Citizen has questions for city council

To the editor,

More questions for candidates seeking a City of Ritzville office:

1. Will you support or oppose any future attempts to remove the Ritzville Public Library from the Carnegie building? (Answers must be yes or no, not something like “I am not aware of any such plans.”)

2. What is your understanding of the probable cost of the light industrial park currently under consideration by the Ritzville City Council? 3 million dollars? 4 million dollars? More? What funding options have been explored by the city council? Where in minutes of meetings can we read your remarks regarding this matter?

3. In 2007 at a public forum, a candidate for mayor suggested “We need a new well and we need it now.” For candidates seeking re-election to city hall, please explain what steps the council took to address this issue during the past four years. Where in the minutes of meetings can we read your remarks regarding this matter?

4. In 2007, at a public forum, a candidate for mayor argued: “We need to create reasons to bring people downtown, create reasons for people to travel to Ritzville.”

And… “It’s one business at a time, one building at a time. Revitalization takes years…As mayor I want to see every storefront filled, people milling about. I believe it will happen.”

For candidates seeking re-election, what steps has the city taken to revitalize downtown the past four years?

What in your opinion has been particularly effective in revitalization of downtown?

Has city council policy hindered revitalization in your opinion?

Where in minutes of meetings can we read your suggestions for revitalization and your evaluation of city policies for revitalization of downtown?

Barry Boyer, Ritzville