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April 2 Election Questionnaire: Egg Harbor Village Board

Jeanne Kuhns, write-in candidate

I have been a resident and business owner in Egg Harbor since 2012.

I was born in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1953 and lived in the Chicago Suburbs vacationing in Door County. I lived in five other states, before I settled in Door County in 2000.

I studied Fine Art and Biology in Illinois and Zoology at the University of Montana , before earning a Nursing Degree from Harper College in Illinois, 1980. I have worked multiple disciplines in various hospitals as an RN. My twelve years split between at The Wellness Center and Community Clinic in Sturgeon Bay were inspiring to me.

Since 2000 I have lived and worked in Door County as an RN, Artist and Musician. Nursing taught me about social concerns and gave me tools of communication. Living in diverse places has fostered a unique view of community, my science background giving me a foundation for current environmental issues and my business experience a sense of fiscal responsibility.

I would love to serve the place and people I care so deeply for, the Village of Egg Harbor.

Joe Smith

After graduating from UWGB with degrees in Public Administration and Environmental Policy & Planning in 2006, I began working at Shipwrecked as a college kid spending “one last summer” in Door County. I quickly fell in love with Egg Harbor and knew this was where I wanted to live and I have full time since 2009. I joined (and still serve on) the Plan Commission in 2011, and then served on the Village Board from 2012 to 2017, first as Trustee, then as President. As general manager of Shipwrecked I interact with thousands of visitors to the community, and more importantly hundreds of village residents – those who can vote and those who can’t. Even now that I’m not on the village board its not uncommon for people to call me or stop in and bend my ear or ask questions about village news. I’m always happy to listen and discuss.

Q: What challenges does the village face, and how do you intend to help meet those challenges?

Jeanne Kuhns: At this time we have a chance to fully realize a comprehensive village growth plan, based on previous studies and experience to utilize sustainable practice, efficiency, accessibility to community members and tourism. I have knowledge of environmental and sustainable practice and a desire to connect the needs with a unified beauty of form and cost effective innovation. I will listen to what villagers have to say and work with the board to create the solutions to most closely represent their wishes. Everyone has an equal voice and importance to me, and needs to be heard.

Joe Smith: The tourism in Egg Harbor is what drives the Village and makes it great. If it wasn’t for the visitors our community couldn’t support the amenities that we take for granted. Our free concerts in the park and at the Peg Egan, the quantity and quality of the shops and restaurants, and even the fact that we have a grocery store are all tied to the fact that we have so many visitors. There are two glaring challenges that need to be further addressed to support this. The sidewalks and parking bump-outs in our downtown area need serious attention. The cost to redesign and rebuild them is not insignificant and that scares a lot of people. The Parks & Public Works committee presented a plan that, if money were no object, would be the perfect solution. As I saw firsthand during the reconstruction of Shipwrecked, you can’t get everything you want when working within a realistic budget, but you can value engineers and figure out what can be done with what you have. The village needs to continue the downtown parking and sidewalk planning along the CTH 42 corridor.

The second challenge that threatens the lifestyle that we love is the sustainability of our workforce. If we don’t have people to work at the shops, restaurants, grocery stores, etc. they won’t be able to remain open. We need to identify areas for development of attainable housing for service industry workers and actively seek developers to make a project come together.

Q: The village is gaining a reputation as one of the more progressive municipalities in the county. How would you advance that progressive agenda?

JK: I am fully behind the vision of creating a village that is a pioneer and example for sustainable practices, alternative energy which will be cost effective and clean. Our village should fit with the natural world in appearance, in functionality and connecting our village residents and the tourism industry which is vital to us. I would foster this by being open to learning new ways to make this happen, to create a healthy, connected community that feeds the soul with friendship and beauty and is fiscally responsible and functional. The Village Board must be transparent and working with the Village residents.

JK: Egg Harbor’s progressive values seem so common sense to me that it is hard to segregate specifics. For me, the educational programs have been the most eye-opening. Things I wouldn’t even think about, like moving from Styrofoam to plant based to-go boxes at the restaurant were brought up at an EHBA dinner and next thing you know Shipwrecked and other restaurants have switched. Continued support for the Public Arts Initiative is also very important. When the group changed to being autonomous from the Village Board it allowed them freedoms and ease of use that they wouldn’t have by being part of the government. I am so excited to see EggStravagana this summer and want to see that the village continues to support this effort.

Q: Do you support the village’s decision to put the question of medical and recreational marijuana on the April ballot?

JK: Yes, I do. As a nurse and a person who has lived in a state where Marijuana is available for medical reasons I see real results in treating symptoms and the science backs it up.

JS: No. The results of this advisory referendum have no legal effect and the end result will be a strongly worded letter to state lawmakers. By resolution, the Village Board could do the same thing. Trustees are elected to make decisions based on listening to their constituents and following their moral compass, not put questions that might be associated with some social stigma to a secret ballot vote. I would be proud to go on the record and vote “aye” to a resolution supporting the legalization of recreational marijuana so long as it is regulated in a manner similar to alcohol as other states have already done.

Q: What, if any, changes would you like to see in the village?

JK: I’d like to see the north and South ends of the village more accessible and connected to the central space. I’d like to see extended safer walking trails, mapping and accessibility. I am thrilled with how the village embraces the arts and would support more of that. I think the upcoming issue of planning the re-pavement of Highway 42 through town is giving us a huge chance to make some safety and accessibility changes and still maintain our beautiful small town feel. I also am concerned with job growth and basic needs of the population being met.

JS: I would like to take a good hard look at doing more things in house. I feel that more and more services have been farmed out in the past years and it is time to rein them in a bit. I think the cost savings would be great enough to hire a receptionist at the village office to do the clerical work being performed by our deputy administrator in the middle of doing the rest of her job.

Q: Has the village reached saturation point, or is there room to grow?

JK: I think there is room for responsible growth. Making sure that buildings are optimally used, that sustainable practices are the norm, that natural spaces are healthy and protected. Recycling materials, maintaining green spaces and keeping our ecosystem healthy and growing to that end responsibly with careful thought are possible and necessary.

JS: Absolutely not. The infill that has been happening on Church Street is exactly what was called for in the Village’s Master Plan and is really looking good. We do, however, need to take a good look at our zoning for the downtown MU district and clarify some language and possibly add some additional requirements for the Highway 42 corridor specifically to ensure the continued connectivity of the downtown.