By Mindy Regan Wood
Staff Writer
Mayor Mike Mendel hopes to keep the momentum of progress moving forward if he is reelected to Ward 1 on April 2.
At a time when his opponent and candidates from Ward 3 say voters want change, Mendel said he hears a different story.
“A lot of it is just maintain what we have,” Mendel said. “Protecting infrastructure, we’re constantly working on drainage issues, the streets, the parks we’ve added equipment to in the past. We redid the tennis courts. People want walking trails. Those are the main things to make the community more enjoyable and presentable.”
Mendel has served on the town board for 20 years, and more recently during a time of improvements to streets and water. The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAPS) grant will soon be going out to bid in May to pay for massive improvements to sidewalks, lighting and roadwork on Oklahoma Ave.
“When it first started it was estimated to be a $1 million project and it’s bloomed to $1.5 million. We’re paying right at $152,000 which works out to about 10 percent. That’s getting a lot of bang for your buck,” he said.
Town board candidates say voters want more than infrastructure improvements. Voters have decried the lack of a town website and other technology amenities such as online utility payments and the use of social media. Voters believe the way to get what they want is to vote in new faces.
The possibility that two of three board members could be new to municipal government wasn’t lost on Mendel.
“We could have two new board members, a new town clerk and an existing board member with two years’ experience,” Mendel pointed out. “Sometimes change is good and sometimes change is bad. That’s an overhaul.”
Rumors have circulated since before the election that a new town board could bring an end to the town administrator position. Mendel was skeptical of the idea.
“A town without an administrator is like a school without a superintendent,” he said.
“Everybody has got to do their jobs but the superintendent, you still need someone to oversee and make sure it’s getting done right. Since we hired a town administrator, he has gotten numerous grants; just the most recent, this TAPS grant.
“He applies for REAP (Rural Economic Action Plan) grants and for the CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) grants. It’s tough to do all that when you have a part-time town board with everyone having a full-time job.”
Mendel mentioned the nitrate removal system for which Town Administrator Richard Raupe was responsible for bringing to the town board for consideration. If successful, the system will save taxpayers millions of dollars because it would eliminate the need for land purchases and further water treatment.
Looking ahead, the candidate said he plans to focus on bringing business to town.
“There seems to be a challenge with available land (for purchase),” Mendel said.
The town hired a retail attractions consultant, Ricky Hayes. “He’s had some nibbles, but we haven’t any bites yet. We’ve had some inquiries.”
Mendel brings business experience to the table. He has worked for Nortek, formerly known as Temtrol, as a purchasing agent for 31 years.
He and his wife Kim Williams Mendel are members of Holy Trinity Catholic Church and have raised two children.
