Editor’s Note — This story is part of a continuing series featuring candidates for Northfield City Council.
NORTHFIELD — In 2006, when Don McGee first stood before the city council, he wanted one thing: help with problem renters living near his third ward home.
Now, McGee, 70, wants to offer that assistance. Earlier this month, he announced his candidacy for the Third Ward council seat.
While sitting at council meetings awaiting changes to the city’s rental ordinance, McGee learned about other issues facing the city. And, said the retired engineer, he realized he’s got the skills to help tackle them.
Don McGee
Age— 70
Family — Wife, Lee; four adult children: Mike, Kathy and Tom McGee and Mary Albers; four grandchildren: Joseph, Amber, Ed and Sam McGee
Education —bachelor’s degree in aero engineering, University of Minnesota
Occupation — retired owner of a engineering design and manufacturing company
We need help from you, our readers. We want to know what’s important to you and what questions you think we should ask of the candidates. Submit ideas to Managing Editor Jaci Smith at jsmith@northfieldnews.com.
Engineers, McGee said, are trained not only to solve problems, but to first identify them. By following that pattern, it’s easier to form a plan of action. Too often, he said, the council isn’t clear on what the problems are.
If elected, the Stillwater native who came to town in 1962 said he wants city staff to focus on a three-year budget forecast given concerns about legislated budget caps. It’s important to know the city will have enough to maintain its current level of service and necessary projects, he said. Only if that can be guaranteed, he said, should the council approve new projects or spend money to extend infrastructure to the soon-to-be-annexed land on the city’s northwest side.
McGee, a big supporter of the city’s downtown, said it’s important the city ensure that district’s health. Downtown, he said, is what makes Northfield unique; what will attract visitors, new residents and business people.
He wants to stop using consultants and instead use city staff and volunteer boards more efficiently. “We have a fantastic pool of expertise and energy in Northfield,” he said, noting that council’s adversarial relationship with staff and board members isn’t in the city’s best interest. A change of attitude is needed, he said, one where “everybody is trusted as a professional.”
McGee’s been outspoken about pedestrian safety, especially on Hwy. 3. He’s an ardent supporter of the city’s library and its expansion, but hopes private funds could help pay for the $8 million project. Ensuring the city helps fund the skatepark it approved this spring is also a priority for McGee.
He’s pleased the community’s finally acknowledged the severity of its drug problem and wants the council to go on record supporting the Mayor’s Task Force on Youth, Alcohol and Drug Abuse and ensure police and the task force have the resources to combat the problem.
— Suzanne Rook can be reached at srook@northfieldnews.com or 645-1113.
Registered members who identify themselves by name are authorized to automatically post comments to stories. Readers who wish to remain anonymous submit comments to a pending queue, where they will be reviewed for approval within 24 hours of their submission. To determine the author of a comment, click on the user name. Those who identify themselves will be given broader boundaries to express their opinion. Only those anonymous comments that contribute to the conversation in a thoughtful, respectful, civil manner will be approved. The decision to approve or reject a comment is a subjective one and is ours alone. Authors of rejected comments will receive an email response.
Email
Print
Digg
Del.icio.us
Facebook
MySpace
StumbleUpon
Google
Yahoo!
