Landfill, open government remain issues in Riga election

Three political newcomers are seeking election to two of the available council seats on the Riga Town board. Republican candidates Ken Kuter and James Fodge are facing off with Conservative endorsed candidate Peter Neidrauer. Kuter will also be on the Working Family and Key lines; Fodge will be on the Independence, Working Family and Key lines as well.

James Fodge is making his first bid for public office this year. "I'm running because I want to see a more open government in Riga," he said. "The town board needs to listen to everyone and if elected I will listen to everyone and respond to questions and concerns and develop plans and be accountable. That is not how things are being done now."

While Fodge has never held an elected office before, he is active in the Churchville Fire Department and is a past captain of the rescue squad. He has operated Jim's Service for the past 28 years and encourages his employees to volunteer in the community.

He said that because he owns his own business and has been active in community service in Riga for close to 30 years, he knows that success requires listening to, and working with, others.

"Other issues that need to be addressed are the development of a long range plan to keep taxes low and at the same time use common sense in spending landfill money," he said. "We also need to work on drainage problems."

Fodge said the town board needs to work more closely with citizens groups such as the seniors, the fire department and the youth baseball and soccer associations.

"Hard work and applying fiscal common sense when spending money is an important aspect of serving in a governmental office," he said. "I've been coming to town board meetings regularly for a couple of years now and I think everyone in the community needs to work together for the benefit of the town."

Ken Kuter said the lack of leadership from the majority of the current board is what prompted his run this year. "I felt if no one did anything, nothing would change," he said.

He believes he brings experience to the board in the form of fiscal responsibility. "I have experience with budgets and the planning process," he said. "I know how to provide a needs analysis and gather information for prioritization of any plans that might be implemented."

One of the issues facing Riga, he said, is the lack of communication between the board and the community. "We shouldn't be running town board meetings without having agendas available prior to the meetings," he said. "We receive communications after the fact and I think the residents deserve to know what's going on before the town board votes on it. They (the residents) should be taking a more participatory role in the outcome."

As for the landfill, Kuter said, it was a "done deal" before it was brought to the community. "The town still has issues surrounding the need for water for its residents," he said.

Kuter and his wife have two children.

"If elected, I'd be an enthusiastic participant on the town board," he said. "I look forward to engaging the citizens of Riga in how they want to see their town operate. I have a willingness to learn, to listen to the residents and to make the town secure for the future."

Peter Neidrauer has been a member of the Town of Riga Planning Board for the past seven years.

"I was elected twice as highway superintendent for the Town of Riga, a position that also included overseeing the town buildings and parks," he said. "During my five years in that office, I was involved in the building of the Maher Lodge at the South Sanford Road Park, the restoration of the Cobblestone building in the center of the village, to be used for historical and public functions and was the clerk of the construction of the new town office and court building."

While in that capacity, he attended all town board meetings and was the town board's "right hand" in the daily running of the physical structure of the town, he said.

He and his wife, Nancy, have three grown children and three grandsons.

"The present town board has a proven track record, has accomplished many things, including reducing taxes and keeping the town debt free," he said. "The landfill has been a concern, but it is now a paying industry that is here to stay. With the new agreement, this assures our input over all possible community landfills in the town for years to come. With the proposed use of methane gas to generate electric for more than 6,000 homes, we are making lemonade out of the landfill lemon."

Creating water districts in the town is a major issue, he said.

"Water districts throughout the town will be brought up to the whole town as a referendum. It is the only legal way to do this and whoever controls the town board will be following this process. If the whole community wants to fund townwide water districts, it will happen," he said.

October 23, 2005