"Where Olmsted County News Comes First"

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How will you keep your kids busy this summer vacation?

 Swimming lessons

 Park & Rec activities

 Summer camp

 Daycare


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Jim Bier (incumbent): I am seeking reelection as your commissioner because I have done a good job in managing the county for the past 10 years.  I believe that I have been vigilant in balancing the public needs with limiting the growth of government and property taxes.  I am a strong proponent of good infrastructure (roads and bridges), as well as public safety.  I believe in building and maintaining strong urban and rural relationships.

Jim Bier Bio: Current Commissioner, Farmer in Kalmar Township. Resident of Olmsted County since 1979. Graduated from UW Madison with BS in Plant Pathology. Married, wife Rita, three children two in college, one in high school. Community Activities include: Past Board member Channel One, Past member Greater Rochester Rotary (formerly Rotary II), Member Holy Spirit Church, Member Knights of Columbus, Past President Rochester Youth Hockey, HS Softball Coach, Member RAEDI, Board Member Historical Society.

Gil Sirek: I feel that governments at all levels need to get back to what they were originally set in place to do and cut out the extra spending which leads to ever higher spending. The county government needs to be financially responsible by only spending money that is has and quit using the tax payers as a credit card.

How do you feel the county board has done in setting property taxes? What can be done to keep them at a reasonable level?

Bier: I believe that we as a county board have done an excellent job in keeping property taxes in check.  Our levy was 0 percent increase last year. This year we have set a preliminary levy at 2.75 percent which I believe can be reduced to about a 1 percent increase by the time we set the final levy in December.

Sirek: The tax levy has been tentatively set at 2.5 percent increase, this means most taxes will go up some more or less depending on your property evaluation. In order to maintain my “Don’t spend money we don’t have policy,” the levy would have to be finalized in December at zero percent. However, some taxes may go up again depending on individual properties, city tax influence and school district changes.

What opportunities for working with different levels of government do you see for the county?

Bier: We can con continue to look for more opportunities to work with other levels of government.  Some examples are:  Planning and zoning, police and fire dispatch, emergency services, and public works.

Sirek: We should work more closely with state government because that’s where all the laws which mandate our spending money come from. For example, if the state offers us a grant to help fund a program they only give us a small portion of the total cost, but they write all the rules and regulations that make the program expensive for the county. They basically give us money for a Ford but expect us to furnish a Lexus. Plus, there is no end to the program for operating expenses. This is what has to be looked at if we spend money for any new program. I would expect progress reports at least annually and look closely at State grants for unfunded mandates.

Working with the State sometimes is best done on a one on one basis and leave your one sided Democrat or Republican attitude at home. I will always be open for dialogue as long as we can stay open-minded.

What can the county do to serve a growing population? What revenue sources would you prefer to meet increasing service needs?

Bier: We have been serving our growing population base well.  I feel that as we grow the county, most, if not all of our revenue can be gained from the increased tax base from that growth.

Sirek: Along with increasing service needs there is also a growing property population. So it only makes sense to balance income with expense. Again, let’s not spend money we don’t have. Sometimes, the fix to a problem is deeper than giving someone a handout. Maybe we should train and encourage folks to work for everything they need. Trust me earning a living is very rewarding.

What can be done to address unmanageable court caseloads? Would you support the creation of a drug court?

Bier: Our input from the county level is limited, as the state now funds the courts and the counties only provide the space for the courts.  That being said, I believe our current County Attorney has mad tremendous strides in working with the courts.  There are still more ideas to try and I will work with the County Attorney to continue to explore these ideas.  Drug court is an interesting idea, and I support it.

Sirek: Drugs courts have worked in some cases. I believe that everyone, by committing a crime has earned either a shot a rehabilitation or incarceration. If we do a drug court we should follow it closely for effectiveness and if it doesn’t work for the county’s type of drug problem I say “cut bait” and judge and prosecute the old fashioned way of a fine and incarceration.

What do you feel the county could do to help ensure that Lake Shady becomes a valuable community resource?

Bier: The County has secured a grant to provide a master plan for Lake Shady.  We are working with the DNR and other agencies to secure funding to help realize that plan.

Sirek:  At present Lake Shady is going through a very expensive legal process to get land deeds and titles all cleared. Then we need to do cost analysis to go back to a lake or stay a dried up river bottom. I would like to see the lake return but I always ask the hard question- Show me the money!

What is your feeling about the county getting involved in housing projects for at-risk populations, such as Silver Creek Corner or a proposed housing project for homeless families?

Bier: I will need to see the business case for such a facility before I would vote for it.  As a county, we already have many unmet needs, and so I would need to be convinced that this facility would not add to the property tax burden.

Sirek: I was never in favor of Silver Creek Corner, because this is one of these slightly funded grants from the state with the county being saddled with the rest of the costs. Also living with the state’s unfunded mandates I believe that if by some chance we get into the public housing business there should be strict rules for living there, like cleaning, maintenance, yard work, etc. Silver Creek Corner is like a hotel where room and board are fully provided. I believe the occupants should keep up with their own cleaning, maintenance, yard work, etc. to live there.