PJ Mezera Questionnaire

Here is the questionnaire submitted by PJ Mezera.

Enjoy!

County Commissioner Candidate Questionnaire

1. As a single county commissioner on a board that consists of twenty-four (24) total commissioners, please indicate how you would propose to be an effective commissioner when representing the needs of District 3 residents. Please feel free to include past experiences or qualities that you feel you possess in order to be an effective county commissioner.

Passion breeds action. One of my favorite Presidents is our own President James K. Polk. He had no desire to serve more than one term because he was passionate about some very important issues in his day and did not want to be hindered from solving those problems by worrying about running for his next term in office. I am passionate about our schools (or lack thereof), our roads and our budget. I will befriend and arm twist and call on the carpet (in that order) every person who stands in the way of getting what we need here in District 3. I am not interested in staying in office 20 or 30 years. I am interested in taking care of our citizens now, especially here in Springhill!

2. District 3 includes the following communities; Bethesda, College Grove, Spring Hill, and Thompson's Station. Each of these communities have their own unique issues that need to be represented by the District 3 County Commissioners. Please identify three (3) unique issues specific to each individual community and indicate which of those issues you personally feel should be your priority as District 3 County Commissioner.

I live in the city of Springhill and am familiar with the issues facing our area through personal experience. We have grown faster than our infrastructure has been improved. It is evidenced by overcrowded schools, congested roadways and haphazard development. Although locally Springhill has its own city issues; the schools and roads and county zoning policies are under Williamson County’s jurisdiction. It will be my priority to fast-track the building of at least (2) more elementary schools, another middle school and another high school. I will also immediately work towards the expansion of Hwy 31 from Springhill to I-840 and the development of another on-ramp/off-ramp from I-65 to Springhill proper via a developed county road to promote multi access. I will also work with TDOT and the planning commissions established to fast-track the widening of I-65 from Hwy. 96 to Saturn Parkway.

Many of our dearest friends live in Thompsons Station and so I understand through them their concerns of over-development, smart growth and the adverse affects of having a growing city as a neighbor. I want to see that they are not neglected and that they receive every help from the county as they forge their destiny.

Bethesda is similar to Thompsons Station for the very same reasons, however, I believe that the majority of Bethesda residents want no development and are very concerned about hostile annexation. I love Bethesda and the beautiful country as you drive through their community. It would be a travesty to not preserve this beauty and the hallmark of Williamson County’s farmland.

College Grove is most unique of all District 3 in that it appears to not have changed much since its conception. It is centered in the rural, farming land of Williamson County; off the beaten path. I know that they desire many of the conveniences of development, but are rightfully shy to the changes that will result. It will be my duty and pleasure to serve College Grove as their county commissioner and to help with their causes and issues as they too seek out their future.

3. In July 2005, Spring Hill Mayor Danny Leverette sent a letter to County Mayor Rogers Anderson expressing an interest in reevaluating the current Williamson County Urban Growth Boundary Plan. At what point do you think it would be appropriate to re-evaluate the current Williamson County Urban Growth Boundary Plan?

If you are familiar with the Urban Growth Boundary Plan, then you know that it was thrown together under a deadline as a stop-gap to the rapid growth Tennessee cities were experiencing. We are all familiar with the situation Atlanta faces and the “sprawl” that contributes to some of the most unattractive traffic in the United States. The Urban Growth Boundary Plan was conceived to prevent such sprawl and the unchecked annexation of rural communities. I believe it is wholly appropriate to re-evaluate the plan from time to time, to see if it is accomplishing the goals it was designed to achieve. It may be necessary and appropriate to expand some boundaries and it may be necessary and appropriate to condense some boundaries, but re-evaluation should never be used for the sole purpose of one city’s desire to land grab.

4. If you had sole naming rights for the new Recreation Center, what name would you propose? Please briefly explain.

Believe it or not, I would like it named after my opponent Judy Hayes. She has lived in our neighboring community of Thompsons Station all her life and following retirement continued to serve the citizens of our county using her influence to help the elderly and the farming interests of our area. I think it would be fitting to honor her with an edifice whose purpose is to bring joy to our community.

5. Do you believe the County should fund/build a branch library for the city of Thompson’s Station? Why or why not? If so, do you believe the proposed location at Heritage Commons is the best place?

I would like to see a first class Williamson County library built to serve the Thompsons Station, Springhill and nearby Bethesda/College Grove area centrally. This would be the most cost effective approach and yet still meet the need for our communities. I do not necessarily think that Heritage Commons is the best location since it is so closely situated to Spring Hill’s improved library, and I would like to explore if there is not other land that might be given to the county that would be more equidistant to the areas stated above.

6. Do you believe Charter Cable and Williamson County Government should provide WCTV coverage? If so, how do you propose making that happen?

Wouldn’t it be great to be able to see our county commission meetings from the privacy of our own homes? I would only be afraid the Comedy Channel may take excerpts and exploit them. But seriously, it would vastly improve public awareness and involvement in the governmental issues that most affect our daily lives and could be utilized by the school system to provide information, entertainment, etc. I would love to open a dialogue with Charter Cable as county commissioner to making that happen. I am not necessarily in favor of the county providing the entire cost of funding such an endeavor and would look for community, private and corporate funding to defray the cost.

7. What is the most important issue facing Williamson County today? How do you propose addressing it?

Did I mention growth was a problem? Growth is a problem! I propose taking a hard line on the re-zoning of any agricultural or rural residential land to the type of development that we have seen taking place. Any future re-zoning needs to be well thought out and requirements for infrastructure improvements attached to such re-zoning. I also am a strong advocate for increasing the impact fees in Williamson County. These fees are only collected on new development and therefore will not affect current residents or their property taxes, but they can be utilized by the county for capital improvements such as schools and roads. Raising the impact fees is not popular with big money developers, but it is a common sense approach to pay-as-you-go on infrastructure improvements, putting the burden where it belongs. As well, it will naturally slow the growth to a more manageable pace and increase the value of everybody’s property.

8. Do you believe Williamson County’s spending is reasonable for the school system? If not, do you think that we should spend more or less?

Our current spending is grossly inadequate. We all hear politicians cite that education is important, but when it comes to funding that education they change their tune. Our current commissioners have continually under-funded the school system forcing our teachers and principals into the awkward position of asking parents to pay for school books, P.E. equipment, office material, and even janitorial supplies! The class sizes push the state mandated limits and portables are provided instead of new schools. I know that spending should be increased and I want to work hand-in-hand with the School Board to see that responsible budgeting is prepared, passed and implemented to serve the needs of our children.

9. What do you think is the greatest issue facing South Williamson County today and how would you address the issue?

I would refer to my answer on question #7.

10. If you could change one thing about Williamson County what would it be and why?

I would love to see Williamson County improved with vision that extends beyond this year or even the next five years. I know that far-sighted improvements (such as road planning, public building and zoning) could make our great county the envy of the world fifty years from now. But like planning for a restful retirement, the work begins today and not when the bills have overwhelmed us and we have nothing left. The Bible says “…through lack of vision the people perish.” If we don’t look with that kind of long term vision, we will get a hodge-podge, haphazard mess that none of us will want to live in.

11. Of the other candidates running, who would you most like to see become your partner commissioner? Why? Who would you least like to serve with? Why?

Without question, Mr. Dunbar is the most qualified commissioner with whom to serve. His energy and commitment to the future of this county will be invaluable in bringing the help we need on the serious issues facing us today. I know that Mr. Dunbar’s ability, as an accountant, to sift through massive budgets and eliminate waste will be a key to balancing the budget and relieving our county of the massive debt we carry.

Even though I personally like the other candidates (our current commissioners), I do not see that they are the best choice as commissioners for this time in our county’s history. It is time for change and for the next generation to tackle the issues facing our families and our children’s future.

12. Of all the Williamson County Commission votes taken since the last County Commission election, which one do you most disagree with? Why? Can you name two-three more and why?

The infamous Wheel Tax increase is the most appalling. If there ever was a tax that targeted the middle class family and working poor, it would be the Wheel Tax. Other outrageous votes our current commissioners made were to make school budget cuts and a property tax increase.

13. Should Williamson County increase impact fees? Why/Why not?

Yes, we should increase the impact fees. Our current impact fee rate is inadequate. It’s as if we are selling Williamson County on the “clearance rack”. I can find no rational reason why our impact fees have remained so low for all these years, but it is time for the free ride developers have been enjoying to end. The tax payers of this county should not be burdened by the un-paid-for growth that has been allowed to take place.

14. Should nepotism be allowed in the Williamson County Government? Should County Commissioners be allowed to work for the County?

Nepotism gives birth to corruption and corruption has destroyed every great nation throughout history. I am against nepotism in the Williamson County Government and I am against County Commissioners assuming full-time positions within the county departments, it creates conflicts of interest everyway you turn.