The Dexter Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Seta excited about Dexter's future
PUBLISHED: January 11, 2007
Why should young people get involved in politics?
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I believe everyone should become more involved in the decision-making process and understanding how government works and the services we provide. A good place to start getting involved is in high school student government and college student government. I was also involved in student government in college and it taught me the value of public input and how to run effective meetings.
Are you worried that not many young people seem to get involved in the political process?
Young people may not get directly involved in the political process, however their voice is heard. We are currently working on a proposal that will add baseball diamonds and soccer fields to the area, which is needed for the youth of our community.
Why did you first get involved in politics?
I was first elected in 2001 due to several disputes with enforcing the development agreement between the village and a developer. I believe we have done a good job in learning from past mistakes and have promoted smart economic development throughout the village, both in the core downtown and around the village. We are in a great community with wonderful people, which leads to good economic development projects.
What are your thoughts on Dexter becoming a city?
I think Dexter is now strong enough to become a city both professionally and economically. When I first took office in 2001 the village was experiencing hard economic times and was experiencing a very high turnover rate in our administration. Due to a fiscally responsible council and staff we now have over $1.5 million in the general fund reserves and a consistent and committed administration.
Becoming a city has been discussed for over 20 years and I thought it was time to officially determine the pros and cons. The subcommittee we appointed is doing a great job and I look forward to reading their recommendation. Also, by becoming a city my goal is to reduce everyone's overall tax bill. Currently every taxpayer in the village is double taxed. We pay either Scio Township or Webster Township in addition to village taxes. By becoming a city we can reduce the overall tax burden for our residents and business owners.
How would becoming a city positively affect the community?
The feel of Dexter with our small town charm will not change. We will still be surrounded by great people who take pride in where they live. Once again, I believe the biggest positive is the reduction of taxes. Let's use our tax money wisely and continue to provide benefits to the community so our quality of life continues to improve.
How would it negatively affect the community?
I don't believe becoming a city will negatively affect the community. Mayor Anne Feeney of Chelsea spoke to us several times about how Chelsea became a city and nothing negative happened to Chelsea. I believe the word "city" is more emotion than reality. The Village of Dexter currently provides our own water, sewer, DPW and public safety for our residents and business owners. Most cities don't even provide this level of service.
Why now? Why is there such a big push for this at this time? And is this the right time?
As I indicated before, the discussion of city hood has been around the Village of Dexter for many, many years. In my opinion we should investigate and analyze any opportunity we have to improve the quality of life for our community and becoming a city will do that in my opinion.
I may get criticized for investigating sensitive issues; however I think that is what a good leader should do. A good community leader should analyze how the decisions today will impact the future of Dexter and I firmly believe if Dexter becomes a city, people in the future will be proud of what we did. Dexter has grown up. We no longer require the townships support, so let's fly out of the nest and soar on our own.
Do you feel Dexter Village and Dexter, Scio and Webster townships are doing a good job balancing growth and the sense of small-town community?
Yes. We continue to communicate with each other to make sure the Dexter region maintains its charm and rural character.
What are some big issues Dexter residents should be concerned about in 2007?
One of the biggest issues is the bridge/dam/viaduct in downtown. As I promised in March 2004 when I ran for village president, I knew the bridge project would be vital to the community. I am proud to say the village signed an agreement with the Road Commission to remove the dam, replace the bridge, and to spend the maximum allowable money MDOT provided to us ($5.5 million) to also construct a new viaduct.
By completing this project all at one time it will allow the 20,000 cars a day that drive through downtown better access to our community and it will allow pedestrian access through the existing viaduct. Pedestrian accessibility is currently non-existent to Dexter from the West side and this is a public safety concern that we all agree must be fixed.
Of course, as we discussed above, another issue is city hood. I am confident we will make the right decisions for our residents today and in the future.
In 2006 the Dexter Council passed an annexation request for the Sloan / Kingsley Property along Baker Road. This project will be a great asset to the community. The latest preliminary proposal includes over 50 percent open space that includes park space, soccer fields, baseball diamonds, and even the potential for active water recreation. We are working with Scio Township on this issue and I look forward to a positive outcome that will bring benefit to the Scio and Dexter communities.
In addition, the new Dexter District Library will be constructing the new library on Alpine. The village and library worked closely together to make the Alpine site work. It will bring additional economic development to the downtown and will be a great asset to the community.
What will be some of your goals for Dexter next year?
Based on the items above, we have a very exciting 2007 ahead of us. My goal is to continue working on the items above and bring them to closure.
What can the village do to help the small business owner in Dexter?
Shop locally! Any opportunity I get to patronize our local businesses I do it. In addition, I have always said Dexter needs a motto or a slogan, and Dexter colors. We cannot rely on Dexter to market itself. Many people are proud of where we work and live, but we still have to promote ourselves.
I recently attended a meeting regarding promoting Washtenaw County to other businesses and people and I was excited about their strategic direction. Washtenaw County has the lowest unemployment in the state and is leading in several other areas. Let's utilize our diverse tax base to bring people and businesses into the Dexter area so our small business owners can thrive.
Do you have a favorite spot to relax in Dexter?
In the summertime I like to take my family to the Dexter Bakery on Saturday mornings, visit the vendors at the new Farmers Market, and if the kids are good, spend some time in Warrior Creek Park.
If you are showing a friend from out of town why Dexter is special, where is your first stop?
Typically I take them to downtown Dexter and walk around. By walking around you can really tell how friendly everyone is. The small town charm and the friendly people is what makes Dexter a special place.
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