Candidates for Liberty Grove Town Board of Supervisors

Frank Forkert (Incumbent)

Age:  84

Education:  College degree in Economics and International Relations

Occupation:  Retired

Relative Experience and Civic Involvement:  Two-term supervisor, Liberty Grove Town Board; Retired board member and chair of the Birch Creek board of directors; Current board member and treasurer, Door County Maritime Museum; Current board member, Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands; Member, Door County Land Trust; Member, Ellison Bay Service Club.

What is the biggest challenge facing the municipality and how would you address?

The biggest challenge facing the Town of Liberty Grove is funding the services and properties owned by the Town. We have a very experienced road crew of four men and a most experienced office of staff of two to manage 105 miles of roads, 18 parks, 45 miles of shoreline, a Town Hall and shops, a quarry, Fire Station and other buildings.

The State severely limits what we can tax. Though our assessed evaluation is higher than any other municipality in Door County we fall short of adequate funding and must spend each penny judiciously and fairly.

Our roads are deteriorating faster than we can maintain, repair and resurface them. Our share of the state’s gas tax is insufficient to keep up. The new board will have to find additional ways of sourcing funding.

What is the biggest challenge facing the municipality and how would you address?  The biggest challenge facing the Town of Liberty Grove is funding the services and properties owned by the Town. We have a very experienced road crew of four men and a most experienced office of staff of two to manage 105 miles of roads, 18 parks, 45 miles of shoreline, a Town Hall and shops, a quarry, Fire Station and other buildings. The State severely limits what we can tax. Though our assessed evaluation is higher than any other municipality in Door County we fall short of adequate funding and must spend each penny judiciously and fairly. Our roads are deteriorating faster than we can maintain, repair and resurface them. Our share of the state’s gas tax is insufficient to keep up. The new board will have to find additional ways of sourcing funding.

What do you see as the board’s duty to the residents and businesses in the municipality?

The town board’s duty to its residents, businesses and visitors is to respond responsibly to their collective best interests – not only in the short term, but in the long term. Both federal and state statutes require that we listen to our electorate and come to decisions that reflect what we hear.

Town government is the most democratic and transparent level of government in our country. I shall continue to pledge, as I have for the past four years, to follow the 10 specific ways there are to be a responsible supervisor. They are spelled out in my paid-for advertisement in this issue. I would consider it an honor to serve the citizens of the Town of Liberty Grove for another two-year term as supervisor.

Nancy Goss (Incumbent)

Age:  62

Education:  Baileys Harbor Grade School; Gibraltar High School; University of Wisconsin-Madison

Occupation: Retired, 2009

Relevant Experience or Civic Involvement:

1994 – 1997 Door County Community Programs Administrative Assistant

1997 – 2009 Village of Ephraim

• 1997 Administrative Assistant

• 2003 Zoning Administrator (concurrent)

• 2006 Treasurer (concurrent)

2003 – Liberty Grove Planning Commission

2008 – Present

Liberty Grove Board of Supervisors

• Planning Commission Chair

• Finance Committee Chair

• Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Board

• Niagara Escarpment Interpretive Center Committee Chair

• (2008 – 2011) Tourism Zone Commission

What is the biggest challenge facing the municipality and how would you address it?  One of our biggest challenges is dealing with budgeting for town services while sandwiched between ever-increasing costs and state-imposed caps. I plan to be one of the town representatives attending “Legislative Days” this spring. It provides an opportunity to speak directly with our state lawmakers and outline how we are affected by policies and what might be done for relief.

If the board were forced to make budget cuts, what would be the first thing to go?

The first thing, always, to go in the Liberty Grove budget is road repair.  Every year we have a list of about a half dozen roads prioritized for repairs that range in cost from fifteen to several hundred thousand dollars each.  They account for a significant portion of the levy; therefore, we often wind up delaying for a year (or more) a scheduled repair because we have to cut the budget in order to stay within state caps. This is a painful situation for a town like Liberty Grove with many miles of municipal roads to maintain.

What do you see as the board’s duty to the residents and businesses in the municipality?

I believe our duty is twofold, first to respectfully listen to our residents’ ideas and suggestions to make Liberty Grove a better place. Second, to brainstorm and thoroughly research those and other ideas with fairness and balance so that when a vote is cast it represents a decision that makes Liberty Grove a better place for everyone.

Michael J. Mercier

Age:  43

Education:  High school, some college

Occupation:  Self-employed caretaker and property manager

Relevant Experience or Civic Involvement:  Past Teresa K. Hilander Ice Rink committee member, rink volunteer, and current manager of ice rink for the Village of Sister Bay. I have attended many village parks and property meetings regarding the rink. I have been attending the following meetings regularly in the Town of Liberty Grove since October 2012:  Economic Development Committee, Plan Commission, IT Committee, Town Board Meetings, Rowley’s Bay Sub-committee, Highway Committee and the annual Town Budget Hearing. I have requested multiple times to serve on these committees, and have yet to be considered for any. I interviewed with the town to replace Bob Tidball when he resigned, was not appointed.

What is the biggest challenge facing the municipality and how would you address it? High-speed internet services and economic growth. It is being addressed currently, but I feel the town could be being more aggressive with asking for help from other government agencies, and should be exploring other rural areas to investigate how others may have solved similar issues.

If the board were forced to make budget cuts, what would be the first thing to go?

To answer this question with a couple-sentence answer would be a disservice to the town and its citizens. Much more research, thought and discussion would be needed to provide an adequate answer. If elected, and immersed in the process, I think I’d be able to answer that effectively. At this point in time, I am not.

What do you see as the board’s duty to the residents and businesses in the municipality?

To provide a safe and clean community in which we live, and to strive to grow and prosper our town as we move into the future. Oh, and to pick up the trash in our town parks.