Michael Dinwiddie

Mayoral Candidate

Michael Dinwiddie
www.dinwiddieformayor.com

Meet the candidates on video at the following link:
http://www.tennessean.com/section/special0469
Thank you to the Tennessean for taking this initiative for our community.

Spring Hill Alternate Questionnaire:

1. What specific event(s) sparked your interest to run for this position, at this time?

I have thoroughly enjoyed being an Alderman. It has been a great learning process and can honestly say that it is an absolute necessity for anyone wanting to serve as Mayor. I have always tried my best to represent the will of the people when I vote and I think people recognize and appreciate that. I have had dozens of people request me to run for Mayor based on various issues. At the age of 33, I ran for Mayor in 2005 because I wanted to take part in the City’s growth, but I lacked the experience necessary to be effective so it was a good thing for the City that I was not elected. Serving as an Alderman has made it clear that experience is necessary. I believe that the challenges the City faces demand this experience and it would be an honor serving this community as Mayor.

2. What are the 3 greatest achievements in our city during the past 4 years? Why?

The three greatest achievements have happened in the past two years. They are, in my opinion:

a) Discovering, taking responsibility for and correcting the past problems with the City’s finances.

In 2007, a new Board, of which I was a part of, was elected. Very shortly after that election, we were presented with the troubling discovery of the City’s financial situation. We discovered that the City had been improperly transferring funds between accounts to cover expenses. We immediately made the decision to begin correcting things and we proactively and responsibly contacted the State to obtain their guidance. By the time the State finished with their audit, we had already implemented most of their suggested solutions. We hired a Finance Administrator and we formed a Budget and Finance Committee to oversee our budget. Together they review our line-item budget monthly to monitor revenues and expenditures. Today, the Board has more financial oversight and knowledge than it ever had in the past. It is important to recognize that the current Board solved pre-existing problems rather than created them as others running for office would have you believe.

b) Road improvements (Duplex, Miles Johnson)
We recently voted to begin work on Duplex Rd. As everyone knows, this is a dangerous road and has needed widening for a long time. It is a State road which means, like Highway 31, the City has no control over widening the road (or adding traffic lights for that matter) and that can sometimes be frustrating. Most people don’t realize that the current Administration worked with the State and actually helped move the Duplex Rd improvements forward by many years! Creating Miles Johnson Parkway not only helped ease the traffic strains, it proved that the City was listening to the hundreds of residents who spoke out against widening Highway 31 through downtown. There are those running for office who have stated publicly that Highway 31 should be widened through downtown irregardless of the historic buildings. As a member of the Historic Commission, I am happy to see Miles Johnson finished so that we can protect our historic downtown landmarks.

c) Wastewater plant expansion
We have just received authorization from the State to expand the wastewater treatment plant. The plant has been operating at capacity for some time and needs to be expanded. It currently is rated to handle two million gallons per day and, after the expansion, it will be able to handle five million gallons per day. This improves our infrastructure so that, when it comes to sewer, our City can safely double in size. Our residents have been concerned that our infrastructure needs to catch up with our growth. It is this type of forward planning that not only catches up the infrastructure, but safely and adequately prepares us for future growth.

3. What are the 3 greatest failures of our city during the past 4 years? Why?

I think that the past four years, and most certainly the past two, have been very good for the City. “Failures” might be a harsh word. No one is perfect or can be expected to perform flawlessly – especially when our City is dependant on outside forces that we have no control over. We do not live in a static environment where precise results can be reliably predicted. We can only do the best we can with the knowledge we have at the time and use our shortfalls as learning tools so that we can make better decisions for the City in the future.


a) Inter-fund transfers
Since 2007, we have done a great deal to solve many of the issues that we discovered previously existed. There is some misinformation being told to people to make things seem much worse than they really are – things like “the City squandered $12 million” stated on a radio show recently. I would be interested in seeing the proof of this accusation. Were mistakes made in the past? Yes. However, I think our actions in handling those mistakes have proven to be responsible and proactive.

b) Moving forward with Parks and Recreation
One of the biggest deficiencies our City has is a shortage of recreation for our residents. To many, parks and recreation is nothing more than a “want” instead of a “need” and we should ignore them. Some have gone so far as to say we shouldn’t have provided a Recreation Center for our residents! I disagree. Naturally, when it comes to safety, things like police and fire, safe water and sewer take priority over a park. I don’t believe anyone will die from not going to a park. But parks and recreation are a vital part of our community and to its economy. Several years ago, Bridgestone was looking to locate to Middle Tennessee. One of the reasons they did not choose Spring Hill was because we did not have enough recreation for their employees to have a good quality of life. Our City lost hundreds of jobs because we lack recreation. If we want our economy to thrive, then we will need to attract companies that can bring jobs to the area and recreation is one piece of the puzzle that makes our community attractive to those companies. So, from a safety standpoint, this may look like a “want”, but from an economic standpoint, parks and recreation is definitely a “need” and one that we need to focus on more. Once elected, I am confident that two things will happen: a) we will have a movie theater in this City and b) we will have another park for our residents to enjoy. Based on my conversations, neither of these things will entail the City spending enormous amounts of money in the purchase of land.

c) Lack of a competent or effective EDC
Our past EDC has failed the City. While businesses were looking at our City, the EDC was busy discussing how to design a website. What’s worse is that one of the City’s biggest sources of tax revenue, Kroger, left us and moved just across the city limit so that revenues generated from Spring Hill dollars now benefit another city. Our EDC did nothing to keep Kroger in Spring Hill and their only solution was for the Mayor to write a letter after it was too late. General Motors is the City’s largest employer. For several years they have operated at a third of the capacity they could. There is room in that plant to add another 4000 jobs and has been for three years. That alone would benefit our community tremendously. How many times did our EDC approached GM over the past three years to ask how they can help? According to the leadership in the plant – zero. That is completely unacceptable and I intend to have a more effective EDC in place very shortly after my election.

4. Do you support the current HCA hospital coming to our city? Why or why not?

Absolutely! In 2005, a hospital was one of my campaign platforms. Until that election, no one had mentioned the need for a hospital. I lost that election, but the idea lived on and we are fortunate that others continued to pursue the hospital. Largely through the help of individuals like Michael Glass and Danny Leverette who did much of the legwork, the City was able to get 10,000 people to sign a petition supporting the idea. It is unfortunate when business interests stand in the way of the health care needs of a community, but I believe that ultimately the City of Spring Hill will prevail and we will have the medical facilities that our community deserves. Attaining a hospital is not only important from a health care standpoint, but it will also bring more jobs to the area, which is going to be a priority for protecting our City’s local economy.

5. Do you believe that the Mayor and Aldermen are adequately compensated? If not, what should the compensation package be?

I do believe the Board is adequately compensated especially when we consider the time involved for research and meetings as well as tangible expenses like celphone usage, gas, etc. The current pay is the average rate for surrounding cities in Middle TN. Council members in Brentwood make $950 per month, so we are definitely not on the high end. Since the officials have the option to accept or deny the benefits package, I believe the compensation for the value of the service is indeed adequate.

I also have concerns as to whether or not decreasing the compensation, whether it be through a reduction in pay or benefits, will deter qualified, capable individuals from serving the City.

6. What are your feelings regarding the eligibility of elected officials to be included in the City of Spring Hill’s medical insurance plan free of charge?

I do not have a problem with this. The group benefits are extended to employees and officials and each individual may reject or accept the benefits in accordance with State law.

7. In this economic downturn, where do you see additional income streams being generated to keep city services at our current level?

We are very fortunate because our City has done well during this economic downturn. Last year we had the highest increase in sales tax revenue of any other city in Williamson or Maury County. Our budget is in the black and we will hopefully be able to start rebuilding our reserve funds. We know that, eventually, the economy will turn around and our City is poised to be one of the first out of the gate when it does. One thing that I would like to focus on is bringing jobs to our City. With General Motors closing plants around the country, we have the perfect opportunity to improve our relationship with the company so that they will consider consolidating into this plant. They could put another 4,000 employees here. Those employees would not only buy some of our housing inventory, but, more importantly, would spend their money locally and increase the City’s sales tax revenues.

8. If we need to begin cutting city expenses, where would you plan to trim the budget?

Our Department Heads have done an outstanding job of keeping expenses down and cutting their budgets. The BOMA has also made it a priority to not layoff any of our employees and we have all worked together to make it work. I would rely on the advice and guidance of our Finance Administrator and our Budget and Finance Committee to make recommendations concerning any cuts. I would also like to entertain the idea of having some overlap in services. For instance, police officers could be the eyes for our public works department or public works could help the fire department in painting the hydrants. These types of things would help save the City money by conserving fuel costs and work hours.

9. Were you in favor of re-instating our city property tax?

I voted to re-instate the property tax, which passed almost unanimously. I don’t think anyone on the Board was “in favor” of the decision or wanted to be in the position of having to cast this vote. Hundreds of people were disappointed or angry with us and made their opinions known. Only one resident in this entire City publicly and proudly proclaimed unconditional support for this tax increase on its citizens (The Informer 7/2008). In the end, we were faced with an extreme situation – cut services or re-instate a tax.

10. Do you see an immediate need for a tax increase? If so, to what rate?

I do not, although I will be quick to add that this will be determined by other factors affecting our economy. We were fortunate to have The Crossings open when it did. As a result of the business generated from that area, Spring Hill’s sales tax revenues increased more than any other city in Maury or Williamson County last year. I believe that once some of our financial obligations have been met, we can be in a position to actually LOWER our taxes – especially if the sales tax base continues to grow.

11. What executive experience do you have that allows you to be qualified to lead our city?

I have served on the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for two years as the Ward 1 Alderman. This experience is invaluable. Anyone who decides to run for Mayor should be commended because it is admirable to be willing to sacrifice one’s time and energy in service to the public. However, it would be a good idea to learn the process of how things work as an Alderman before trying to step in and run a City. As the only candidate with any experience as an elected official, I believe I am the most qualified person in this race for the position. It would not be beneficial for the City’s residents to have a Mayor that has no experience. During the two years I have been in office, our City has done an outstanding job of correcting past issues in order to ensure that our City is well positioned for future progress.

12. How many Board of Mayor and Alderman meetings have you attended in the past 2 years?

I have been to every BOMA meeting and every work session except one. I missed that one because of an outside work conflict that ran late. I have missed only a handful of special called meetings because, being a commercial pilot at the time, I was out of town. I have also attended various meetings held by the Historic Commission, Budget & Finance Committee, Library Board, Home Owners Associations, Maury County Commission and Maury County School Board.

13. How many Planning Commission meetings have you attended in the past 2 years?

Not as many as I should have. I would say between 12 – 18 work sessions and meetings. One reason for this is that I receive the minutes from these meetings every month and read through them so that I can know what was discussed. The BOMA representative to the Planning Commission, Alderman Duda, also does a good job of keeping the Board informed of Planning Commission discussion when related issues come before us.

14. What specific qualities and ideas do you bring to the table that make you most qualified for this position (feel free to elaborate in at least a paragraph or two)?

There is an obvious need for us to work together regionally for the betterment of the City. My focus will be on increasing the job growth in town. In the recent past, our EDC has demonstrated a lack of competence or ability to get things done for the economic well-being of our community. I envision an empowered, aggressive EDC that will take the initiative to not only recruit new corporations to the area successfully, but also work with existing companies like GM to assist in their development as well. Our EDC, working regionally, should be one of the City’s most valuable assets. It is not now and I intend to change that.

I would also like to create a couple of other Committees shortly after getting elected. The first committee would an Environmental Conservation Committee. This committee would research and discuss ways that the City could operate in a more environmentally friendly manner. From the use of alternative energies to using recyclable material, we need to be proactive in conserving our environment and utilizing more “green” technologies whenever possible and practical. Another committee that I will form is an Advisory Board to the Mayor, which will act as a round table for discussion concerning various issues and how the City can best benefit. I’ll be the first to say that I don’t have all the answers. The best solutions come from groups of people working together. This Board will comprise a wide array of backgrounds and differences so that we will have a broad spectrum of experience from which to draw.

We have a need for a Trade School in our community. I believe we can accomplish this without spending money on land or buildings. In fact, I believe everything is in place to make this happen from the State level all the way down to the property owner. We just need a Mayor who considers it important and, curiously, I have been the only candidate saying that an education opportunity like this is important.

I believe there is a need for more recreational facilities. If there is one area where we are extremely deficient, it is in recreation. I am the only candidate suggesting the importance of recreation for our families. Others would like to tell you “no” without having to worry about being re-elected (Journal 01/28/09, Williamson Herald 2/19/09). One reason that Bridgestone did not choose Spring Hill several years ago was because of a lack of recreation for their employees. I firmly believe that if I am elected, we will have some land donated for a third park. I envision this park being used as a Nature Center so that our kids can learn about Biology, Ecology and the Environment in a hands-on fashion. It could also serve as a hub for our walking trail system currently being developed. I think the Williamson County Rec Center is extremely valuable and would like to see a large complex on the south side of our City as well. I am also confident that we will have a movie theater operating in our City within my first term in office. I am proud of my involvement with the Movies in the Park program and gaining a theater for our residents is going to be a very high priority of mine.

I am the only candidate with experience. Based on comments made in past interviews, I am the only candidate with at least a base understanding of what we can and can’t do as a City and the process that we have to go through to get things done. Others want to widen Hwy 31 (through downtown, no less) or put up traffic lights on state roads or operate on a “pay as you go” basis or spend millions rebuilding downtown. I realize that these things simply can’t be done (traffic lights would have been installed years ago but the City has no control over Hwy 31) or are idealistic (how many of us paid in full, with cash for our houses). These ideas being mentioned by others are not stupid ideas. I wish things were so easy myself. But they do demonstrate a lack of knowledge and experience which is necessary for the position and I think that serving as Alderman first would be helpful to anyone desiring to serve as Mayor.

15. If you were going to ask 3 questions that all of your opponent(s) would have to answer, what would those questions be, and how would you answer them?

What will you do with impact fees? Nothing. They are dependant upon a Capital Improvements Plan.
If Hwy 31 is widened through downtown, how should we protect our historic buildings? Hwy 31 should not be widened through downtown.
Will you remain in office for the full duration of your term? Yes, God willing. And I would be willing to serve another term if the people wanted me to.

16. What are your feelings regarding our current city commissions?

I would like to add one commission and that is an Environmental Conservation Committee. While our City is still young, we can implement programs that would allow our City to utilize “green” technologies to conserve the environment and save our citizens money.

-Planning Commission

• Are you interested in drastically changing any aspects of the commission?

Currently, I am satisfied in the structure of the Planning Commission although I do think that we can discuss modifications. One modification would be to expand the Planning Commission to include elected positions. These modifications would require changes to State Law, so it will not be an easy process and ultimately may not be possible. But if there is a way that we can improve a system so that our residents benefit, then I think we should consider it.

• Who would you recommend and support as the representative from Board of Mayor and Alderman to the Planning Commission? Currently that appointment is held by Jonathan Duda.

I will have to see who gets elected. This Board has the potential to change drastically and I would need to see who is available to choose from. If anything can be said about Alderman Duda, it’s that he does an incredible amount of research as a Planning Commissioner and his time, dedication and commitment to the City should be commended. Since Alderman Duda is currently running for re-election, it would be premature to assign his seat to someone else. If Alderman Duda were re-elected, he may want to serve in another capacity that will better benefit the needs of the City.

• Do you feel that our current Adequate Facilities tax is in fact adequate considering the tough economic times ahead?

I do. There are some saying we should lower our impact fees to encourage development, so a brief discussion is necessary. Our Adequate Facilities Tax is tied to our Capital Improvements Plan. The AFT is not a source of revenue that we can raise or lower at will. Impact Fees must be tied to improvements to the infrastructure which are defined in the Capital Improvements Plan. When we raised the Impact Fees a few years ago, there was an associated Capital Improvements Plan amendment outlining why those fees were necessary. If the conditions for the increase have been met, then we can lower the fees. If they have not been met and we lower them, then the City would have a hard time explaining why the increase wasn’t arbitrary in the first place and might end up owing the developers their money back!

I don’t believe tough economies should be fought with Adequate Facilities Taxes. I believe we should actively and aggressively recruit new jobs to the area so that we can focus on protecting the local businesses and our sales tax revenues.

• Do you believe that incoming developments should be responsible for road and infrastructure improvements associated with their development?

Yes I do, within reason. From my conversations with developers, they also want to do what is right for the City.

• Do you believe that there is a need for apartment buildings in our city? If so, where would you suggest that they be located?

I personally don’t know that there is a need for them. I generally am not supportive of apartments located next to low density residential that is already in place unless the residents support the proposal. IF I had to determine qualities of the ideal location for an apartment complex, a couple of those qualities would be easy access to the Interstate and not bordering subdivisions that have already been built.

-Economic Development Commission • What do you believe is the city’s role in economic development?

This should be our number one priority. Our economy serves as the framework upon which all else is built in the City. Therefore, we should take an active interest in the survival of our local businesses and recruiting new businesses to town. Obviously, we cannot run someone’s business for them, but we can work to bring more jobs to the area. Increasing the number of people who live and work locally, will increase the amount of traffic to our local businesses. This will, in turn, increase the sales tax revenues to the City. We should also proactively engage in campaigns to make our residents aware of what happens to their money after they spend it and why it is vital that they spend their money within the City limits of Spring Hill whenever possible.

• How would you recommend that we attract and recruit businesses and institutions that provide additional services (such as a community college)?

Having a Trade School in our City will be a huge asset in recruiting new businesses. Companies would be able to train, re-train or cross-train their employees locally. They would also be able to draw from a pool of trained technicians that are from the local area when they need to expand or hire more employees. Imagine how valuable a school like this would be to GM or to Tri-Star and how valuable those corporations are/will be to our community.

We also need an EDC that works. While Kroger was leaving, the only solution that I am aware of coming out of our EDC at the time was to write a letter after Kroger had already made their decision public. This is an embarrassment to our City. We need an effective EDC that will be proactive and aggressive in working with the Maury Alliance and the Williamson County EDC to attract and retain local businesses.

-Historic Commission • The establishment of a Historic Commission was hotly debated in our city. Do you agree with the creation of the Historic Commission?

I volunteered to serve on it, so yes I do.

• What do you feel is the role of a Historic Commission in our city?

Preserve and protect our historical identity, to educate others about our history and to eventually serve as a department of tourism

• In your opinion, what are the 3 most significant historical sites in our city?

Ferguson Hall
Oak Lawn
The McKissack House

Note: Rippa Villa and the battlefield are not currently in the City

-Budget and Finance Committee • Have you been pleased with the progress made during the past year to bring transparency to our city’s financial problems?

Yes.

• What do you feel is the most important challenge our city will face in the next year from a financial point of view?

Recruiting jobs to the area so that our local businesses can survive and, in turn, the City’s sales tax base can increase.