All nine candidates for the Yucca Valley Town Council took part in a forum last night, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. During the two-hour event, the candidates were asked a variety of questions, such as how they would they would promote the town to businesses; what experience they had in business; what the primary role of a council member is; their views on medical marijuana dispensaries in the town, and on development impact fees; whether they felt the wastewater treatment project was the town’s number one priority, and whether the town should contribute to the sewer project; whether they would support a half-percent sales tax for infrastructure; how much time they could take away from their full-time jobs to devote to council business, and how important it is for council members to work together. Managing editor Tami Roleff was at the forum, and will touch on some of the answers of three candidates in each of the following stories in a three-part report. For more in-depth answers, see this story at Z1077fm.com. For part one of three, here’s Tami Roleff…
Dean Watson said Yucca Valley needs to enhance Grubstakes Day, so that it’s bigger and more like Old Miners Day in Big Bear. Yucca Valley needs its own hospital, he stressed last night, so that residents don’t need to go to Palm Springs for medical care. Watson believes the town should have its own police and fire departments, instead of contracting with the county. He also said that council members should turn down the insurance and retirement benefits that come with being a council member. Watson believes using medical marijuana is no one’s business but the user. He said if residents continue to put toxic water into the ground (instead of having a sewer system), there soon won’t be a town. He would supports a half-percent sales tax if it’s for a specific purpose or a particular project. Watson supports development impact fees for all businesses, regardless of size.
Yucca Valley is totally dependent on tourism, Jeff Drozd said, and unlike many who criticized the new medians on the highway, he thought they increased traffic safety and that the improvements would bring people to Yucca Valley. As a cancer survivor, Drozd generally supports medical marijuana, and mentioned that services will deliver it to your door. The sewer is the town’s number one issue, he asserts. He added the time has passed for alternatives to the wastewater project. The town tried to help its residents with the cost of the sewer project, but Measure U failed; he feels bad for the residents who will have to pay exorbitant fees. Drozd added that he would support a half-percent sales tax for infrastructure, and that sales tax measures do help. He is in favor of development impact fees for all businesses, regardless of size. Drozd said that compromise has gotten a bad rap, and stressed that the loudest residents don’t necessarily represent the majority of residents.
Charles McHenry said the town should approach businesses to bring them to this area. He said he would have to make sure that any medical marijuana dispensaries that might open in the town limits were in the proper location. McHenry said the town has to work with the water district to get the sewer project done and heeds to find ways to make it easier to lower the cost. He was in favor of a half-percent sales tax for infrastructure if it were earmarked as such, and said the tax must have a time limit on the tax. Like all the other candidates, McHenry said new developments should pay development impact fees to cover the cost of their impact on the town.
YUCCA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL CANDIDATES, PART 1 OF 3
