Gardner city council candidates on the issues: Infrastructure – Johnson County Post

Report on Gardner City Council Candidates’ Perspectives on Urban Infrastructure and Sustainable Development

In response to a community-led inquiry, candidates for the Gardner City Council have articulated their strategies for addressing the city’s most significant infrastructure challenges over the next four years. Their positions highlight a range of approaches to fostering urban development in line with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Candidate Positions on Infrastructure Development

Mark Baldwin (Incumbent)

Mr. Baldwin identified several priority areas for infrastructure development, aligning with a multi-faceted approach to sustainable community growth.

• Core Services and Utilities: Prioritizes roads and the police department, essential for SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). He also noted the city’s ownership of electric, water, and wastewater utilities, which are fundamental to SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).
• Recreational and Community Assets: Outlined upgrades to public amenities to enhance quality of life and promote community well-being, supporting SDG 11.7 (access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces).
  1. Swimming pool maintenance.
  2. Golf course irrigation system replacement.
  3. Construction of a new municipal airport terminal.
  4. Installation of artificial turf on baseball fields to boost tourism and local economic activity, contributing to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
• Economic and Urban Revitalization: Emphasized the “Destination Downtown” plan, which involves property acquisition and historical district designation to unlock grants and tax credits. This strategy directly supports SDG 8 and SDG 11.4 (protect the world’s cultural and natural heritage).

Kelly Johnson

Ms. Johnson’s platform centers on proactively managing the city’s rapid growth to ensure infrastructure development is both sustainable and equitable.

• Strategic Planning for Growth: Advocates for a data-driven assessment of current infrastructure to identify and prioritize critical projects. This forward-thinking approach is crucial for achieving SDG 9 and SDG 11 by building resilient and sustainable urban environments.
• Key Project Prioritization: Focuses on essential upgrades such as bridge repairs, intersection improvements, and enhancements to water and sewer systems, which are vital for SDG 6 and SDG 9.1 (develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure).
• Partnerships and Collaboration: Stresses the importance of fostering partnerships with state, county, and municipal agencies. This aligns with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) to leverage shared resources and expertise for sustainable development.
• Sustainable Funding Models: Proposes that new development contributes directly to infrastructure costs, ensuring that growth is self-sustaining and does not place an undue burden on existing residents, a key principle of sustainable urban financing under SDG 11.

Dawn Kirtley

Ms. Kirtley’s approach focuses on balancing new development with the capacity of existing systems, emphasizing quality and labor standards in infrastructure projects.

• Balanced and Managed Growth: Calls for thoughtful planning to prevent public services from being overstretched, a core tenet of SDG 11.
• High-Quality Construction Standards: Advocates for requiring developers to use qualified, certified, and ideally union labor. This commitment ensures that new infrastructure is resilient and long-lasting (SDG 9) while also promoting fair labor practices and economic security, in line with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
• Resource Allocation: Aims to provide public works and engineering departments with the necessary resources for proactive maintenance and repair, a critical component of building and maintaining sustainable infrastructure under SDG 9.

John Snyder

Mr. Snyder expressed significant concern over the funding mechanisms for essential infrastructure, particularly water and sanitation, and their impact on residents.

• Water and Sanitation Infrastructure: Highlights the critical need for upgrades to water and sewage systems to accommodate a growing population, directly addressing the mandate of SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).
• Affordability and Equity: Opposes planned utility rate increases, arguing they disproportionately affect residents on fixed incomes. This position underscores the importance of ensuring that progress toward SDG 6 and SDG 9 is equitable and does not exacerbate economic inequality, a principle related to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
• Alternative Revenue Generation: Proposes expanding the city’s commercial business sector to generate revenue for infrastructure projects. This strategy aims to create a more sustainable funding model that supports SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and reduces the direct financial burden on citizens for public works.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – The article explicitly mentions the city’s ownership and management of “water, and wastewater utilities” and the need for “upgrades to water and sewer systems.” Candidate John Snyder focuses heavily on the financial sustainability of these services, discussing planned rate increases for water and sewer services to fund necessary upgrades.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The article touches upon local economic development strategies. Mark Baldwin mentions using an “economic development fund” (transient guest tax) to improve baseball fields to attract more tournaments. He also discusses making the downtown a “Historical District” to open businesses to grants and tax credits. Dawn Kirtley directly addresses the “decent work” aspect by advocating for the use of “qualified, certified labor, ideally union labor” in construction projects. John Snyder emphasizes the need to attract “commercial businesses to generate enough revenue” for the city.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – This is the central theme of the article, as the main question posed to the candidates is about infrastructure challenges. The discussion covers a wide range of infrastructure, including roads, bridges (“Gardner Road bridge repair”), the police department, an airport (“new terminal building”), and utilities. The candidates’ responses revolve around developing, maintaining, and upgrading this infrastructure to support the city’s growth and improve residents’ quality of life.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – The entire discussion is framed within the context of managing the rapid growth of the city of Gardner. Candidates address sustainable urban planning, the provision of public services, and access to public spaces. Kelly Johnson calls for a “proactive, data-driven approach” to planning, and Dawn Kirtley advocates for “thoughtful planning that keeps growth balanced.” The article also highlights the importance of public and green spaces like “parks, pools, golf course, … and baseball fields” and a “farmer’s market shelter.”

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 6:
   • Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. This is relevant to John Snyder’s concern about planned water rate increases of “4.7% annually,” which he argues could make water unaffordable for residents on a fixed income.
   • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by … substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally. The mention of “wastewater utilities” and “sewer systems” that need upgrades directly relates to the management and treatment of wastewater.
2. Under SDG 8:
   • Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification… This is connected to Mark Baldwin’s plan to improve ball fields with artificial turf to “hold more tournaments” and extend seasons, diversifying the local economy through tourism.
   • Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all… Dawn Kirtley’s proposal to require developers to use “qualified, certified labor, ideally union labor” directly addresses the goal of ensuring high-quality, safe, and decent work.
3. Under SDG 9:
   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being. This is the core target addressed by all candidates, who discuss the need to repair and build roads, bridges, airports, and utility systems to keep pace with the city’s “rapid growth” and ensure a high “quality of life.”
4. Under SDG 11:
   • Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries. This is addressed by Kelly Johnson’s call for a “comprehensive assessment of our current infrastructure” and “thoughtful planning” to manage growth, and Dawn Kirtley’s focus on ensuring public services are not “stretched too thin as new neighborhoods become available.”
   • Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces… This target is reflected in the discussion of amenities like “parks and pools,” the “municipal airport, golf course, swimming pool, and baseball fields,” and the plan to build a “farmer’s market ‘shelter’.”
   • Target 11.a: Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas… Kelly Johnson’s plan to “foster partnerships with state agencies, neighboring cities, and the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners” aligns with this target of strengthening regional planning and cooperation.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For SDG 6: The article provides a direct financial indicator mentioned by John Snyder: the planned annual rate increases for utilities (“water by 4.7% annually, and sewer rates by 4.2% annually through 2031”). This can be used to measure the affordability of water and sanitation services (Target 6.1).
• For SDG 8: Progress can be measured by the number of construction projects utilizing “qualified, certified labor, ideally union labor” as proposed by Dawn Kirtley (Target 8.5). Another indicator is the revenue generated from the “transient guest tax” used for the economic development fund, and the number of tournaments hosted on the new artificial turf fields mentioned by Mark Baldwin (Target 8.2).
• For SDG 9: The completion of specific infrastructure projects mentioned in the article serves as a clear indicator of progress. These include the “Gardner Road bridge repair,” “intersection improvements,” the construction of a “new terminal building” at the airport, and the replacement of the golf course’s “irrigation system” (Target 9.1).
• For SDG 11: Indicators include the number of public spaces improved or created, such as the installation of “artificial turf” on ball fields and the construction of the “farmer’s market ‘shelter’” (Target 11.7). The implementation of a “comprehensive assessment of our current infrastructure” as proposed by Kelly Johnson would be an indicator for progress on sustainable urban planning (Target 11.3). The number of partnerships formed with neighboring cities and state agencies would be an indicator for Target 11.a.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: johnsoncountypost.com