Afton’s appointed mayor seeks full term, but draws challenger

Oct. 30--Dick Bend became mayor of Afton earlier this year when he was tapped to fill the position after Pat Snyder resigned.

He liked it so much that he's running for the seat Tuesday.

Bend, a former attorney, was serving on the city's planning commission when he got the call asking if he would consider the mayor's job.

"I had just retired, and all my previous excuses had evaporated," he said.

He's being challenged by Bill Whalen, a resident of the Old Village who says he is concerned about the cost of planned major projects: a community sewer system, an improved flood levee, reconstruction of St. Croix Trail and improvements to stormwater management and local roads.

With a total price tag of about $15 million, the projects' funding will come mostly from state agencies and Washington County. Part will come from the city's general fund, and some of the cost -- up to $2.1 million -- is expected to be assessed to Old Village properties.

That's too much, said Whalen, who is worried that the bill for his family's 1901 house could top $12,000.

"We've invested a lot of our own time, sweat and dollars into reviving a century-plus-old house that was empty and deteriorating -- right on St Croix Trail," he said. "We have a compliant septic location and system that works fine and is paid for already. Now, we're being told that we have to spend all this money to build, hook up and maintain what still seems to be a controversial system.

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Some businesses, such as the Afton House Inn, could be required to pay $260,000, plus interest, over 20 years, Whalen said.

"I don't know how they expect someone like Kathleen Feehan (owner of Calla Lily Day Spa) to pay $40,000," he said.

Afton officials should be more "pro-business," he said, saying that he would have voted for a wedding-barn business on Manning Avenue that the council rejected.

Bend said he and his city council colleagues have been "extremely pro business" in supporting businesses within zoning districts where they are permitted.

"With regard to businesses where they are not permitted, such as rural residential, the council has been devoted to enforcing the ordinances," he said.

To change an ordinance, the city would have to amend its comprehensive plan, a plan that was drafted "only after extensive questionnaires were sent out to residents in the city with regard to what they wanted," Bend said.

In the case of wedding-venue business, there were a number of surrounding residents who felt strongly that they did not want the noise and traffic, he said.

"They had relied on the rural-residential zoning when they bought their property -- precisely because of the rural character, the quiet and the solitude that Afton affords to its residential citizens."

As for the improvements planned for the Old Village, Bend said he and other council members are looking for more grant money to offset the assessments. Another option might be asking all Afton property owners to bear some of the burden; if $500,000 was borne by all residents, for example, the average increase on a resident's property taxes would be about $45 a year for 10 years, he said.

Downtown Afton is currently served by private septic systems, which don't meet current regulations and can cause problems when the St. Croix River floods. Improving the levee, which was built in 1969, is also key, he said.

The new levee will be eligible for accreditation by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which would allow property owners to save money on flood insurance and make property improvements that were not previously allowed.

"We're trying to facilitate capital improvements and allow the current businesses to dramatically increase their clientele and the attractiveness of their businesses," Bend said.

The projects will greatly benefit the environment and the St. Croix, he said.

"If we don't do it, everybody suffers," he said. "If we do it, the vast majority of people benefit, and a very small number of people may suffer -- that's just the harsh reality."

In the Ward 3 city council race, longtime council member Peg Nolz is being challenged by Stan Ross, the president of the Afton Historical Museum.

City council member Joe Richter is running unopposed for the Ward 2 seat.

The mayor is paid $300 a month; council members are paid $200 a month.

MAYOR

RICHARD BEND, 66, INCUMBENT

Education: Bachelor's from Macalester College, law degree from the University of Idaho College of Law

Occupation: Mayor, retired lawyer

Experience that qualifies you for this position: "Years of experience on Afton'sPlanning Commission; participation in drafting Afton's 2007 comprehensive plan; growing up and living in Afton; founding board member of the Natural Science Academy; decades spent running a law firm; mineral rights company CEO; serving as Afton's current mayor in running collegial, productive city meetings."

Change you would make in your city: "With the exception of the Old Village infrastructure changes currently underway to eliminate the risk of flooding and environmental damage, Afton does not need to make fundamental changes. Rather, it needs to continue on a path of slow evolution that preserves the character of its rural heritage."

Contact: 651-436-7684, [email protected]

BILL WHALEN, 48

Education: Associate's degree in design from Brown College, Minneapolis

Occupation: Business/sales

Experience that qualifies you: "Proven team builder and leader with a wide variety of business experience and residential concerns. Successfully managed employees, production, administration and facilities. Marketed and sold products and services from local to multi-national accounts. Variety of past residences including rural and urban; have lived in the city's Old Village for eight years."

Change you would make: "Aggressively market commercial and industrial areas for increased tax revenues. Assist Manning Avenue property owners in regards to viable revenue opportunities that keep the spirit of Afton's comprehensive plan at the forefront when considering variances. Revise Afton's image and ensure its concerns are heard by other governing entities."

Contact: 651-436-8125, [email protected], whalen4afton.weebly.com

CITY COUNCIL WARD 2 (ELECT 1)

JOE RICHTER

Education: Graduate of California State University at Fresno

Occupation: Delta Air Lines captain

Experience that qualifies you: "My experience and training in the Air Force and Delta Air Lines has provided a foundation for leadership and working with others. I have also served on the Afton City Council for the past eight years, where we have worked cooperatively for the benefit of Afton."

Change you would make: "Some of the issues we are currently working on include: improvements to the Afton levee, protection of the St. Croix River quality, and the creation of an overlay district between Afton and Woodbury. Reasonable development carried out in a smart, planned and measured way helps protect Afton's rural nature."

Contact: 651-436-1819, [email protected]

CITY COUNCIL WARD 3 (ELECT 1)

PEG NOLZ, 70

Education: Bachelor's from the University of Minnesota

Occupation: Retired systems analyst and software engineer

Experience that qualifies you: Eight years, Afton Planning Commission, including two as chairman; 12 years, Afton City Council; 12 years, Lower St.</location> Croix Partnership Team; member, St Croix River Association; committee member for drafting Afton's 1998 and 2010 comprehensive plans, the document that drives how Afton's ordinances protect the city we all appreciate

Change you would make: "We are embarking on projects in the Old Village that will protect the St Croix River. Removing septic systems from the flood plain and managing the stormwater from the rest of the city are necessary to restore the health of this treasure. We also need more young people to get involved."

Contact: 651-436-5626

STAN ROSS, 62

Education: Bachelor's in electrical engineering, University of Minnesota

Occupation: Electrical engineer and owner of Ross Design Inc., specializing in embedded systems design and product development

Experience that qualifies you: Lifetime resident of Afton; president, Afton Historical Museum; chairman, AftonJuly 4th Parade Committee; past member, CSAH 18 Design Review Committee; member, CSAH 21 Old Village Design Review Committee; member, Downtown Improvement Projects Design Review Committee volunteer for many events and activities in Afton

Change you would make: "Significantly improve communications by being accessible and open-minded; focus on a St. Croix River preservation plan with solutions for stormwater, sewer and levee challenges; hold equal value in our outlying residential properties and the downtown village community; bring fresh perspective and innovative solutions to community issues."

Contact: 651-436-5259, [email protected]

Mary Divine can be reached at 651-228-5443. Follow her at twitter.com/MaryEDivine.

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