commission debate ranges from wind farm to mental health

May 13--(From left to right) Stark County Commission candidates John Frank, Clarence Tuhy, Dean Franchuk, Pete Kuntz and Jay Elkin discussed issues currently facing the county along with ideas for the region's future. Candidate Leslie Ross did not attend the debate. (Press Photo by Andrew Haffner)

News Dickinson,North Dakota 58602 http://www.thedickinsonpress.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/field/image/051316.N.DP_.STARKDEBATE%20%283%29.JPG?itok=JneV5sa6

Andrew Haffner

The Dickinson Press

(701) 225-4205 customer support http://www.thedickinsonpress.com

http://www.thedickinsonpress.com

Stark County Commission debate ranges from wind farm to mental health

Dickinson North Dakota 1815 1st Street West 58602

Five of the six candidates vying for three seats on the Stark County Commission met to discuss the region's current status and options for a road ahead during a Thursday night debate held in Dickinson'sCity Hall.

Some of the issues touched upon in the event hosted by the Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce and moderated by Dickinson City Administrator Shawn Kessel were similar to those in the previous week's Dickinson mayoral debate, while others were more unique.

Topics ranged from mental health care and substance abuse treatment to the contested approval of the Brady Wind Energy Center, an 87-turbine wind farm proposed for southern Stark County.

Candidate Leslie Ross, the former Stark County Veterans Service Officer and a resident of District 5, did not attend. Chamber Director Cheryl Viola said Ross cited a preexisting, out-of-town obligation for her absence.

Along with Ross, three of the candidates at the debate are newcomers to the county commission. Those were local businessman John Frank of District 3, Stark County Sheriff's Deputy Dean Franchuk of District 3, and former Stark County Sheriff Clarence Tuhy of District 1. The Thursday event also featured two commission incumbents with Pete Kuntz of District 1, and Jay Elkin of District 5.

Voters will select one candidate for each district during the June 14 election.

The five men often touched on their respective pools of experience as they fielded questions.

Frank cited past financial work, including budgetary control in his small business, as a benefit to his candidacy. He also spoke to the possibility of using a grace period of "more favorable tax treatment" to new businesses to help initial start-ups.

On budgetary issues, both Franchuk and Tuhy said they'd be in favor of shielding emergency services and road quality provisions.

As a law enforcement officer, Franchuk said he believed the commissioners "have been pretty lean with us and did a good job in the past." He added that preserving both sets of services was an important aspect in keeping population in Stark County. Tuhy said he didn't think there was any "fluff" in emergency services at the moment, but said commissioners could meet with department heads in times of need to determine that at a given moment.

Kuntz said he had little experience with the budget itself as it was not in his commission department portfolio, but said he believed cuts could be made if necessary. He did say he didn't see how social services could reasonably be cut, as many are state and federally mandated.

"We have to pick up our share, the state picks up their share," he said.

Elkin, whose commission department portfolio duties include budgeting, said the process for a county was more complex than tallying a business or household budget due to factors like shifting mill values.

He also said social services were largely out of the wheelhouse of the county and suggested the county becomes "creative in approach to putting in a rehab center here." That approach could use a multi-county and city method to addressing the high costs associated with treating mental health and substance abuse issues, Elkin said.

At one point, Kessel asked the candidates if they believed the county commission should revisit the decision it previously made regarding the Brady Wind Energy project.

Kuntz wasted no breath in his response, answering simply "no."

The other candidates, with the exception of Franchuk, agreed with Kuntz's answer with more words. Elkin cited the possible distrust outside businesses could feel towards the county if such decisions were overturned and Frank said the decision, so long as it was made with public input, should stand. He added the matter was now in the hands of the Public Service Commission.

Franchuk didn't answer outright, but said he'd be "voting for the majority of the people," and that, so far, the majority of people he has spoken with about it were opposed.

Still, wherever they differed, many of the top priorities listed by the men were similar. All but Kuntz said both public safety and road services were in their top three funding priorities. Even then, Kuntz said roads were "number one." His other two priorities included maintaining the Law Enforcement Center, which he described as "badly needed," and finding the means for a mental health unit.

As for the other candidates, Franchuk said his third priority was retaining population in the county while Tuhy listed recruitment of quality county employees. Elkin spoke to finishing the Stark County Courthouse expansion -- an item the others also agreed upon later in the debate -- and Frank said funding, with a particular eye to determining correct levels of property tax rates.

___

(c)2016 the Dickinson Press (Dickinson, N.D.)

Visit the Dickinson Press (Dickinson, N.D.) at www.thedickinsonpress.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.