Candidate letters: County Board - Ted Seifert

To the Editor:

I am committed to a safe and secure community, protecting our citizens and environment. Our county must respond quickly to natural disasters or health epidemics.

I work from a balanced approach, based on community need and sound business practices. I will not support unnecessary spending that would increase your taxes. Neighboring counties have lowered their tax levy. We can do the same.

Many of you have made suggestions on how to respond to increased industrial mining. Continued study is needed. A mining ordinance must be strong and robust when addressing environmental and health safety as well as mitigating nuisance activity. Permit mining only in areas that make sense. Prohibit where it does not. Regulation must provide for continuation of agriculture and tourism industries. Unlike a ban, a balanced approach avoids lawsuits and retains local control of mining rather than court or state agency control.

If the county doesn’t adopt strong regulations, I support a ban until the issues can be satisfactorily resolved. A ban may only allow a limited time before court intervention.

During nine years as your county commissioner:

• Average annual county property tax levy increase has been less than 2 percent!

• 1916 Central High School building on tax rolls.

• Lake Byllesby dam sold to Dakota County.

• Land surveyor position shared with Dodge County.

• Sheriff’s Office and Police Departments share County Law Enforcement Center.

• 800 MHz radio and mobile data operational. Citizens are safer because law enforcement is more effective.

• Public Health and Human Services Departments combined.

Future goals:

• No. 1 safety project — construct Highway 52 overpass at Cannon Falls, Zumbrota and County Roads 9 and 1.

• Consolidate 911 Dispatch into a multi-county operation for increased efficiency and reduced costs.

• Combine Health and Human Services into a multi-county operation while maintaining smaller efficient local offices.

• Remodel Citizens Building for Health & Human Services.

• Video arraignment for court system, reducing prisoner transport costs.

With difficult decisions ahead, my judgment will not be clouded or compromised by special interests or my employer. I will listen to your concerns and make decisions that are balanced and in the best interest of all the citizens of Goodhue County.

For a balanced and sustainable approach to county government, “Vote Ted” on Nov. 6.

Thank you.

Ted Seifert

Red wing

Ted Seifert is the incumbent candidate for Goodhue County District 5.

Tags: opinion, letters