Garden City Council candidates Q&A
Five candidates are vying for four terms on the Garden City Council – incumbents Margo Arnoske, Jim Kerwin, Patricia McKarge and Patricia Squires and newcomer Mark Jacobs. The top two candidates will receive four-year terms while the third- and fourth-place finishers will receive two-year terms.
Arnoske, 44, is employed as an administrative assistant at Center Mass, Inc. She is married and has a daughter. A 1989 graduate of Garden City High School, she is one of the founders of the Garden City Relay for Life and captain of the Save the Ta-Ta’s team. She currently is a member of the Downtown Garden City Santaland Parade Committee and for the past several years has volunteered for the Garden City Goodfellows and for the Garden City DDA Chili Cook-Off.
Jacobs, 53, is employed as a millwright at the Ford Motor Co. A 1980 graduate of Bishop Borgess High School, he has been a member of the GCYAA since 1988 and a lifetime member since 2001. He also is a 19-year member of American Legion Post 396, president of the Garden City Over 30 Hockey Association 2007-2015 and president of the Pierce Place Homeowners Association.
Kerwin, 67, is employed by Kerwin Construction Company. He is married and has three children and seven grandchildren. He also is a graduate of Garden City West High School. He has been involved with the Garden City Rotary, Garden City Jaycees and GCYAA of which he is a life member. A Garden City First Citizen, he served as a community reader at Henry Ruff Elementary, and helped start reading and mentoring program at Memorial 1/2 Campus.
McKarge, 66, retired from the City of Garden City. She worked in Youth Assistance, Senior Services and Parks a Recreation, retiring in 2011 as the Parks and Recreation director. A widow, she has three grown children and three grandchildren. A 1967 graduate of Garden City East High School, she has a bachelor of science degree from Eastern Michigan University and completed graduate work in education at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and graduate work in community counseling at Eastern Michigan University. She has been an active member of the Garden City Kiwanis for 21 years, a member of the Garden City Garden Club, a volunteer for the FISH Dial-a-Ride program and have recently become a member of the events committee for the Garden City Business Alliance.
Squires, 65, is Realtor with Remerica Integrity II Realtors and involved with Angela Hospice. Marries, she has four children and 10 grandchildren. She is on the Garden City Santaland Parade Committee, secretary for Mayor’s Committee for Underprivileged Children, Lector and Eucharistic Minister at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 396 and American Legion Riders at Post 396 Garden City, city council liaison to Commission on Aging and member of the Garden City Business Alliance.
Observer: What is your specific plan/ideas to help bring more residents, especially young families, to Garden City and make the city a more attractive place to live? AKA: Sell to Sue Mason Garden City as a city she should move to.
Arnoske: I believe to attract younger families, a community must offer a clean and attractive, safe place to live. Garden City offers all of that. I would like to see the city work with the schools and local real estate offices to hold an open house in the community. Many young couples go to open houses to find a home. Instead of just looking for a house, we can open our community and show prospective buyers all the great opportunities our community has to offer. We have affordable and attractive homes, as well as great schools. We also have the best police and fire departments in the area. We have an excellent youth sports program with the GCYAA. Our city parks are clean and safe and offer many walking paths for residents. Maplewood Community Center houses the Garden City Library and offers numerous activities for our senior citizens and youth.
With so many great things to offer, Garden City truly is a “Great Place to Call Home”, we just need to market it to that affect.
Jacobs: Garden City is a small town community with low crime rate and safe neighborhoods. We have different school options for young children like St. Raphael, Charter Schools or Public Schools. We have plenty of recreation for kids. We have excellent services as in our DPW, Police and Fire Departments. In general Garden City is small enough that you can get to know everyone and big enough to have all the services you need.
Kerwin: GCYAA has many sport activities for the children to be involved in. The residents are very active and volunteer their time as well as nonresidents. Many come from other cities, just because of our sports programs throughout the city.
We have good caring teachers and volunteers, with strong bonds that go above and beyond. Mr. Bill Abbott, Kathy Kolesar and many more.
DDA downtown development are always coming up with new ideas for community events, example (Flea Circus), (Chili Cook off). (Santaland Parade), which has been going for 50+ years, (Trunk or Treat, local businesses come together for this event.
I would like to see the Chamber Of Commerce return back in our city, I think it is important for a city to have a Chamber of Commerce.
We have a great library, which offer free events for the families and children.
Garden City soon will have a new parking lot, the park is kept clean, nice ball fields, I commend our new director Kevin Roney for keeping our park & facilities a clean place for families to come and enjoy.
McKarge: What is your specific plan/ideas to help bring more residents, especially young families, to Garden City and make the city a more attractive place to live? AKA: Sell to Sue Mason Garden City as a city she should move to.
Garden City continues to provide a safe, well-kept and affordable community that has amenities such as community events and recreational programs. We are a community made up of very caring, hardworking families and businesses. This is certainly one of our major strengths that we need to nurture.
I will continue to support, at minimum, the current level of staffing in the police and fire departments. We cannot do this without support from the general and safety millage funds which I supported and will continue to fight for.
Garden City’s housing stock provides homes that are affordable for young families. Affordability is very important but families want quality housing in neighborhoods that are well maintained. The city must continue to educate citizens and businesses concerning ordinances that address the responsibilities of home and business ownership. Then we have to enforce the ordinances. This will allow us all to enjoy our community and encourage new families and businesses to move here.
There is not a lot of room for new growth in Garden City but there is still a need to improve existing homes and apartments. Rental properties must be inspected and owners required to maintain them. The city took a big step in improving our housing stock by entering into a Neighborhood Stabilization agreement with a development company that will rehabilitate tax-foreclosed homes and fill them with owner occupied taxpayers. I supported this program and will continue to support innovative ideas to improve our community.
I will continue to support the sidewalk maintenance program. Every decision I make I must weigh the cost of the program with the benefits. This program is a cost to the homeowner, but safe and walkable neighborhoods are one more step in creating a community that people want to live in. Our city infrastructure is the responsibility of city government. I voted to put in a new parking lot at City Park because we have a responsibility to maintain city owned facilities. I am disappointed we cannot make faster improvements in our streets.
Garden City offers a great sense of place. I will continue to support programs such as the Santaland Parade and the Chili Cook-off. I will continue my personal support of the Garden City Historical Museum and I encourage others to support it as well. I will also listen to and support the volunteer youth athletic organizations that provide exceptional programs for our youths. These amenities are what keep families in Garden City and will bring in new ones.
Squires: As a Realtor, it is illegal for me to steer a client to a particular area but since Sue Mason is not my client, here we go. Word of mouth is the best advertising. Garden City has so much to offer. It is a warm, comfortable community with affordable homes, our own hospital, police and fire departments. The police and fire department are thanks to our residents that voted for the millage. We have our Sports associations run by many volunteers that keep our youth active. We offer family oriented activities every year like our Santaland Parade, Flea Circus, Kids in the Park just to name a few. It is a city that has multiple generations buying homes here. I’m proud to say that three generations of my family live here, I have been an advocate for our Neighborhood Stabilization Program, where homes lost to tax foreclosure are being purchased, rehabbed, brought up to code and will be sold to owners that will occupy them. Thus eliminating some of our vacant homes. I will be keeping on top of the progress of that program to make sure it’s working properly.
Observer: Why did you decided to seek a seat on the Garden City Council? Cite three of the top priorities that you believe should be addressed by the City Council?
Arnoske: I am seeking re-election because I believe Garden City is a great city and I would like to continue being a part of Garden City’s future successes. Garden City is the community that I have grown up in. My parents, brothers, aunt and uncle are residents here too. I’ve stated it before, “Garden City is a community where generation after generation has lived”.
My top three priorities are city infrastructure, curbside recycling and continued blight enforcement.
Our city’s aging infrastructure needs to be addressed. The city has done a good job of holding it together during the economic crisis. Now it’s time to develop a plan with vision that looks at our short and long term needs. We need to continue to be creative in finding funding from outside sources to supplement our property tax base. Curbside recycling is one of the things that young couples expect and will help attract families to our city; and lastly, continued support of ordinances in controlling blight within the city.
Jacobs: I decided to run for council because I now have the time to devote to the city. I am a lifelong resident that has seen everything from the good to the bad happen here and I believe I can help the city improve. I think the priority for our city is to try to get more businesses into the city. We have plenty of property available, especially along Ford Road. Another issue I am interested in addressing is our roads. Our side streets are in terrible shape and I would also like to see the Blight Program continue to grow.
Kerwin: I’ve had eight years on the city council. I love this city. I’ve raised my family here, been in this city for 60+years.
I want to continue to work with the citizens with questions and concerns, and respond to them immediately.
A. Infrastructure – we need to continue maintaining, repairing and rebuilding our roads, water mains and buildings.
B. I would like to see the continuing up keep of properties.
C. Making sure that we keep open communication and transparency.
McKarge: I am seeking reelection to the City Council because I feel I am making a positive contribution to my community. I bring a balanced outlook concerning city services. On one hand I am aware that we must remain an affordable city. I strive to keep our taxes and assessments as low as possible while providing resources that keeps the environment safe and also provides the amenities that people want in their community.
The top three priorities that should be addressed by the City Council are:
1. Maintaining a balanced budget that meets the needs of the community including maintaining and improving the city infrastructure and also maintaining a fund balance (savings account) that can meet emergency needs
2. Continuing support of water and sewer infrastructure improvements/maintenance
3. Supporting programs and ordinances that will maintain housing stock and businesses in the city.
Squires: I love Garden City and am proud that I have been able to be a part of helping our city move forward after an economic downturn. We are headed in the right direction and I would like to continue with the decision making process to keep us on the right track. I see our infrastructure, why businesses are not moving into our city and blight in our neighborhoods as some of the top priorities.
Observer: Business development: what can be done from a council level to encourage business development in the city, especially in downtown area?
Arnoske: Garden City is a residential community with many established small businesses. Continued support of the DDA and Garden City Planning Commission is vital to our business development. With the DDA and help of the newly created Garden City Business Alliance, more focus can be given on welcoming new businesses to our city.
Jacobs: To get more businesses in the city we could look at some kind of incentives such as tax breaks or some other kind of benefit to encourage businesses to start up in Garden City.
Kerwin: I have been in business for over 40 years, I have experienced what businesses need and want in our city.
McKarge: I have been a member of the Garden City Kiwanis for 21 years and this past year became involved in the Event Committee of the Garden City Business Alliance. I joined these groups for two reasons, one I enjoy doing volunteer work in my community such as helping at the Chili cook-off and the Garden City Taste-Fest. Secondly and most importantly, I am able to have closer contact with business owners in Garden City. This contact has made it easier for me to see the “whole” picture of our City, not just as part of city government or as a homeowner. There is a balance that I am looking for and hope to sustain; supporting regulations and ordinances that encourage a safe and pleasant environment but trying to make the process easier for our business owners. The best way the city can support our businesses and encourage businesses to move here is to maintain a strong, stable community. That encompasses many components that the council is constantly working on.
Squires: We as a council need to encourage the support our current businesses and take the initiative to find out why businesses are not moving into Garden City.
Observer: What would you like to see changed about city government? Improvements, changes to how service is rendered, etc.?
Arnoske: Our city employees have continued to provide excellent service for the past 10 years despite a 30 percent reduction in all personnel. Garden City has always maintained an average of 3-5 minute police and fire response time for emergencies. Our DPS crews have provided outstanding services to the residents despite having minimal funding for road repairs. As a resident, I believe we have the best snow plow crew in Wayne County. Unfortunately, we have reached the point where we can’t continue to ask our employees to do more with less. We need to give the employees the tools they need to do their jobs the right way and stop our Band-Aid approach. It’s the responsibility of the Mayor and Council to make sure the budget that is approved addresses their needs and we need to make improving our city services a priority.
Jacobs: Right now, from the outside I think the city is pretty streamlined. I would like to see more funding from the state to help our DPW crews and Police and Fire. I believe with the limitations we have we get great services.
Our Police and Fire Departments provide excellent services. Our Chiefs and their teams work very efficiently.
Kerwin: I believe we are doing a pretty good job I would not change this council. We work together as a team, of all my years on city council, this one works well together.
McKarge: The quality and number of staffing plays an integral part of how our city government works. As our economy improves the Council must look carefully at how employees are compensated and how many are needed to provide the services the community wants. There is always a balancing act, what we need versus what we can afford.
I would like to see a new or renovated building for the Department of Public Service. The current building is inadequate and has been for a long time.
I would like to have curb side recycling. This is an issue that council will be looking at again in the near future. There seems to be strong support for having this service but it can only be accomplished if it is financially responsible.
I would like to see improvements made to city property such as basic landscaping needs at City Hall, at our parks and at Maplewood. As a member of the Garden City Garden Club I helped renovate the landscaping at the Fire Department and am working on the entrance areas of City Park. Volunteers can do a great deal but cannot do it all.
Squires: I would love to see us be able to hire a few more employees to help our some of our department heads, but that will take time. We have been very fortunate to keep many of our city services and I would like to see more of them come back. Our department heads and employees are doing a great job with what they have to work with.
Observer: Why should voters choose you over candidates to fill one of four council seats at stake in this year’s election?
Arnoske: I have spent my career working for the city (22 years), both professionally and as a volunteer. I understand how the city departments operate as well as budget issues. I’ve worked for previous Councils as the City’s Administrative Assistant. This experience, as well as my past two years serving on council, has allowed me to continue to gain additional insight into how the governing body operates and what is necessary to make it an effective form of government. I have a passion for this city and would like to be a part of its future successes.
Jacobs: I believe I am the right candidate as I have been in the city my entire life. I have been involved with different organizations and have worked with many different personalities working as a team towards one goal. I think one of my best traits is that I listen and have the ability to be fair. I know I can’t make everyone happy but if I do what is best for the majority of the people then I believe I have done my duty. I am a honest, hardworking person that has the best interest of the people in mind and would like to see Garden City continue to grow and become better and more attractive as time goes on.
Kerwin: I believe with my present and past vast experiences with the city that it would be the best interest of our citizens to keep me on this council to continue working for their best interest.
Current council member, Past Mayor Pro-Tem, Life member of the GCYAA, Past member Garden City Jaycees, Former Garden City Planning Commissioner, Past member of Garden City Rotary, Garden City business owner for over 40 years, past board member of Garden City Hospital, Myself, wife and children are Garden City School graduates. I’m dedicated to all residents and business owners of Garden City.
McKarge: In the past two years I have proven that I can make tough decisions on the budget and work respectfully with administration and fellow council members. Through the years I have earned the respect of residents of all ages by being trustworthy, approachable and interested in the community as a whole. I do my homework, researching issues that come before the council, and asking questions of staff members. With my past experience as Parks and Recreation Director, as an active volunteer member of the community and my current experience on council I feel I have the knowledge and the experience to make good decisions for our community.
Squires: I take my Council position very seriously. My decisions are based on common sense. As I have said many times, my decisions not only affect all the residents of Garden City, but me and my family as well. I love Garden City and will hopefully be elected to continue to serve the residents here.