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District 1
Age: 71 Occupation:Retired (2007) Teacher (30 years); Retired (2012) Military Reserve (WA ANG, E8, 26 years); Retired financial services (2007—2013) Sixteen years in tax-free retirement income planning including financial radio show host, teaching community college extension classes on retirement planning; published author “Building a Solid Foundation for True-Wealth”/ “Eight Perspectives on Prosperity Economics” / and “Retire Like a Shark” co-authored with Kevin Harrington (the original Shark on ABC’s popular Shark Tank show).
Currently an investor and Office Manager for Stone Soup Property Management and Project Coordinator for Budget Storage Solutions 1 LLC Town of residence: Newport (a mile east of Diamond Lake) Question: As various forms of federal aid expire and costs rise, the county is facing a struggle to balance the budget. Should the county consider some form of tax increase to have enough revenue? Increase fees for county services? How would you prioritize cuts to county services if there isn’t enough revenue to continue services at current levels?
Answer: The primary job of the commissioner’s board is budget management. We should run POC as a profitable business with a family budget model. Putting money in a reserve of 20%+ represents “Profit” for POC.
The board works like the Chief Executive roles found in private corporations (financial, operations, communications, marketing). Elected department heads will have stronger leadership roles and greater responsibilities with access to specialized tools and training (e.g. The One Minute Manager). Each board member will be assigned to liaison with a specific department(s) to fully understand opportunities and challenges and make planning recommendations to the board.
Property taxes must be fair for all with no favoritism. The state allows assessed values to be no more than 100% of Market Values (MV). Our tax assessed values should be set at 70% to 80% of MV. Assessors should have Licensed Appraiser training and access to LandGlide software to assist them in contacting all tax payers in POC.
Raising property taxes is not the answer to growing our county’s tax revenues. We will freeze taxable home values for seniors at full retirement age.
Our building & planning depart (“community development”) will encourage “city like” housing communities in the county relatively near our hospital(s). We can market POC to retirees moving from other areas. They have money to buy or build a home and can maintain their lifestyle without the need of a job. More construction jobs and a growing tax base will result.
We have already contacted a company interested in starting a building panel construction business in POC. The factory will employ 100+ workers and provide living wage jobs plus new residents in POC. The panels exceed local building code and are built to allow various home configurations. Panels can be craned and fitted together (onto a concrete slab) in less than two days.
Question: Like many employers, the county is having a difficult time attracting and retaining staff. What can be done to make sure the county has enough workers to do county business? Pay more? Allow work from home? Something else?
Answer: Hourly employees stay for better benefits over higher wages. Four day weeks (M— Th or Tu—F or W—Sat) will increase goodwill while increasing accessibility of county services on most Saturdays. Increased benefits can include group membership in a fitness gym (e.g.
Club Energy or Camas Center), enhanced tax-free retirement planning, and discounted affinity group family membership in Life Flight insurance.
County employees will greet each POC resident with a smile and a helpful attitude. We will teach retired residents how to benefit from current laws to lower their taxes. The planning department will help home builders through the complicated application process. In short, county employees will be servants of the people.
Question: After funding law enforcement, some would say maintaining county roads is the next top priority for county funding. Do you agree that is the case and if so, is road maintenance adequately funded now?
Or is road funding one of many things the county has to fund with the money it has? If there aren’t enough funds for main-
SEE MINNICH, 8A taining roads, what should be done?
Answer: I am personal friends with both Kevin Young and Brian Smiley. We are Christian brothers. I would have no problem serving with either man. However, Kevin Young has spent a lifetime building roads. He retired as the Newport WA DOT shop foreman. Each year, over $10 million is spent on roads in POC. Kevin will help us find money-saving efficiencies (e.g. materials purchase, construction techniques, and uniquely designed equipment) for road construction, maintenance, and snow removal.
These efficiencies plus an increased tax base will enable us to provide excellent roads without killing the budget.
You’ve also wanted to hear our answer to: How do you plan to get POC out of the GMA?
Our new Commissioners Board will seek advice from Brian Dansel. A former Ferry County Commissioner (2010-14), Dansel also served as WA State Senator from the 7th Legislative District. He was successful in passing a bill allowing smaller counties to opt out of the Growth Management Act. We still have a legal backdoor to exit the GMA.
Local environmentalists will take comfort knowing we all want clean water, clean air, and we all want to conserve our natural resources, plants, wildlife, and waterways. We simply want to do this important work at our local level without outside governmental interference. Our comprehensive county zoning plan will provide for affordable housing zones near Diamond Lake with “city like” neighborhoods rather than urban sprawl.
