×

Schmidtke, Koons seek District 4 seat

FAIRMONT — The District 4 seat on the Martin County Commission is open this year, with incumbent Dan Schmidtke facing off against challenger Richard Koons.

Schmidtke says he is running for re-election for a variety of reasons, stating that he has enjoyed serving the people of the district for the past 17 years. He also said the knowledge he has gained over that time gives him a greater insight into the current challenges facing the county.

“I want to continue to bring unity to our board and see more progress or even completion into the projects that we are continuing to work on, such as broadband internet service to rural communities that we started working on two years ago,” Schmidtke said. “Or the county drainage system, an ongoing project that I have been working diligently on is to get the ditches re-determined to today’s proper land value so that we can financially upgrade the ditch systems for those property owners.”

Schmidtke also says he wants to continue to work on improving the county’s road system for safer roadways.

Koons said he is running to make a difference, noting he is not a newcomer when it comes to government office.

“I have always enjoyed being involved in projects, often taking on leadership roles,” he said. “During my time on the Manyaska Township Board and the Martin County Township Association, I have spent a good portion of time working with most of the county departments. I have seen firsthand that there are many issues in the present and some in the not-so-distant future that will need a person with both a dedicated eye and the willingness to research to make the best decisions possible for the taxpayers of Martin County.”

When asked about issues facing the county, both men cite problems with the current Law Enforcement Center.

“Our current jail is 45 years old and is too small to house all of the inmates that we currently house,” Koons said. “This forces the county to send prisoners to other county jails and there is, of course, a cost to this. A proposed new justice center would cost the county somewhere around $40 million.

“Spread that over 40 years and that’s $2,740 a day 365 days a year for forty years. That’s just principal, no interest and no upkeep. If we are going to build a new jail we need to be smart about it and have affordable funding lined up.”

Schmidtke says he agrees when it comes to the increased cost of inmate transports, as well as the high price tag of a new building.

“By not addressing this issue, it will increase costs of inmate transports if we become a 90-day hold-only jail,” he said. “Or we may not have a jail at all.

“I feel that while a new justice center carries a large price tag, I am confident that through state grants and bonds we can successfully accomplish our goal of eliminating the full expense to our taxpayers. We just cannot afford to do nothing anymore, and risk losing our jail.”

Another top issue, Schmidtke notes, is out-of-home placement costs.

“We continue to see this rise due to an increase in child protection needs in our county,” he said. “I feel that it is our responsibility to provide a safe environment for the children of this county when their current living situation does not allow for that.”

Koons said other top issues for him include the county’s declining population and the need for better jobs.

“Martin County has an aging and declining population (35,000 in 1973 and 20,000 in 2018),” he noted. “One of the top issues I see is that we need to keep our budget in check every year, not just during election years.

“Our county also needs to promote businesses to expand and/or come into the county. The county could use more good-paying jobs. As all who live in the Midwest know, there isn’t any place in the country that has better workers than right here in southern Minnesota.”

Koons also noted the importance of the drainage system in an agricultural community.

“Another issue facing the county taxpayers is an aging and failing drainage system that is overloaded with today’s tiling systems,” he said. “There have been some recent improvements that have been epic failures for the landowners on the lower ends of these systems where improvements were not done. As the drainage authority, commissioners need to be aware of these situations.

“They need make sure that improvements on one part of a ditch or tile do not cause problems for those downstream. If and when problems are created, they need to take action to correct these problems.”

Finally, both men agree that something needs to be done to improve internet and cellular service to rural communities. Schmidtke cites the broadband internet service project that has been worked on for the past two years.

“This service is very important to the people of my district, which I am in full support for, and that is why we have been working on this for the past two years,” he said. “We are making progress on bringing fiber optics to our rural communities, and the good news is that it has been reported to us that it should be up and functional in our communities by the end of the year.”

Koons said the county board needs to recruit and accommodate companies with reliable services to come into the county.

Schmidtke thanks the citizens of the district for their continued support, saying he believes he demonstrates necessary qualities for the position.

“I am willing to stand up for what is right, be a team player, support our employees and constituents, take time to listen to others, have a hard work ethic, be honest and have a positive attitude,” he said. “I am dedicated to continuing to lead District 4 with integrity, real experience and real leadership. I would appreciate your vote on Nov. 6.”

Koons says he is more than ready to face the challenges of the position, stating that his is a platform of transparency, especially in regard to taxpayer dollars.

“I have a strong agricultural knowledge including drainage, a construction background and a business background,” he said. “Most importantly, I want to serve the residents of District 4 and the county as a whole.

“If elected, I will bring transparency to the county. I am a firm believe that when we are spending taxpayers’ dollars, you should be informed of how and where we are spending that money. Each and every one of my constituents will matter and will be treated equally. I ask for your vote and I would encourage everyone to get out and vote on Nov. 6.”

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.65/week.

Subscribe Today