"Where Olmsted County News Comes First"

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Do you think the use of all fireworks should be legal in the state of Minnesota for all consumers?

 Yes, everyone should be able to use them

 No, only those with permits to do so


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Mark Bilderback (Incumbent)- Married with one son. Employed at the Mayo Clinic since 1981, currently a member of the emergency management team. 1976 Graduate of Mayo High School, 1979 Graduated from Rochester Community College with an A.A. in  Law Enforcement/Corrections, 2007 Graduated with B.A. from Winona State University in Professional Studies, 2010 Graduated with M.S. in Management from Cardinal Stritch University. Community activities include: Member Rochester Amateur Sports Commission, Police Athletic League (PAL), Member Slatterly Park Neighborhood Association, Energy Commission, RNeighbors, IHN (Interfaith Hospitality Network), Olmsted County /Rochester Emergency Management Committee. Olmsted County Vintage Base Ball Roosters.

I have been very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to serve as an elected official. In the past four years we have accomplished many things. My focus was on neighborhoods, this meant developing a sense of community as well as making all neighborhoods safe and inviting. We have made some progress but we still have more to accomplish.  I also want to control the cities sprawl, it needs to be controlled if not it leads to larger expense putting additional stresses on our budget.

Gary Melin- United Trailers dealer for 20 years. Community involvement includes Rochester Area Builders Association, Rochester Chamber of Commerce, Olmsted County Credit Bureau, Rochester Human Rights Commission, Rochester Rotary Club, Rochester-Olmsted Transportation Planning Committee, past board chairman of Network for Re-Entry, volunteer at Next Chapter Ministries, former trustee and building committee member at First Baptist Church.

I am semi-retired and have time to give back to a community that has supported my family for almost fifty years. I can be engaged in what’s happening and work for the city of Rochester. I understand the need for cooperation between the state, the city, and the county. Our focus should be on the safety of the community and providing opportunities for the growth of the community. We’re a healthy city, one that has its finances in order, its budget set in place and adhered to. We need to get citizen input before we move forward, and business needs a seat at the table. We need to reduce burdensome regulation.

How do you plan to stay connected with constituents?

Bilderback- I do try to walk but the wards are large and difficult to get everywhere. I do make my cell phone available for people to call. I am out at many events. Neighborhood meetings, committee meetings, and I do come to places I get invited to.

Melin- Neighborhood association and personal involvement. The senior center and downtown.

As Rochester grows, what does the city need to do to ensure it remains a great place to live and visit?

Bilderback- Developing community and strong neighborhoods are a key to the success of Rochester. Stronger and more effective enforced ordinances against poor landlords.

Melin- A healthy city is one with finances, spending, and budget under control, care planned for its infrastructure, citizen input before moving forward with projects, and with business having a seat at the planning table.

How can Rochester provide services for a growing population while keeping taxes at a reasonable level?

Bilderback- Controled sprawl, this is a concern because as the city stretches out cost of infrastructure goes up. Most expand areas do not cover the cost of placing in infrastructure so we need to make sure it is controlled.

Melin- A healthy city encourages private sector employment, reduces burdensome regulations, and encourages cooperation with county growth. A healthy city monitors trends of growth, plans for growth, and encourages growth. We should ask who owned or ran a business, collected and remitted sales tax, managed business loans, dealt with regulations, operated within a budget, listens to wise counsel, and is involved in our community.

What opportunities does the city have to work with different levels of government?

Bilderback- The city has a wide range that are open to work with, Olmsted County combining serves or finding working agreements, State working to help find and develop programming as Rochester grows the state will receive more money from Rochester. Federal government I sit on the National League of Cities Policy committee of Public Safety and Crime Prevention, this group has a lobbyist that works to make and reform federal law and also bring attention to issues that may not be recognized as important. An example of this is for the last two years trafficking of humans has been a major push as well as pill farms.

Melin- Capitol days. Knowing who county, state, and other cities elected officials are.

How can neighborhood groups participate most effectively within the city?

Bilderback- Having neighborhood associations, it is important to understand that neighborhood groups do many great things from social events to neighborhood improvements. These are important if the neighborhood is out and about they will notice problem places. They can be reported to the proper groups and hopeful fixed.

Melin- Show up at their meetings and city council meetings, come to know who we are as a community.

What public safety concerns will need to be addressed?

Bilderback- Public Safety is a nonstop revolving door. In Rochester the Police department now has a computer to help bring multiply applications together to better identify crime patterns. We have seen the Police Department restructure within the last two years and we now have the Community Action Team, Street Crimes Unit. These groups target crime areas.

We also have the emergency Services which is focused on developing mitigation methods, preparedness, response programs for the city as well as starting programs or restating programs for citizen preparedness.

Melin- Emergency management center.

How would you weigh input from citizen groups and business interests when they contrast?

Bilderback- I have always been a neighborhood supporter, that is number one. One of the issues that cross is when large complexes wish to move in to neighborhoods.  I have and will continue to fight for the neighborhoods. There has not been a land use plan done in Rochester since 1979; yes, there has been a Downtown Master Plan but not a city wide plan.

Melin- Who generates payroll dollars, who pays taxes? All should have a seat at the planning table, not just after, but before and driving planning. Be available to our elected and hold them accountable and come to know who they are. Thank them for what they are doing and the time spent. We ought to be comfortable and involved all the time!