Election Issues: Marty Michalisko

With election season in full swing, Yorkville Patch wanted to give readers a clear view of how local candidates compared on recent issues that surfaced before the City Council. Below are the answers from Marty Michalisko, who is running against incumbent in Ward 4. Spears' answers can be found here.

Links to all of Yorkville Patch's candidate profiles and questionnaires can be found .

•  Would you vote to place a binding bike trails referendum on the April 5 ballot? Why?

My professional experience tells me that the city will never come close to a deal like this again.  The state is funding 80 percent of the project as long as the city pays for the remaining 20 percent.  This is a one time deal and will not be offered again.  If the city does not take advantage of this, the state does not just save the money, but rather moves on to the next project.  From what I hear our neighbors are itching at the chance to get this money. 

• Looking at the water and sewer bond problem the City Council faced this winter in the 2011-2012 fiscal year, what do you think is the best solution?

Unfortunately there is no good solution.  I do not believe that past City Councils made quality decisions when it comes to borrowing.  Past City Councils basically deferred much of the payments to the future, similar to what has been going on statewide and nationally. 

I would continue to find ways to cut to prove to the residents the city is serious in tackling the debt problem, although our debt is too large to stop here.  Unfortunately for fiscal year 2011-2012 it is too late for a sales tax increase so I would default to a one-year property tax increase with the stipulation that the taxpayers get reimbursed when developers tap on to utilities.    

• Looking at the water and sewer bond problem for fiscal year 2012-2013 and beyond, what do you think is the best solution? Do you favor the proposed sales tax increase?

Because I probably went over my word limit to the last question, I will keep this answer simple.  I would prefer a temporary sales tax increase in order to spread the costs over non-residents as well.  I would make sure the city documents how this may effect business sales and adjust accordingly.   

• How would you characterize the working relationships among current City Council members? How do you think you work/would work within that environment? 

The City Council is obviously divided to the point that they are not working for the residents.  This is apparent when some members cannot even vote on the same side of an obvious issue as proven by multiple "present" votes.  I am not aligned with either side of the divide and am an independent voice who will vote what's best for the city and its residents and not what's best for one political side or the other.  The dysfunctional behavior within the council only hurts the residents!