Let’s make a deal
I suppose this editorial will start by riffing off the letter written by Peter Dach which is published on page four.
Post-election, I called Councilman-elect Stapp to ask him about some of his top priorities moving forward.
And it’s always interesting interviewing politicians after their victories, because they don’t have to be quite as careful in expressing their proclivities.
The things Kirk chose to discuss in our five-minute conversation:
1. Development Impact Fees, or DIF. This was the first thing he spoke about, right out of the gate. He lamented that the previous Council had approved, or at least rolled over, the current DIF schedule without discussion. Stapp pointed out that DIF is 75% lower than the anticipated impact costs. Should fees be increased? he asked.
2. The Town has 1/4 of one employee assigned to housing. Who’s going to carry the ball? Stapp said it seems as if we’ll have to add staff, particularly staff with some property development background or expertise. “If you know projects are coming forward, you need to staff up for them.”
3. He wants to keep Town offices open on Fridays.
4. An idea for the Multi-Use Facility: Stapp suggested we should perhaps add on a half-point to the TOT rate and dedicate that revenue for the next ten years to bankroll the funding gap for the MUF.
5. A key question that we should be asking ourselves, said Stapp, is how do we take care of our guests?
