Candidates for the open Poplar Bluff City Council spot were given 15 minutes Tuesday to share why they wished to be chosen to fill a vacant seat on the council and answer a set predetermined set of questions from Mayor Shane Cornman.
Candidates who had not spoken to the council were asked to wait outside the council chambers until their turn.
In order of appearance they were: Jennifer Hill; Billy DePew; Marty Paskel; Jonathan Nauser; Sandra Pratt; David Boyer; and Ted Liszewski.
A closed session discussion and vote were taken by the city council after the open session meeting, with no decision being made. The matter has been moved to the Aug. 7 closed session.
Robert Duckett, who was elected to the council in April, submitted his resignation in June, saying he has moved out of the city limits. Council members accepted letters of interest from residents who would like to fill the at-large position.
The person selected would serve until the April 2024 election, when the remainder of Duckett’s three-year term would be a ballot item.
Candidates were asked why they wanted to be on council, any problems they see that need to be addressed and what their priorities are, among other questions.
Hill
Hill is a civil court advocate for Butler County courts working with Haven House and has lived in Poplar Bluff for 37 years.
Hill told council members she wants to be part of finding solutions to any problems the community may have.
Like many people, she sees issues that need to be addressed, Hill said.
“I guess I’m to the point now that if I’m going to have something to say about it, I want to be doing something about it,” Hill said. “I don’t want to just complain about the people that are trying to do something. I want to roll up my sleeves and be a part of it.
“It’s hard to watch the change that has gone on, not in this community but the community I was raised in (Neelyville). We have a beautiful community and I’d like to see it get back to that.”
Her goals, she said, would be to be a team player and be part of what the council is already doing.
Hill said she is concerned about derelict properties and finding ways to make owners take more responsibility in resolving issues with the properties, adding she thinks the properties are creating additional issues.
Downtown development, beautifying the city and making it more appealing to new businesses and those looking to relocate, and continuing to draw new development are also among her priorities.
DePew
DePew is currently retired and previously worked for SMC Electric as a sales engineer, as well as other places in Poplar Bluff. He also served in the Air Force. He has lived in Poplar Bluff since 1981.
“I want to see the city do better, not that it’s done bad. But we’re always trying to build ahead, build someplace that people do want to come into, businesses want to come and invest their money,” DePew said.
He would like to see areas surrounding the Downtown cleaned up, especially as more events come into the area, drawing more visitors. DePew currently serves on the Poplar Bluff Planning & Zoning Commission.
His priorities for the city would be to help develop Downtown and get planning started for a permanent city hall, including finding the money for it, if it’s not already found. The police department has a nice, new location, but DePew would like to see the city continue to support law enforcement, adding officers as the city can and improving salaries. He would also like to see the city address drug issues and homelessness.
DePew shared he has a multitude of experiences in budgets and working with business improvement teams, and had also spent 29 years working at Briggs & Stratton.
“I’ve got a lot to give back to the city. I’ve got a lot of time I can devote to the work of the city,” he said. “I think I’ve got a lot of knowledge to help make fact-based decisions.”
Paskel
Paskel was raised in Poplar Bluff, spent 25 years in the military and later returned home to Poplar Bluff full-time. He has worked for Bluff Steel, Nelson Tractor, Gates and John J. Pershing VAMC since coming back to Poplar Bluff.
He wants to serve on city council because he likes Poplar Bluff and enjoys the area, Paskel said.
“I attended a meeting not too long ago about the use tax. One of the drivers on that use tax was more police officers and more firefighters. I’m 100% behind that,” Paskel said when asked about his goals for the city. “I’m not against taxes... but I’m for responsibility in what we do with those taxes.”
Paskel believes the use tax would have a better chance if the police and fire department support was the main focus of how the funds would be utilized.
Another concern Paskel gave was drainage issues on the south side of Poplar Bluff, which he said contributes to mosquito problems.
Nauser
Nauser is a pediatric psychologist with Saint Francis Medical Center, who said he has been interested in local and country politics since high school.
Nauser said he wants to help find ways to make Poplar Bluff work for everyone and see the area where he grew up prosper.
“I wanted to be able to... collaborate with the rest of the council to benefit the community in whatever way I possibly could,” said Nauser.
Serving on the city council would be a foot in the door to starting to contribute more to the community, he said.
“I’ve seen tremendous growth in the town over the past decade or so with new businesses being attracted almost every year, which is extremely exciting. I want to continue that momentum,” he said. “The goal would be to continue by further attracting more business, more professionals, more services that are needed in the community.”
For example, through his own work, Nauser said he has seen the extreme need for more mental health services.
“I would like to bring more inclusiveness to the city council, not to say the city council has been exclusive,” he said. “I want to represent voices that maybe feel that they’ve been unheard.”
Continuing to improve educational opportunities in the area would be another priority, he said.
Pratt
Pratt grew up in Poplar Bluff and is a clinical pharmacist at John J. Pershing VAMC.
“I’m from Poplar Bluff and I have a pretty vested interest in the success and growth of the city,” she said. “If there’s any way that I can be on the team, contribute at all to help make it successful, I would really appreciate that opportunity.”
Her goals would include helping make the city more successful and grow.
“I see a lot of the city council work as the day-to-day, making sure services are available to people. I would like to help make sure we have those resources available,” Pratt said.
She feels she has skills that would translate well to the city council, working daily to make important decisions regarding veteran health care.
“I’m pretty good at evaluating problems, and helping make those decisions to help benefit patients’ lives,” Pratt said.
The use tax and funding for the city are a concern, she said.
“Funding for city and making sure that we have services available, that our fire department, our police department and our street department have the tools and resources they need...,” she said. “I would like to help maybe explore other options to make sure they have everything they need to be successful.”
Affordable housing and quality jobs for the area are also among her priorities.
Pratt has previously served on the Friends of the Margaret Harwell Art Museum board.
Boyer
Boyer shared that his family has lived in Poplar Bluff for more than 100 years. He served in the Air Force, with the forest service and as a park maintenance supervisor before retiring back home to Poplar Bluff.
Boyer talked with the council about his history in Poplar Bluff and shared that many of his concerns were outlined in the letters provided to the council.
“I want to be more involved in the improvement of the general well-being and progress of our community,” Boyer wrote to the council. “Being on the city council is the best way to do that. I like to get things done. I was told by Lloyd Matthews that he liked my enthusiasm, but that I had to be very patient to get things done in Poplar Bluff.
“I am not, by nature, a very patient person, and hope that trait will help move projects along within the city.”
Boyer’s priorities include seeing that the “long-delayed” city hall be included in a “well-defined” government center in Downtown Poplar Bluff.
“This would be an anchor in Downtown to draw higher usage in that area to attract supporting businesses, shopping, eateries, etc.,” he said.
Support of police and fire, development of empty buildings and engagement of city officials from other successful towns are also on the list, as well as improving older neighborhoods.
Boyer currently serves on the board of the Margaret Harwell Art Museum and has previously served on the building standards and historical preservation commission.
Liszewski
Liszewski is a founding member of the Liszewski Law Firm, which handles criminal, civil and domestic cases.
Poplar Bluff has been home for 11 years, he said.
Liszewski owns two businesses, a law firm and Bushwoods, a restaurant.
“Poplar Bluff’s in a unique position, with the interstate coming in. If this is played correctly I think this town could have a population boom, that leads to a business boom, that leads to jobs,” he said.
He said he would like to be part of the leadership that helps with this.
“My biggest thing, as a business owner, is how do we grow, what do we do with respect to preparing for this,” Liszewski said.
Creating money for city operations is a concern, as well as creating more jobs, he said.
Downtown is important, Liszewski said, but so are other areas.
“We can’t forget about the other businesses that are here, the other folks that are trying to help,” he said.
Among his priorities are managing the city’s budget and preparing for future growth.
“The growth and development, it takes a team...,” he said. “My legal insights are something that could help, and my ability to find information.”
This article was updated at 4 p.m. Aug. 3. Details about the council vote have been moved to another updated article at https://www.darnews.com/story/3004739.html
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