Holmen’s Chapman faces first challenge in president post : Courierlifenews.com

Holmen Village President John Chapman is facing his first electoral challenge since he was first elected to the job, with Trustee Nancy Proctor running against him.

In an effort to help voters get to know the candidates in contested races better, we sent them questionnaires on their background and views on issues the board will deal with. Here are their responses.

Why do you want to serve on the Holmen Village Board?

CHAPMAN: I want to continue to serve as village president to continue to keep our flourishing community headed on the right course. We have recently established a tax-increment financing District on the northern boundaries of the village, which encompasses approximately 900 acres, of which a major portion has been designated for commercial use. I have both the technical background and experience to make sure Holmen is developed properly and to its full potential. My experience includes three years on the executive board of Wisconsin League of Municipalities, six years as chairman of the La Crosse Area Planning Committee and I have been a member of the board of directors for the La Crosse Area Development Corporation.

PROCTOR: I feel that I have done my homework and have a lot of qualities to offer to our village to help in the future growth and expansion of our municipality.

What personal qualities and experiences make you the best qualified candidate for the job?

CHAPMAN: In my opinion, being an effective leader is the most important role the village president can play in the operation of the village. I have directed the operation of this village through an unprecedented era of internal growth and expansion of our boundaries. My decisions will always be based on what I think is in the best interest of the village.

PROCTOR: With a wealth of experience through leadership in many businesses, both large and small, and fraternal groups, it gives you a great amount of organizational background to fall back on and experiences that I have gained from. I truly believe that an expanded background is most beneficial in dealing with the diversity of problems that occur, and if you are not open and giving to all segments of our populace, you shouldn’t be in a position of servant leadership.

Do you think meetings of the Holmen Village Board and its committees should have a section of the meeting during which members of the public can raise concerns not on the agenda? Why or why not?

CHAPMAN: The procedure adopted by the board several years ago permits anyone to speak at a committee meeting if they are on the agenda. To get on the agenda an individual calls or comes to the office and defines their concern. This enables the committee members to become acquainted with the issue and to be able to respond properly to the concern. I serve as the chairman of the La Crosse Area Planning Commission, the policy adopted there is to allow anyone from the audience to speak for five minutes on an agenda item. I think each municipality handles citizens concerns differently and I would be receptive to making revisions of the current board policy.

PROCTOR: I feel that the committees definitely should have a few minutes in their meetings for the public to address their concerns. We have seen many instances of concern that have gone unaddressed and have caused problems that could have been alleviated at the beginning.

If an item is not on our agenda for a meeting, we can address it, but not take action on it until it becomes an agenda item. In other words, they can bring their concern to us, and we can listen but not take action, until it became an agenda item at the next regularly scheduled meeting of that committee.

This is how our committee structure works. An item has to come before a committee before it can be presented and recommended to the full board for action.

The structure of our board meetings does not allow for the public to bring concerns to us, unless the item is already on our agenda, and a public hearing is scheduled to address that item.

We are bound by law to conform to and follow Roberts Rule; that information is readily available to anyone either at the public library or on the Internet.

What are the three most important issues facing the Holmen Village Board and what would your approach to dealing with those issues be?

CHAPMAN: Here are the three most important issues facing the Holmen Village Board:

Property Taxes: We need to continue to hold the line on property tax increases during this time of economic uncertainty. Our mill rate has remained essentially the same for the past six years and my goal will be to stay the course on taxes. I am sure our residents are experiencing the same economic hardships as is the rest of our country.

Growth: The village of Holmen is one of the fastest growing communities in the state of Wisconsin and the challenge is to make sure our infrastructure is in place to accommodate all the new development. We recently constructed a new water reservoir, which in conjunction with the other two will provide an adequate supply of water to our residents for many years to come. Plans are also in the works for the expansion of our wastewater treatment plant.

Maintaining good relationships with our surrounding municipalities: We share equipment with the town of Onalaska, provide engineering services to the town of Holland and are part of the Joint Municipal Court System in the city of Onalaska. Our Holmen Area Fire Department, consisting of the towns of Onalaska and Holland and the village of Holmen, is another great example of how governmental bodies can work together. I will always be receptive to new ways to collaborate with our neighbors.

PROCTOR: Here are the three most important issues facing the Holmen Village Board:

1. I would like to see part-time, regular office hours for the village president, with an open-door policy to both local businesses and residents. If we are not open to listening, how do we accomplish change and growth? Along with this, I would like to address the current list of conditional-use permits.

2. Restructure the village committees to add “OPEN TIME” to our meeting agendas to address concerns. If a business or resident wants to be included on the agenda they have to contact the village administrator to be put on the agenda for the next regularly scheduled meeting. An alternative is to come in to speak to the village president and have them present your item to the administrator on your behalf.

3. The new TIF district: encourage our Economic Development Committee to continue to seek help and advice from the La Crosse County development resources that are available to us. I believe that the newly published economic development newsletter is a wonderful tool to inform village residents of just what the TIF district is, and what it can do for us down the road. Our rejoining LADCO this past year can also be tracked back to the work of this committee, it can only help us in the future.

THE CANDIDATES AT A GLANCE

John Chapman

AGE: 72

FAMILY: Wife, Margaret; children, John, Kenneth and Margie

EDUCATION: Baraboo High School; Lawrence University; Marquette University

PROFESSION: Project design and construction supervisor, Wisconsin Department of Transportation, 1958-95, retired; True North Engineering 1995-98, retired

PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICES: Holmen trustee, 1973-97; Holmen village president, 1997 to present

Nancy Proctor

AGE: 69

FAMILY: Husband, Ken; children, Keith (deceased), Angela, Natalie; stepsons, Rick, Randy (deceased) and Kirby

EDUCATION: La Crosse Logan High School; attended Coleman Vocational (now Western Technical College)

PROFESSION: Employed by Festival Foods, Holmen; former owner of Banquets on the Square (10 years) and the Village Café (3-1/2 years), both in the Holmen Square Mall; former office manager for La Crosse Concrete, Western Wisconsin Ready-Mix, and Croell Redi Mix; former owner of Ace Garage Door in La Crosse

PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICES: Holmen Village Board member for the past nine years

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THE CANDIDATES AT A GLANCE

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