Voters across Columbus may choose from four candidates to fill two Columbus City Council at-large seats in the Nov. 5 general election.
The at-large seats are currently held by Republican incumbent Laurie Booher, owner of Popportunity, and Democratic incumbent Tom Dell, co-owner of Dell Brothers. Both are finishing their first terms.
The two are being challenged by political newcomers, Republican Josh Burnett, communications coordinator for Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp., and Democrat Grace Kestler, founder of Grace Kestler Consulting and a community outreach coordinator for Advocates for Children — CASA.
Riverfront project
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The city of Columbus is preparing to submit its application to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for a proposed $8.6 million riverfront redevelopment between the Robert N. Stewart Bridge and the Third Street bridge near downtown Columbus.
The project calls for the removal of a low-head dam, downtown overlooks of the East Fork White River, connections to the People Trail system and an in-water recreation area.
Removal of the low-head dam between Second and Third streets is of upmost priority for the city, DNR and all four at-large candidates.
“From a safety standpoint, it’s imperative we remove that,” Dell said. “It’s a drowning agent, and we’ve lost some people because of that dam.”
The low-head dam was originally installed a century ago to pool water for the city’s water supply near the former city pump house, now renovated into the Upland Columbus Pump House brewpub.
If the lowhead dam isn’t removed and erosion continues to occur along the banks of the river at its current rate, the structures around the river will be in jeopardy, Kestler said.
“There’s quite a bit of erosion beginning to happen on the sides of the river, and obviously that can be a structural issue,” Kestler said. “Considering we have two large bridges that utilize the riverbanks, we want to make sure that it can support the structural side of the river.”
Booher, who currently serves as the City Council liaison to the Columbus Redevelopment Commission, said she has always been a big proponent of redevelopment and growing the community. What she is not totally in favor of is the proposed in-water recreation.
While she’s aware people already get in the water to boat, swim, fish and kayak, Booher said she’s not convinced yet of drawing people into the water.
“There’s contamination issues. Still, when you do a low-head dam, you’re still going to have a current, you’re still going to have issues with drowning,” Booher said. “For me, I just think drawing people into that is not something that I am in great support of right now. It doesn’t mean I wouldn’t change my mind later if I felt that things were really completely safe.”
To change her mind, Booher said the water would have to be ranked clear and “pretty much” contaminant-free and safe with the small currents in place.
Burnett said he is in full support of the redevelopment’s safety aspects and the People Trail connection, especially if the city continues to use that area as a front door to Columbus.
To make the riverfront redevelopment as successful as it can be, Burnett said the city must get more private investments and enhance its efforts to attract people of all ages to the community.
“These projects’ best benefits come from having more people that can be benefited from it,” Burnett said. “That’s necessary for it to fit the Columbus way.”
Government transparency
Burnett, Dell and Kestler have taken their campaigns to social media, specifically using Facebook.
Before each scheduled City Council meeting, Burnett creates a two-minute video briefing viewers on what’s coming up at the next council meeting. Shortly after the council meetings, he also shares a 60-second wrap-up video to tell people what happened at the meeting, including decisions and what was discussed.
“As a city councilman at-large, there’s a commitment I’ve made that I’ll do whatever it takes to bring government to the people,” Burnett said. “It takes a team of newspapers, radio and elected leaders to make sure citizens are on the same page.”
“Positive progress together” is Burnett’s slogan, he said. Through the use of his media and technology skills, Burnett said he’s able to talk about the positive things the city is doing through videos, blog posts and podcasts.
Kestler is also using social media to spread word about her campaign. On Wednesday, the candidate shared a giveaway with her Facebook followers asking them to like the post, tag two friends in Columbus who {span class=”text_exposed_show”}should vote and share the post for a chance to win one of two “Grace Kestler for City Council” hats.{/span}
{span class=”text_exposed_show”}She said she would like to see the city become more active in some modern communication such as social media, using platforms like Facebook to promote and advertise public meetings and events.{/span}
{span class=”text_exposed_show”}”We need to be a little more creative on how we can reach people,” Kestler said. “As public officials, it’s our duty to make sure the community is well-informed.”{/span}
{span class=”text_exposed_show”}Dell also has a Facebook page dedicated to his campaign, posting about various events he attends.{/span}
{span class=”text_exposed_show”}Government transparency goes a step further, however, into how business is being conducted.{/span}
{span class=”text_exposed_show”}Currently, city council members do, at times, meet with Mayor Jim Lienhoop and other city officials and department heads either individually or in groups of two to discuss proposed projects, ordinances and other city business.{/span}
{span class=”text_exposed_show”}Booher said she has called several meetings with Lienhoop and other city officials for her own clarification — “simply to answer my questions,” she said.{/span}
{span class=”text_exposed_show”}”I think you have to understand there’s no way to make everybody happy and you have to be OK with that, and that’s not always a great feeling,” Booher said.{/span}
{span class=”text_exposed_show”}She said that never in her meetings with the mayor has anything been decided. It’s simply been a way to answer her questions, she said.{/span}
{span class=”text_exposed_show”}”I have felt like there’s sometimes in some of the meetings that we’re a little rushed through there and we may not get the amount of discussion time that we would like. It’s not anybody’s fault, it’s just the nature of the beast.”{/span}
{span class=”text_exposed_show”}Dell said he thinks elected officials should be “totally transparent” as best as they possibly can in almost all situations. He did admit that the city could do a better job making sure the public knows their input is wanted.{/span}
{span class=”text_exposed_show”}”So we need to make sure we have the community involved in all aspects of planning and discussing and making sure those always stay transparent,” Dell said. “Their opinions matter and we need to make sure they’re all included.”{/span}
{span class=”text_exposed_show”}Maybe, Dell said, it’s time to reevaluate how work sessions between the mayor and City Council members are held or whether the public should be involved from the beginning.{/span}
{span class=”text_exposed_show”}He said almost all of the decisions are always being made in a public forum, open and transparent.{/span}
{span class=”text_exposed_show”}”We don’t make any decisions,” Dell said. “We have discussions, but nobody has made a decision in any of those sessions that we have now that are work-related that aren’t brought before the public.”{/span}
Infrastructure
Road improvements and infrastructure are a priority of every council and administration, Dell said, and he doesn’t believe it’s any different now than it has ever been.
Dell said Dave Hayward, executive director of public works/city engineer, the city engineer, has done a “remarkably good job” of seeing out a priority based on how busy a road is, what shape it’s in and how it can be repaired in a systematic way through the years to ensure the necessary projects are being completed.
Burnett said he would work with both Hayward and Bryan Burton, director of the department of public works, to understand their philosophies and how they prioritize projects, then see where he can be of help to them.
He also commended Hayward and Burton for their efforts to find grant opportunities and additional funding for projects.
“I’m one who really wants to understand what the current plan is, and then how we can continue to improve that and address citizens’ needs in a timely and cost-effective way,” Burnett said.
Currently in Columbus, residential sidewalks and curbs are the responsibility of the homeowners, meaning if a sidewalk or curb needs repaired or reconstructed, it’s up to the homeowner to pay and have the repairs done.
The city does offer a Shared Cost Sidewalk and Curb Program, designed to encourage the reconstruction of residential sidewalks and curbs. The city of Columbus will pay $4 per square-foot of sidewalk and $25 per linear foot of curb, so long as the applicant pays the rest. The program is conducted on an application basis.
If elected to a second term, Booher said she wants to work with city officials to start a sidewalk project to build up the city’s funding to pay for sidewalk and curb repairs so there’s less cost to the homeowner.
When the application pool is filled and the allocated funds run out for the year, Booher said it’s all up to the homeowner to fix.
“Columbus is obviously growing, which is fantastic,” Booher said. “We’re getting more and more industries, we need more housing, but the infrastructure has to be in a really good place and well-structured in order to handle that type of growth. Otherwise, you’re just trying to play catch-up.”
Kestler agreed, adding that sidewalks and roads are an integral part in connecting people.
“There are a lot of individuals who use these sidewalks, whether it’s for accessibility or walking downtown, for safety,” Kestler said. “I think many of the sidewalks need to be repaired, and I think the city needs to step up and create a process for that, rather than give that responsibility completely to the homeowner.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”About Laurie Booher” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Age: 55
Education: Master of arts from the University of Indianapolis
Occupation: Business owner, Popportunity
Previous elected offices held (and when): Columbus City Council At-Large member (2015-2019); Columbus Redevelopment Commission
Community involvement: Columbus Service League; St. Peter’s School Board; Turning Point Domestic Violence Services board; Freedom Field All-Inclusive Playground, co-chair; Flood Angels; Riley Foundation Board; Columbus Redevelopment Commission, council liaison
Family: Two sons and a daughter
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Age: 31
Education: Bachelor of science in biblical studies, Cincinnati Christian University – 2011
Occupation: Communications coordinator, Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp.
Previous elected offices held (and when): None
Community involvement: Columbus Young Professionals; Bartholomew Consolidated School Foundation; Columbus Rotary Club; First Christian Church; Leadership Bartholomew County; Columbus Public Safety Academy; Parks and Recreation baseball coach; Residents Encounter Christ; Visitors Information and Promotion Commission; Visitors Center Grants Committee
Family: Wife, Katie; two sons and one daughter
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Age: 65
Education: Bachelor of arts in business and marketing, Ball State University – 1976
Occupation: Co-owner of Dell Brothers
Previous elected offices held (and when): Columbus City Council At-Large member (2015-2019)
Community affiliations: Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce; Garland Brook Cemetery, president; Animal Care Commission, council liaison; Board of Zoning Appeals, council liaison; Police Review Committee
Family: Wife, Kathy; one son
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Age: 30
Education: DePauw University – Communications and Anthropology; Alice Salomon University of Berlin – Master’s degree in culture and conflict studies
Occupation: Founder, Grace Kestler Consulting; Community outreach coordinator, Advocates for Children – CASA
Previous elected offices held (and when): None
Community organizations: BCSC Transition Council; United Way Board Governance committee; United Way Volunteer Action Center Committee; Inspire Columbus Team; BCSC Continuous Improvement Committee; CAMPO – Citizens Advisory Committee; Exhibit Columbus design review team; Brighter Days/Love Chapel Volunteer; Magazine Club; Columbus Young Professionals
Family: Parents, John and Elizabeth Kestler; One brother, one sister and one brother-in-law
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Voters are being reminded by Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps that if they vote a straight-party ticket, the at-large candidates in your party won’t get your vote.
“Voters must manually go down the ballot and make their choices on the at-large seats,” said Phelps, who emphasized the requirement is part of a four-year-old state law.
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