Cortland Mayoral Race

What is your vision for growth in Cortland over the next five years?

Bob Seyller

My number one priority is continuing to provide essential services to the residents of Cortland: public safety, good roads, clean water, working sewer and recreational opportunities.

There will be growth but nowhere near the pace we experienced before the recession. I see small scale growth and development in Cortland in the next five years.

The vision that we established for Cortland before 2008 was walkable pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods, parks within a five-minute walk of every household, and architecture that reflects our Midwestern heritage, and that is still attainable.

Growth and development includes commercial and industrial development. We need to provide local shopping and employment opportunities for residents, as well as expand and diversify the tax base.

As the economy turns around, and development starts again, we have to be poised and ready to get the best projects in Cortland and not lose out to other communities.

Chuck Lanning

I would like to see commercial growth.

I would contact and work with developers and businesses to bring light industrial and commercial business to our town.

Russ Stokes

Given the current economic climate of our state and nation, I do not anticipate much growth.

I would market our community in an effort to attract commercial business and light industry that would generate sales tax for the Town, but I am not keen on pursuing any type of residential growth, unless there is clearly a benefit to our community and preferably to complete unfinished planned neighborhoods.

When the housing market crashed, the Town of Cortland was left with 6 subdivisions that needed to have improvements completed. While some improvements have been made to most, the Richland Trails Subdivision seems to be in a state of limbo with nothing being accomplished since the annexation agreement with the builder was amended in July 2012. Residents in that subdivision have been provided very little information as to what is being done to complete their neighborhood. In addition, the residents of the Chestnut Grove subdivision are still living with abandoned construction trailers and abandoned excavating equipment.

The Town needs to resolve these problems before entertaining any further residential development. We must also keep in mind that providing services to an increased residential population places more demand on our municipal departments.

Those departments are already functioning on very lean budgets while just trying to maintain the level of services they are currently providing to a population of 4300 people. These are tough times for all municipal governments, especially those that lack a significant sales tax base to supplement what property taxes are being collected. We are all aware of the financial problems of our State.

The payments to municipal governments by the State of Illinois have been slow and at times only partial. The Town must be careful not to over extend itself.

What are the challenges facing Cortland over the next five years?

Bob Seyller

The uncertainty of state funding is one of our biggest challenges, property values on the decline, and unfunded mandates from the state and federal government all have a great impact on our Town budget.

I am proud of how we have maintained, and even reduced our spending, and still maintained the same level of service for residents.

The unfinished subdivisions are also a big challenge. We are doing every thing we can to ensure the completion of these projects.

I’m confident when new housing starts back up, we have all the necessary infrastructure in place to successfully complete these neighborhoods.

Chuck Lanning

Getting water and sewer to unimproved land to make Cortland attractive to developers.

Try to resolve pending lawsuits.

Russ Stokes

Our challenges are many, and all end with a dollar sign! How are we going to enhance our services to the public? How are we going to continue regular repair and routine maintenance of our infrastructure?

What will we have to do to complete the neighborhoods that were left unfinished by bankrupt developers? How are we going to continue to abate the nuisances associated with abandoned and unkempt properties?

How are we going to recruit and retain dedicated, hardworking, professional, employees to address the needs of the community when we cannot offer salaries that are comparable to those other municipalities are offering? What about the resolution of past and pending lawsuits?

How can we enhance recruitment of sales tax producing economic development for the Town?

These are just some of the challenges that I foresee. I am sure there will be more that I, as Mayor, will be confronting. I am up to the challenge! I am confident that with the talent that exists on the Town Board, and the dedication of our Department Heads and staff, we will be able to succesfully confront and resolve these issues and move the Town of Cortland forward.

How much time does it take to perform the functions of the Mayor or Town President?

Bob Seyller

Much more than people realize. A good Mayor is visible, accessible and active.

Time is spent to prepare for two Town Board meetings a month, there are meetings with a wide variety of government agencies, regional agencies, meetings with local legislators, and community groups as well as time spent with department heads and staff for the daily operations of the Town.

There is a constant flow of information as things are proposed or expectations are placed on the Town that requires an informed response. Also there is the time needed to understand and comprehend the issues, requirements, and consequences of the documents that a Mayor is required to sign on any given day. For this I rely on our dedicated Town staff to collect necessary information in order for me to make an informed decision.

Then there is the time needed to meet with residents and business owners to discuss their issues and concerns and to participate in community events. It is very difficult to list all the time it takes to oversee a Town, but I give it my full-time attention and what ever it take to make it run efficiently.

This is where eight years of experience gives me an advantage over my challengers. I don’t have to start from square one and there’s no learning curve.

Chuck Lanning

As much time as it needs. I’m not Mayor now, so it is not possible for me to say. But it will require a considerable amount of time to work with the staff and the Board, attend meetings and training.

I’m willing to put in as much time as it takes to meet the challenges of the job.

Russ Stokes

The Mayor should be a Leader, willing and capable of performing the tasks and accepting the responsibilities as the Executive Officer of our community, while also serving as the Manager of everyday operations.

I prefer a team approach to addressing the needs of our community. I intend to meet regularly with Department Heads and staff and work with them in addressing the day-to-day needs and problems of our community.

I can do this while performing those tasks that can only be handled by the Mayor, as the Executive Officer of our municipal organization. Experience in multi-tasking is critical to the position of Mayor.

In short, the answer to your question is, “Whatever it takes.”

If elected, what changes can Cortland voters expect from your administration?

Bob Seyller

If re-elected I would like to continue my efforts to bring more professionalism and make the Town government more customer-oriented.

I would like to continue to operate the Town government lean and efficiently to get the greatest value and quality for the money we spend. I will continue to be dedicated and committed in trying to make Cortland a community we can all be proud of.

I would like more residents to take a active role with input and suggestions on how to better serve them and make Cortland an even better place to live and raise a family.

Chuck Lanning

Communication with the citizens of Cortland, with staff, and with the Board of Trustees.

Keeping the Board informed of issues, no matter how small, and allow staff to have input.

Russ Stokes

I will not reinstate the Town Adminstrator position. I have the skills to manage everyday municipal operations. I will need an Administrative Assistant, but it is too soon to say if that position would be a part-time or full-time position.

I will review with Department Heads and staff what responsibilities the current Mayor has bestowed upon the Town Administrator to determine what tasks I will handle and those that will be deligated to existing staff or the Administrative Assistant. I anticipate outsourcing zoning and planning and the management of the TIF Districts.

I find it amazing that Mayor Seyller needs and supports a Town Administrator for a town of 4300 people.

I applaud the Town Board for indicating that they are not interested in extending his contract beyond its current expiration. Neither of Mayor Seyller’s predecessors needed a Town Administrator. Both dealt with annexations, development, large public works projects, and the challenges of a growing community, yet they handled those challenges with the assistance of a dedicated staff, knowledgable department heads, and contracted professional services. They got the job done that they were elected to do without the expense of a contracted $100,000 a year employee.

The Department Heads do not need a person to speak on their behalf to the Town Board, nor do they need to be supervised by anyone other than the Mayor.

Town Board members will be assigned as Liaisons, based on their professional expertise and life experience, to our municipal departments: Administration; Finance; Streets & Maintenance; and Water/Wastewater.

I would like to add a liaison for Economic Development to form a committee of residents to explore and promote economic development for the Town and another liaison position for Technology.

The Police Department liaison will be expanded to Public Safety liaison and will serve our Police Department and the Cortland Fire Protection District which serves the Town through the Cortland Fire Department.

I feel having a liaison to the Cortland Fire Protection District will improve communications between the Town and our largest emergency services provider.

I will bring the Town of Cortland into compliance with the federal mandate that requires that it be NIMS (National Incident Management System) compliant. All necessary Town employees will be trained and certified. Preplanning for public events and emergency response to natural and man-made emergencies will be accomplished.

I will be providing residents with a Customer Satisfaction Survey to receive their input to help me improve on the Town’s delivery of services and identify other concerns of our residents. I expect community response to the survey will weigh heavily in the creation of the Town’s annual budget. I want to have regular communications with the various Homeowners’ Associations in our community and work with those residents whose neighborhoods have been affected by the bankruptcy of developers.

I will be reviewing our existing Town Codes and Ordinances with Department Heads and the Town Attorney. I will encourage the Town Board to amend our Codes and Ordinances, where needed, to bring them in step with those of surrounding communities. I believe such amendments will streamline enforcement efforts of those Codes and Ordinances, especially as they pertain to property and building maintenance.

What are your views on the Cortland Landfill Expansion?

Bob Seyller

First let me begin by saying it is not the Cortland landfill expansion, it is the DeKalb County landfill expansion. It is not located in Cortland and the Town has no statutory control over the landfill expansion.

Since the County had no desire or interest in watching out for Cortland’s concerns, as the Mayor of the Town of Cortland I needed to negotiate the best arrangement for the people I am elected to represent. Rather than spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on lawyers to fight a likely losing battle, I decided to accept an offer of $1 million from WM that will be given to the Town of Cortland in a one time payment once siting is finalized and EPA approval is complete.

This has been a transparent and open process.

I also negotiated to make sure that every mitigation procedure was in place, to make sure the latest and best technologies are in place, and that the property value guarantee and the well water monitoring be extended farther than what the County negotiated.

Chuck Lanning

I believe the decision to expand the landfill was made by the County Board before the Town of Cortland was aware of it.

I do not believe there’s anything the Board can do to influence the decisions already made by the County Board and the EPA.

Russ Stokes

I have heard many comments and concerns from residents of the Town of Cortland regarding Waste Management’s proposed expansion of the DeKalb County Landfill.

I am relatively familiar with Waste Management landfills that have previously been operated in DuPage County. Upon reaching capacity, those facilities were turned into recreation areas that are presently an asset to communities near those sites.

It is my hope that in the future the DeKalb County Landfill located south of the Town of Cortland will also be a similar asset. However, until that time, residents living in the immediate area of the landfill will continue to experience the negative effects of a working landfill operation.

While I agree that the Town of Cortland had no official “say” in the expansion request, it appears that Waste Management did have concerns relating to the Town taking an adversarial position on the expansion, hence the million dollar stipend promised to the Town of Cortland upon the actual expansion.

While I am sure these types of business agreements are reached everyday in the business world, this strikes me as being “hush money,” compensation for looking the other way and not getting involved. Maybe it’s my 36 years as a law enforcement officer, but this type of agreement offends me.

Is a million dollars a “big deal” to the Town of Cortland and Mayor Seyller? I am sure that it is. Is a million dollars a “big deal” to Waste Management? I don’t think so. That’s probably the cost of 2 or 3 garbage trucks.

Was this a good deal for the residents of the Town of Cortland? Only time will tell. What is important to remember is the Town of Cortland had no standing in the expansion decision as the site is not within the corporate limits of the Town.

The Town of Cortland negotiating an agreement with Waste Management was NOT illegal. This matter was discussed at an open regular meeting of the Town Board. It is unfortunate that very few if any residents were present at the meeting and the meeting was not covered by local media. While this decision was not exactly hidden from the public, there certainly was no real effort made to bring it to the attention of the public at that time.

The expansion of the landfill is a quality of life issue for many residents, and I do not agree with the way the Town Board and Mayor Seyller chose to handle this. While residents were not required to be polled or provided information at a public meeting or hearing by the Town of Cortland in this matter, I think the right thing to do would have been to informally solicit public opinion to provide the Mayor and the Town Board input prior to making their decision, much like they are required to formally do in matters concerning zoning changes or the proposed creation of TIF Districts.

I attended the January 31 meeting of the Cortland Township electors. I can honestly say in all my years of attending various public meetings, I have never seen anything quite like this meeting.

I think it’s a shame that the Moderator chose to vent her frustration, scapegoating those present who were singled out as either elected officials or employees of the Town of Cortland. They are all residents of Cortland Township and electors too. They were obviously well informed and experienced in public meeting protocol.

I was pleased to see members of the Cortland Town Board present at this meeting. Mayor Seyller was not in attendance.

Realistically, I think at this point “it’s all over but the shouting.” The Cortland Town Board got in front of this issue and tried to make the most out of a bad thing. I think they acted in what they thought was the best interest of their constituents.

Define transparent government…

Bob Seyller

I think transparent government means allowing citizens to “see through” the workings of government. We are always trying to improve ways of communicating with the citizens.

The Town’s website has a link to all the meeting agendas and approved minutes for the Town Board meetings. We recently added what we call the “town board packet” to the agenda link that provides all the information and reports needed for the meeting that the trustees use in their oversight and decision making process. Also, we recently added the Plan Commission agendas and their packets and approved minutes.

Each of our public meetings have a place giving everyone a chance to speak at the meetings. We try to provide as much information we can in our bi-monthly newsletter with things going on in the Town.

I believe in transparent government and will continue to improve ways to make information available to the citizens.

Chuck Lanning

Full communications with the citizens, to listen to the citizens’ issues and deal with their issues in a timely manner, and to provide documentation as required by law.

Russ Stokes

A governmental entity doing business in such a fashion that citizens would have information available to them, in a timely fashion, which advises them when a topic of public interest will be discussed, how that topic of public interest was presented, what discussions took place regarding that topic, what data was presented regarding the topic, and how that topic of public interest was resolved.