By Jean Ruzicka
jruzicka@parkrapidsenterprise.com
An audience of two - the contenders’ wives - arrived for the Hubbard County Commissioner District 5 Meet the Candidates forum, incumbent Cal Johannsen and challenger Ted Van Kempen fielding questions posed by the League of Women Voters in Lake George.
Topics ranged from use of tax-forfeited land to the granting of variances to the controversy over the Enbridge pipeline in the county to the proposed budget.
Van Kempen moved to Becida in 1978 and has served as a Schoolcraft Township supervisor for 12 years. “I feel I could help more people,” the Bob Lowth Ford employee said of his decision to run for the county board seat.
Hubbard County has been home to Johannsen “most of my life.” He has been a member of the Lake George Fire Department and served in law enforcement for nearly three decades, retiring when he became commissioner.
“It’s satisfying,” Johannsen said of serving on the county board. “I enjoy it.”
n The impact of the Enbridge pipeline was addressed, the candidates asked about what they had done to become informed on the issue.
“If Enbridge follows the rules, the county doesn’t have the right to stop them,” Johannsen said of the Sandpiper pipeline. Earlier this year, he had voted against a resolution asking that other routes be explored.
“It’s a sad day in Hubbard County if the pipeline doesn’t go through,” he said, noting “oil has been going through the county (via pipeline) since 1949. A lot of economic development comes with this project,” Johannsen said, with “$4 million in taxes to Hubbard County. That’s 10 percent of the total taxes levied in this county, including schools. That’s huge.
“The first one was built in 1949 and it’s been going ever since,” he said of concern with spills. “Hubbard County has always been about economic development.”
Van Kempen said the pipeline will create jobs, noting “the worst case scenario would be a leak.
“I agree with Cal on the pipeline,” he said at the conclusion of the meeting. “But I’d like to find out more about safety in case of a spill. Is there a better route?” Van Kempen questioned.
n The League asked, given the influx of aquatic invasive species on some of Minnesota’s lakes, how a balance can be found between recreation and environmental concerns.
“It’s a tough one,” Johannsen said of the state and county putting money into prevention. “It’s a Band-aid on a sword,” he said of monitoring boats entering lakes. “You can’t be there 24 hours a day.”
He acknowledged volunteers and the role of SWCD – “doing a great job” – but checking all boats that may have come from infected lakes is not feasible, he said.
“I agree with Cal,” Van Kempen said. “How do you police all Hubbard County lakes? If people don’t do the responsible thing, it can be spread to another lake.”
n Juggling departments’ requests for funding was also addressed. “How do you evaluate needs vs. wants?”
“It’s difficult to determine needs,” Johannsen said. “We have to hope the department heads give us honest figures – but they seem inflated.”
“When I was in law enforcement, I thought that should be number one,” he said of budget priorities. “Now as a commissioner, it’s roads being plowed. It’s a tough struggle every year.”
“I’d like more input from constituents,” Van Kempen said of budgets. “I want to hear from the people affected.”
n How can commissioners work more effectively with townships? was a question posed.
Johannsen said townships have been invited to meetings “but only half the townships send supervisors. It’s frustrating,” he said. Johannsen attends meetings at the 10 townships in his district “on request.”
Van Kempen said he’d like to find out how the townships could work together with the county.
n The two most important issues facing the county are property taxes and roads, they agreed.
Van Kempen cited the elderly on fixed incomes. “And roads are necessary to get to work.”
“Roads are major,” Johannsen said. Most of the calls he receives are related to road complaints. “And people are always concerned about taxes.”
n Given the 137,500 acres of tax-forfeited land and 128,000 acres of commercial forest land in the county, the candidates were asked how the county could benefit from this.
Johannsen said the forest management plan was updated three or four years ago, with a plan to cut the old aspen. Parks and Recreation is looking at ways to enhance the use of public land, he said, for hunting and hiking, as examples.
Van Kempen said he’d spoken with loggers on the issue, who said old growth popple is “worthless.”
“This is public land,” he said. “The county is entrusted with the land. People should have access,” he said of birdwatchers, hikers and hunters. “It’s an asset that needs to be used.”
n A question was posed on variances “being routinely granted,” asking for clarification on the county’s role.
Van Kempen indicated each requires individual study, noting the process was necessary for some lots.
“The real variance issue is once you have zoning, you have to enforce the rules,” Johnannsen said. “But everything can’t be black and white. It gets expensive when you enforce,” he said.
