Reconvened at 10:50 a.m.
INTERVIEW: TOM CARSNER
Kriz announced that he will be asking the questions in this interview and that Carsner should start with his opening statement.
Carsner thanked the Committee for the opportunity to be interviewed. He stated that he had several characteristics that make him different from the other candidates. He mentioned the fact that he is the youngest of the applicants, and that he is aware of the energy it takes to do this job from working with previous Board of Supervisors members. experience working with the 1998 Board of Supervisors members. He then mentioned that he was the only one of the applicants who was a candidate for Supervisor in the 1998 primary. He received 3,500 votes, which is more than 3 incumbent Supervisors had received in their primary elections. He also mentioned that he is a resident of a city and currently the Board of Supervisors has no representation of anyone from a city. He then stated that he has 15 years experience in professional ministry, the past 10 years in the VA Hospital. He said in that job each day you work with people with problems toward a resolution and there were a lot of parallels between that and forming public policy. Carsner said that it should be considered whose seat is being replaced, he has worked with Joe Bolkcom on many issues and campaigns for 8 years, and that he could carry Bolkcom's initiatives, and that he will not alter the philosophy of the Board of Supervisors as chosen by the voters. Carsner said that he has current involvement on the widest spread of government issues, and that he could fill the gaps that are left by the departure of 2 long term Supervisors. He said he could hit the ground running and would look forward to serving on the Board of Supervisors if that was the Committee's choice.
Kriz asked Carsner what are County government's strengths and weaknesses, and how would he enhance the strengths and address the weaknesses. Carsner said a strength of County government was that it is a relatively flat structure and one doesn't have to go through more than 2 or 3 people to find the person who makes a decision. He said it's a highly hands on public service type of structure. Carsner said he has a lot of experience in dealing with the public through Dave Nagle's office, the Auditor's office, the Veteran's Administration, and for the Democrats and their campaigns. He said he has dealt with the public in a number of different ways and has a good sense of what public service takes. The weakness is that county government is not well known. Most people spend time with their city or federal government, and are not aware what county government does for them. Carsner said he would be an advocate for more evening meetings, televising meetings, and possibly changing hours to have county offices more accessible. Carsner said a second strength but also weakness is that the county has no debt and is cost efficient, but that maybe hinders getting more services that the county needs. He stated a third area is the decentralized authority structure of County government. He said that elected officials are given a great deal of latitude and have used a lot of creativity in running their offices. Carsner said from a Board of Supervisors standpoint that could be helpful and sometimes frustrating which makes this also a weakness, because people see divided authority. He said it's hard to lead and speak with one voice. Carsner said as they continually deal with other government bodies, it's important for the County to speak with a singular voice. He said they aren't going to agree on every point, but it's important to have that sense of unity in dealing with other government bodies especially. Carsner said a fourth point is that the Board of Supervisors are both policy makers and administrators. He said citizens aren't isolated or insulated by bureaucratic layers. He said they don't have to go very far to find the decision maker. Carsner said the weakness related with this is that sometimes the Board of Supervisors can be stretched thin and left without the tools to properly implement the policies that they set. He said things can get lost and oversight can get lost in the shuffle. He said he was not advocating adding administrators but the use of consultants and other short term professionals can help. He said a last strength is that the County is able to retain many employees for a long term. He said this builds a sense of commitment and continuity and strength in the job done. Carsner said it's a good thing to keep employees because you don't have turnover or have to train people. Carsner said a weakness of that sometimes is that when the County does its hiring for new positions or department head positions the County has been slow to look to its pool of long time employees to fill openings. He said that can create uncertainty and mistrust among employees. He said they aren't likely to leave but a greater sense of loyalty to employees would help build morale in the County. He said one other strength is the wide range of human services Johnson County has always had. Carsner said that Johnson County has always gone beyond the minimum and prided itself in that and that is something he would advocate continuing. He said a miscellaneous weakness is that the County has been somewhat slow to pick up on implementing technology. Carsner said the County has gone through the Computer Needs Committee, some offices have been way ahead of the curve, such as the Auditor's Office but as a whole the County could have done more and still has much to do to really use technology in a way that would make things more efficient.
Kriz asked if Carsner was in favor of restructuring County government and/or hiring a county manager. Carsner stated that he has not come to a solid conclusion on the subject, but he has listened to the League of Women Voters and other groups have been talking about for several years. Carsner said that he is sure that it is most important to elect and appoint policy makers who are willing to work towards resolving issues and not letting things fester. He said he has seen examples in other forms of government where they try to hide poor policy making through layers of bureaucracy and that doesn't work. Carsner said he was still looking for a model where they could add more administrators and support staff while also maintaining accountability in the elected official. Carsner said if he saw models of that that worked better he would have more confidence in adding more administrators but he has yet to see a model like that that works well. Carsner said he was hesitant to go that route. He said it was almost always better to elect officials rather than appoint officials because it maintains a higher level of accountability with the voters. Carsner said he was not in favor of an appointed county manager because it blurs the lines of accountability from the level of responsibility between elected officials and non-elected officials. He said he would be open to the idea of an elected County Executive but admits that he likes the idea of the 5 person Board having a give and take and letting that be the arbiter of policy making. Carsner said several ideas about reorganizing the structure have come and gone which have some merit to them. He gave an example of a person who deals with real estate transactions they have to end up going to the Auditor's Office, Recorder's Office and Treasurer's Office, and Planning and Zoning. Carsner said it would be more customer friendly to have an office of real estate where they could do everything having to do with real estate in one stop. Carsner said that was one idea of reorganization that he is in favor of.
Kriz asked if Carsner feels if the county has more space needs, and if so how would he address them. Carsner said that his wife is a 20 year employee of the Department of Human Services and for 12 or 14 years she has had an office with a window to herself. He said she knew the time was coming and last week she was given the choice of either keeping her office with the window and doubling up or giving up her office and moving to an inside office to remain by herself. Carsner said she decided to move to the inside office. Carsner said the DHS building on Governor Street is filled to capacity. He said that does create some work problems such as confidentiality and having space and time to think is more difficult. Carsner said it is more difficult to work in that environment. Carsner said at the Health Department they have desks sitting in hallways. He said they would like to get more students to work but they have to juggle the space. Carsner said the County Attorney has files stacked all over and there are plenty of reasons to believe the County has a space problem. He said when they start to look for a new building, the first issue is it's important to build bigger than what their current needs are. He said if you look at the public library in Iowa City and the Administration building they aren't easy to add onto, in fact almost impossible because at the time that they were built shortsighted thinking that was meant to save money led to structural decisions that would prevent additions such as a third floor. Carsner said it is important to have a bigger vision when constructing a new building to be able to accommodate future needs. Carsner added that it bringing a number of departments together in a new building would develop cohesion among departments. He said at present people who work in the Administration Building and those who work in other buildings rarely see each other and are less aware of what each other is doing. If departments such as DHS, Health, SEATS, and other departments could be put together in one building, it would add something for the employees and the county, and it would also be easier for people seeking services. Carsner said as for as paying for a new building, the Administration Building was in part funded by a land swap with the Iowa City School District, and such an arrangement could be pursues with the City, school district, or federal government. Carsner said he liked the idea of a central downtown location, and cited the hillside behind the Courthouse or sharing space with the jail as options. He added a location on a bus route would be important. Carsner said there were a number of vacant business locations such as Sycamore Mall, and such existing structures could be considered. He said saving some money over a period of years to pay for a building would be a good start. The project would likely be so big that some sort of bond issue would be inevitable, but by saving money up front, the county could subtract a large portion of what that bond issue would be. In the end, it will take leadership to sell the idea to the public, both to sell to city residents the idea that they have a stake in county government and to remind rural residents that even though the offices are in the city, they are not forgotten.
Kriz then asks how would Carsner go about selecting from a pool of applicants to serve on various boards and commissions. Carsner said the most important consideration is proven, current knowledge and activity in the field. He stated his second consideration is choosing someone with a philosophy he knows and trusts. The policy decisions and recommendations of boards inevitably reflect back on the Supervisors who appointed them. He would not appoint a friend or someone he happens to know if he knew that other people were equally qualified and deserving. Carsner said incumbency cuts both ways, and while willingness to serve long terms is sometimes good, sometimes it is not so good and can encourage narrow thinking or lack of action.. Carsner said there are many factors in addition to gender balance that are important to diversity, including geography, age, occupation, socio-economic level, and race. When voters or the appointment committee consider candidates, they look at a broad range of factors rather than just one aspect of diversity. Carsner said gender balance has been a problem on several boards, including Planning and Zoning and Conservation. He said he supports gender balance, but it can lead to less than the best applicant, and could produce worse results than what the gender balance is trying to remedy.
Kriz asked what Carsner's long range vision for Johnson County. Carsner said he was born here and while he had briefly lived elsewhere, he had chosen to return and remain here. He said the rural/urban balance, the University, and progressive politics were some of the things that made Johnson County and exciting place to grow up and to live. Carsner said many of the county's strengths were also challenges. There has been dependency on large employers such as the University, UIHC, the VA, ACT, and NCS, and growth in these areas slowed in the 1990s. Diversifying can help make Johnson County less dependent. Carsner said the challenge is to meet the needs of residents while preserving the things which drew people here. Government provides services that the private sector cannot of which the public has decided are too important to leave to the private sector. The way we provide those services can help maintain the character of Johnson County. It is important to plan 5 to 20 years ahead. Long range planning can help reduce urban sprawl and maintain agricultural areas. It will be important to do more cooperation with city governments and other entities; for example, it will be important to work with Linn County in the Swisher/Shueyville area. Eventually, regional government will become more important, in part to build environmentally sound projects such as mass transit and parklands. Johnson County can be a leader in land use. Carsner said land use is a very important issue because we only get one chance. The Board's strategic planning has been a good start, but we need to continue to look further ahead. Carsner said we are seeing greater economic stratification in Johnson County. More people have low incomes or illnesses, and these people can be invisible if people don't pay attention. Human Services will become more important.
Kriz asks what criteria would you use in making land use decision, and what basis would you make decisions concerning road improvements, maintenance, construction, and road-side weed eradication. Carsner said he has attended dozens of zoning and platting discussions and this has brought him closer to grass roots participatory democracy than almost anything he can think of. He said in 1960, when Johnson County was first zoned, much of the north corridor was blanket-zoned as residential. He said unfortunately over the last 40 years the Board has allowed checkerboard, sprawling development and this has created problems such as overburdened roads, county services, and water supply and quality. He said it is important to look at the current use of land and neighboring and surrounding areas. Compatible uses are important. Keeping Agricultural land as agricultural land and residential as residential is what zoning is all about, and clear boundaries are important and can help set expectations. The phrase from the 1979 Comprehensive Plan, "to discourage non-farm development on agricultural land," was important. Carsner said the next thing to look at would be the existing infrastructure, such as roads, traffic counts, water quality and the number of wastewater systems nearby. It is important to consider whether it is cost effective to extend the infrastructure out to the location being considered. In most cases, it is more efficient to build in ore near cities where farmland will not be lost. There has been speculation on farmland, bidding prices up. Carsner said development should pay its own way, and studies have shown that rural sprawl development is the most expensive way to develop and costs exceed the revenue produced. He said Solon and Tiffin are both considering new schools, and while these are not county services, they still cost taxpayers money. Carsner said it is important to preserve agricultural land in sensitive areas, water quality and quantity. He said people want clear rules on development, and planning tools help set those rules. He then stated that he is in favor of working on main arterial roads before more distant roads. This is also a planning issue in part determining where development can best occur. Carsner said Roadside Vegetation Manager Russ Bennett has done a good job discouraging roadside pesticide and encouraging natural plantings.
Kriz asked Carsner what he thinks what should be the county's role in protecting the environment. Carsner said the county's work on a Sensitive Areas ordinance is a good start, and the Land Use Plan will help direct development away from sensitive areas. He said the Health Department has started a project to address failing septic systems using a revolving loan process instead of fines. Carsner it is important to monitor the quality and quantity of our water, and the Silurian Aquifer study should be continued if needed..
Kriz asks Carsner to describe his approach to balancing economic and business interest with the health and well being of citizens and environmental concerns. Carsner said government should be committed to preserving that which cannot be reproduced. It can be a false dichotomy to pit developers against farmers or environmentalists. Talking through issues is hard work but can make a balance makes both sides happy. Carsner said his work with Environmental Advocates has taught him that developers soon learn that if they treat land with respect and preserve as much natural area as possible, it will increase the value of the land. They may be able to earn as much or more money out of a project, even with fewer lots. He said he had seen many businesses that tread lightly on the land apply for conditional use permits, such as greenhouses, orchards, and produce farms, and he would support such businesses.
Kriz asks what Carsner's opinion of Johnson County's Comprehensive Land Use Plan? Carsner stated that he thinks the good news is the 3 years of work behind it is over, but the bad news is we now have to start following and implementing it with ordinance which is going to the same, if not more energy than it took to bring the plan together. He said he had attended almost all of the meetings at which the plan was discussed, and there has been a history of not following plans. The 1979 plan was very straightforward, but Boards and the Planning and Zoning Commission did not adhere closely to it. There are 9000 acres zoned residential already, 1000 platted lots have not been built on, roads are overcrowded, farmland is being lost, and land prices are going up. The new plan does not by itself solve these problems, but moves in the direction were the problems can be addressed. It is more flexible, and that will help it be used. The plan talks about infrastructure, sensitive areas, impact fees, and these planning tools give the county rules to follow. Carsner said there are well-planned and placed low impact developments that can occur under the new plan. He said a good plan is important, but it takes the political will of the Board of Supervisors to implement it.
Kriz asks Carsner what would he do about and what is his opinion concerning Johnson County taxes. Carsner said he has attended nearly every budget hearing the last five or six years, and had attended one or two cycles of the Board budget process as a recording secretary. In the end, the budget is a policy document. The Boards is faced with financial realities and sets priorities. Carsner said he feels he pays about the right amount of taxes, and it is the price of citizenship. He said he may have a better sense than most people about how the money is spent, and it was frustrating as a candidate to explain to the people how county money is spent. He said he is proud of county services, particularly in their help to the less fortunate. Carsner said the proportions in which county money is spent between departments is about right.
Kriz asked Carsner how he would weigh requests for spending for which would require tax dollars versus increasing taxes? Carsner said because the county has continued to grow, valuations have increased 2-4% a year which provides a cushion that covers salary increases for employees, though it does not go much farther. Having no debt is a luxury that many other communities don't have, and although he would not advocate going into debt, there is always that possibility there for the county's use if need be. He said he would not be quick to increase taxes, and that the public would appreciate consistent incremental increases rather than artificial cuts followed by big increases. He stated that it always needs to be asked if the county is paying a price for not going into debt. Carsner said his priority would be to preserve human services and health and safety needs first.
Kriz asked what if anything should be done about the nature of county tax options. Carsner said taxation starts with the idea of paying your fair share, which begs the question of what a fair share is. He said property taxes are one valid measure of wealth. Other measures include the sales tax, which measures what you buy, and the income tax, which measure what you earn. Carsner said the income tax is the most progressive tax. He would like to lobby the state legislature to allow counties and cities to create an income tax surcharge, much like school districts can. This would allow the county to minimize the use of sales and property taxes.
Kriz asked Carsner if he is in favor of implementing a Local Option Sales Tax and if so, then for what use. Carsner said he is not in favor of a Local Option Sales Tax, as he believes it to be an unfair and less honest distribution of taxing. Low income people pay a higher share than middle or upper income people. He said the sales tax is a less reliable stream of revenue than income or property taxes, and would fluctuate more with economic changes. It is better to be more up front with voters and make a case for how the tax will be spent. Carsner said if the Local Option Sales tax is passed, his priority would be to use the money to saving for a significant down payment on buildings in order to reduce the need for debt. Road improvements would be a second consideration.
Kriz asks if Carsner has any experience putting together budgets and how he would feel putting together performance based budgeting. Carsner said he has had several experiences working with budgets at his church, VA, ACT, Environmental Advocates, the Democratic Party, and with the planning and allocation committee of United Way. He said he had been through the county budget process as a recording secretary, and the Auditor's Office could help answer many questions. Carsner said many United Way agencies are working toward performance based budgeting. Some county departments are better suited for performance based budgeting than others, as some departments provide services that are more intangible. He would encourage the county in trying performance based budgeting in certain departments while not penalizing any other departments, in order to set examples of how it would be able to work.
Kriz asked Carsner if he were appointed and an election is called would he seek you party's nomination, would you run for re-election if appointed, and if you were not appointed would you petition or would you run as a nominee in an election that was petitioned for. Carsner said the committee members all know it takes a measure of courage and commitment to open yourself up to scrutiny by running for public office. He said he had done the same and he felt his 42% of the vote was a good showing. Elections test the candidates and hold officials accountable. However, he has learned that elections to fill vacancies are not always supported by the public and not always worth the money and effort. Carsner said the voters who elected the members of the committee spoke clearly and knew that they would be empowered to make this decision. He said he knows the members have thought a great deal about a broad range of criteria for their choice, and would not let short term considerations about an election cloud longer term considerations about who you want to work with in the next few years. Carsner said if he was appointed and an election is called he would certainly seek his party's nomination. If appointed, he would run for re-election. He said he ran for the Board with the intention of serving a four year term and he would approach the appointment with the same thinking. Carsner said if he were not appointed then he would not petition for a special election nor would he actively seek the nomination of the Democratic Party. He said the strongest candidate would be the one endorsed and appointed by the committee. Carsner said his party and his loyalty means too much to him to be divisive.
Kriz asked Carsner when would he be available to start if appointed. Carsner said that he could start as early as Thursday, January 14th, but he would need to arrange some part-time work to conclude his job at ACT. He could be available full time certainly within two weeks.
Kriz asked if Carsner had any question for the Committee; Carsner said he did not.
Kriz asked Carsner to make his closing statement. Carsner thanked the Committee for the opportunity. He said the committee know him and can depend on him. He said he would do his homework and take the job seriously, and he has proven his commitment to the county by his candidacy and involvement in the issues. He said he will keep advocating for what he believes in, and would continue to work to convert his principles into policy.
Recessed at 11:50 a.m.; reconvened at 4:07 p.m.