Afton City Council Q&A: Randy Nelson (incumbent)

• Randy Nelson

Randy Nelson

Talk about it

Age: 47

City: Afton

Education: Vocational, technical school

Occupation: Farmer

Family: Single with one adult daughter

Civic involvement: One year Afton Planning Commission; eight years on Afton City Council; Public Works Committee; Parks Committee; Gateway Corridor Committee; Middle St. Croix Water Management Board.

The Bulletin asked Afton City Council candidates the following questions:

Q: What do you see as the major issues facing Afton?

A: The DNR grant the city unanimously accepted is a once in a lifetime opportunity to solve our downtown flooding problems. I believe that by fixing some of these issues, it will allow our downtown businesses and homeowners to improve their properties and add to our tax base at the same time. The other is to have a strong open-space ordinance. This has been a priority for me since I've gotten involved at City Hall. There are many parts to this issue, so I would invite citizens to give me a call and we can discuss it in more detail.

Q: How would you like to see the city’s flood mitigation project progress?

A: I think the news from our engineer has been good. The project has gotten cheaper than originally anticipated. We need to look at this as an infrastructure project as we do our roads. There are a lot of decisions that still need to be made and I'm hopeful our council can work together in a productive manner to complete the project in a cost effective way.

Q: How do you think the city should manage development?

A: I believe in having an open-space ordinance, and possibly an overlay district, that will actually get used. We as a city cannot afford to purchase land for preservation. Working with the Minnesota Land Trust and having a strong open-space ordinance is the only way to protect land permanently.

Q: What are your views on the city’s handling of taxpayer dollars?

A: I think the city has been careful with the taxpayer’s dollars while not being "penny wise and pound foolish.”

Q: Why are you running?

A: First I'd like to thank the folks from Ward 4 for allowing me to represent them on the City Council, it's been a privilege. Afton has always been a place of varying viewpoints – it's one of the things that makes it so unique. I've tried to come at every challenge with an open mind. I would like the opportunity to finish some of the work we have started in the downtown and possibly look at our open-space ordinance for improvements.

Randy Nelson is the incumbent for Afton City Council’s Ward 4 seat.