Danville Ward 7 Candidate Bob Iverson Answers Community Questionnaire

These questions were created by Danville community members during the Democracy in Danville event on March 4th at the Danville Public Library.

1. What are your short term and long term strategic plans for Danville?

My short-term priorities are:

--Re-examine unnecessary city spending on items like beautification projects and concentrate on fixing roads and keeping the public safe.

-- Have department heads come to the full city council each year and justify their entire budget so aldermen will be able to make more informed decisions. The budget should not be constructed by only the mayor. The  council should be active in developing the budget from day one, since they are representing the citizens of the city.

--Hire more police officers, but also develop more programs to get the police and the community to work together to combat drugs and violence.

--Rather than build new apartment buildings in the downtown area as proposed by the Danville Housing Authority, work with the Housing Authority to renovate abandoned houses in the city to provide affordable and attractive homes. Perhaps this could be developed through a local agency like Habitat for Humanity

Long range priorities include:

--A multi-year spending plan, not just a year to year budget. Looking forward would allow Danville to avoid the budget panic that seems to develop each year.

--Develop a plan to reduce the city’s energy cost. I worked with a University of Illinois department that helped businesses reduce their environmental impact and save money. I brought this company to the First Presbyterian Church to develop a sustainability report. By tying this to the energy improvement and environmental efforts of the church, First Presbyterian was able to win an Illinois Sustainability Award, the first church in the state to win one. The city of Danville has made some energy improvements, but I am convinced that more could be done. I will use my experience and contacts to help the city reduce energy costs and help the environment.

2. Sell someone in 3 minutes why they should live in (or come back to) Danville.

What makes Danville a great place to live in is the people who inhabit the city. They are always working on fundraising for worthy causes and helping those in need in the community. There is a community spirit about helping others that you will not find everywhere. The community leaders also work together on mutual needs, there is no concern about political parties in getting things done. In fact, the Danville City Council is non-partisan so there will never be any concern about doing something for the political party instead of the people. Danville has a good community college, proximity to several major universities, recent updates in retail shopping, a good fire department keeping the community save [sic] and keeping insurance low, quality healthcare through the OSF Medical System, and the Veteran Affairs Medical Center. For sports, there are three inexpensive public golf courses, a college level baseball team, an ice hockey team, and a variety of high schools sports. The cultural possibilities are unmatched for a community the size of Danville. There is a Symphony Orchestra, a Danville Municipal Band, The Danville Light Opera, the Red Mask Player, the Beef House theatre, and other organizations, There is a low cost of living, affordable housing, and light traffic. Danville is proud of its history and ready to meet the needs of the future. It is a good place to raise children and Grandchildren.

3. How will you regularly engage your community? How will you keep lines of communication open?

There needs to be more communication between the city and residents.

Communication has been my professional life as a newspaper and radio reporter as well as a public information officer for the local schools, local hospital, and a department at the University of Illinois. I would have quarterly meetings with the voters and a monthly radio show about city hall (including other council members). I also use social media by having a Facebook page for citizens to learn about city activities and ask questions. There also will be e-mails where citizens can contact me at home or city hall. There is no perfect way to communicate, it requires an on-going commitment to speaking out and listening to the community.

4. What personal experiences have prepared you for office?

I was in the first group of aldermen elected when Danville changed to the alderman form of government. I know how to help operate city government during a difficult time. I have been away from city hall for a number of years and offer a new voice that will look at alternative ways to fund and operate the city. As I said in the previous answer, I have the communication background to work with the public and city leaders to make government work in these difficult times. In my professional jobs, I have worked with a variety of people from local residents to international scientists at the University of Illinois. I will bring this communication skill to the city council and the public.

5. How would you help improve the relationship between the police and the community (particularly minority groups in the community)?

The police need to be in the community more to let people get to know them and learn how the police and citizens can work together. Police officers should patrol in a specific area rather than the city in general so they can build personal relationships. Patrols could include bike patrols or foot patrols instead in patrol cars. Relationship with groups like the 3 Kings of Peace and the Housing Authority must be expanded.

6. How will you create community partnerships to engage the youth?

One of the saddest aspects of the recent violence in Danville is that so much of it has been done by teenagers. The city needs to develop a task force of community leaders, school officials, health care professionals, law enforcement officials, housing authority officials, and others to consider ways to help the young people in our city. We need to find ways to show these youngsters that life can be good and something they can succeed at without violence.

7. What new ways can city resources be allocated to serve youth?

The city should develop youth summer programs in the parks. These could be partnerships with the Boys & Girls Club, Danville Housing Authority, Project Success, YMCA, and local churches. The city should have youth internships with city employees to give young people an examination of possible future jobs. The city should work with local businesses to develop more internships and apprentice programs.

8. What ideas/plans do you have to address the violence in the community?

This may be the most important issue facing the council, and the most difficult to fix. Violence and drugs are a national problem, not just a Danville problem. I agree with the budget proposal to hire 3 more officers and restore the POP program. But we also need more police involvement with city residents. Trust is a two way street that must be restored. As I stated in a previous answer, city leaders need to develop a task force with local schools, health care providers, local businesses, community leaders and social service agencies to reach young people and give them ways to succeed and alternatives to using drugs and joining gangs. We must reach these children with the good news that a crime-free life is worth living.

9. How will you use code enforcement to improve the condition and affordability of property in the community?

One of the current budget proposals is to cut one of the code enforcement officers. This is a bad idea. Danville needs to enforce codes to make housing attractive and safe for residents. Also, code enforcement officers are revenue producers, so eliminating one can cost the city money instead of saving money.

The city needs to be aggressive in enforcing codes to protect residents, beautify the community and bring in revenue from fines, etc. The city, however, also has to work with small business owners and entrepreneurs to make certain rigid code enforcement isn’t hurting business Enforcement.

10. How will you attract good jobs to the community?

A large part of the challenge has been state taxes and policies that do not promote economic development. Danville needs to work closely with its state lawmakers to improve the economic outlook. But the city council also has not helped this with its actions that make Danville seem like a high tax city.

Danville has suffered badly under the inaccurate articles in social media. It is hard to complete for new economic development when prospective companies see negative stories. Danville needs to take a social media offensive and generate numerous stories about what a great place this is to live. Danville offers a good quality of life, special activities and places, the community college, a first class fire department, etc. Danville is often its own worst enemy. We need to start telling the world that we like it here, and it is a good place to live. Business are more likely to come to Danville, or expand in the city, if they hear about a great place to live where the citizens enjoy their life and work together on any problems.