“We really want to continue to find those opportunities so we can make government more efficient and responsive,” Hess said.
His opponent, Anthony Ehresmann, argued the county needs to be more transparent in how it handles its finances. Ehresmann, a Democrat, has previously attempted to win a seat on Urbana’s city council, as well as a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives. While he lost those elections, he said one of his strengths is that it only made him more committed to serving the community.
“I try to work as much with my community as possible,” Ehresmann said. “It’s become almost a full-time job to be engaged.”
Among his suggestions, Ehresmann argued items like county budgets and meeting minutes should be easily available online.
Both candidates said the economy will have a significant impact on the race. The winner will also potentially be faced with controversial issues including the Buckeye Wind Project, a proposal that if approved, could result in about 100 wind turbines in the county. The project has caused a dispute among local residents, with opponents complaining the turbines could negatively affect residents living in the project’s footprint. Proponents argue it could bring needed jobs and new revenue to the county.
The state will ultimately decide whether the project is sited and how. But the commissioners will have a vote on whether to approve a Payment in Lieu of Taxes agreement or to allow the project to be taxed as a traditional utility. Representatives of the Buckeye project have said it will likely not be financially feasible without the PILOT agreement.
Hess said the commissioners have not yet received a request to approve the PILOT program and have researched whether it makes sense for the county. Hess said commissioners have sought input from the county prosecutor and auditor’s offices, as well as the County Commissioners Association of Ohio to compare the PILOT and traditional tax systems. However, information such as the type of turbine used, as well as how the two payment options might affect the local schools, is still unclear, Hess said.
“The bottom line is we need more information, and we’ll evaluate it when we get it,” Hess said.
Ehresmann also said more research is needed but said he generally supports the PILOT payments if it comes down to a choice of potentially losing revenue from the wind farm. He said by reaching a consensus with local residents, township officials and the wind company, it would show other prospective businesses that the county can work together to encourage job growth.
Both candidates said economic development will continue to be important as competition to retain and attract business increases in the region.
The county increased conveyance fees for property transfers and home sales in 2009 to help cover the costs of economic development. As the economy worsened, commissioners voted to use a portion of those funds to help fill a deficit in the county budget. Hess was reluctant to do so and said the issue should be revisited as the economy improves.
“At some point I want to revisit that,” Hess said. “In my mind it’s a good way to provide economic development funds tied pretty directly to economic activity.”
But Ehresmann said the county has not done enough to plan for long-term economic growth, and said the county needs to work more closely with resources such as the Champaign County Community Improvement Corporation.
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