Government should concentrate on the items that citizens truly require. Roads for driving; bridges that are structurally sound; water systems that function properly; reliable internet access; and infrastructure that enables employment opportunities and family living conditions.
Too frequently, government pursues flashy headlines and politically charged show events at the expense of addressing fundamental citizen needs.
I am convinced that Fayette County must return to the basics.
As County Commissioner, I will emphasize the creation of infrastructure that enhances the quality of life for all citizens, ensures their safety, provides a basis for strengthening our local communities, and establishes a foundation upon which we can build an economy.
Residents should not be forced to navigate around potholes and other issues when government has the resources to fund improvements to their daily lives.
I believe that the priority for decision-making regarding county infrastructure needs to be the upkeep of the existing roads and other public works.
To determine what to fix first, we should ask:
It is generally less costly to complete preventive maintenance on a road rather than waiting for it to fail.
We must end managing our infrastructure based upon emergencies.
Bridges are a necessity. Bridge infrastructure allows
I will help ensure that there is a comprehensive county-wide assessment of our bridge’s condition and repair needs.
Our public should understand: When we say “repair” we mean
We must make decisions about how to allocate resources for infrastructure based upon safety concerns and the actual needs of the community, not based on politics.
Reliable water and sewer systems are needed for
Some of our communities have old systems which cost too much money to fix or maintain.
As a county official i would be willing to work with local governments (municipalities), authorities (water/sewer district), and state and federal agencies in order to determine what are the infrastructure needs in each community and how can we obtain the necessary funds.
I will also support those efforts that assist communities in:
The county should be a partner in solving these problems.
Reliable, high speed Internet connectivity is an essential part of basic infrastructure. Broadband affects
For decades, residents of Fayette County have heard promises of broadband, but many are still waiting.
I will not follow that same old pattern. As commissioner, I will prioritize expanding broadband throughout Fayette County, utilizing all the power of this position to combine efforts of providers, municipalities, state agencies and funding sources to achieve one objective:
Provide every area of Fayette County with reliable, high-speed Internet.
I will push to determine which areas remain unserved or underserved, pursue every opportunity for state and federal broadband grants, eliminate unnecessary county-level barriers, and hold providers accountable for the commitments they make.
When public funds are utilized to provide additional service to residents, taxpayers deserve to know:
I do not believe my work is complete simply because a grant was awarded or a press release was released.
My work is complete when residents can actually obtain reliable Internet service at their homes and/or businesses.
The jobs will follow the infrastructure. Businesses will not locate their operations in areas with inadequate infrastructure Businesses need:
Therefore, there must be a partnership between infrastructure development and economic development.
Infrastructure development should prioritize those developments which will enhance the quality of life for area residents and provide opportunities for sustainable economic development.
Fayette County has access to significant state resources that can be used to fund road, bridge, water system, sewer project, broadband, drainage, redevelopment and other types of infrastructure.
It is important that Fayette County seeks all valid grant opportunities that are available to them.
As a Commissioner, I would encourage the county government to implement an ongoing infrastructure grant program rather than wait until a project becomes an emergency.
This will involve collaboration with municipalities, authorities, PennDOT, state agencies and other organizations in order to identify projects at an early stage, develop strong application materials and ensure that Fayette County is competitive for funding.
I would like to see us seek funding for:
There is far too much state and federal funding for infrastructure available for Fayette County to simply sit back and wait for someone to send them a check. We must actively pursue these funds.
We should pursue these infrastructure grants as vigorously as the current commissioners pursue grants for walking trails.
Our roads should not look war-torn.
I’m not going to spend taxpayer dollars on projects that are largely about creating news stories. Before I can support a large capital project, I want to know if the public really needs this project.
Our government shouldn’t put off fixing failing infrastructure so that they can pursue vanity projects. It’s time for us to get back to basics.