Navreet Kang

Here is the response I received to several questions I sent to councilman, and candidate for re-election  Navreet Kang. His responses are unedited:

1.  Why are you running for another term on the council?

I have served on the planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals for the City for last 13 years (until 2015), when I got elected to the City Council. I have made contributions to the City Fire Department by bringing in our 4th Arson Dog, bringing funding for an Infra-Red Camera, and provided 110 Canary Home Protection devices to each and every Fire/Policeman. I have lived now in Carbondale for almost 30 years (April 25 will be 30), and this is my home. I find it as my civic duty to contribute in some fashion to this community. 

2. What do you feel you have accomplished during your past council term?

Downtown Redevelopment, Demolition of old Horizon Inn, Development of Downtown Hotel, City has earned the Bike-Friendly City award. Sidewalk/Bike Path  extending from Murdale Shopping Center to Old Hwy 13, Now Bikepaths are almost throughout the city. Every new street will be paved with Bike paths in mind.

We have new more streamlined software for Finance Department, and for the Police. Hired a new (and effective City Manager, Economic Development Director, and New Police Chief). We now have Natural Burials permitted in Carbondale. We have acquired and authorized a bike trail from Oakland Avenue to New Era Road, extending further west toward Murphysboro. New Warming Center was introduced this winter, and I'd like to see a permanent Warming/Cooling Center. We now have See, Click, Fix App available to anyone who wants to report a problem or an issue in Carbondale, pertaining to Code Violations, or just a street light being out. 

We now have online agenda program, thereby saving valuable police time that it took to deliver our Council packages each week, copying paper copies for at least 10 individuals each meeting, etc. saving a lot of money as well as personnel hours. 

We have a new Diversity Officer, as well as an HR Manager. 

We have revised and eased up restrictions on Housing Grants for First-time homebuyers. 20 homeowners were able to take advantage of such programs. 

Security Upgrades within the City Hall and we have a more revamped Website.

We have hired a Public Relations Officer. 

Passed a Block Party Ordinance. Celebrated Halloween with open liquor and brought in a Festival like atmosphere back to Carbondale. Allowed all bars to remain open during Halloween weekend.

Allowed Sidewalk Café's to serve open liquor.

Revamped our Garbage Collection with new Containers issued to each residence, as well as reduce Worker's Comp Claims from those workers, who collect refuse, by  reducing back and other injuries caused by heavy lifting.

We now have self-funded insurance.

We licensed Uber/Lyft into Carbondale

Managed the Solar Eclipse successfully

Expanded trails and recreation areas at Cedar Lake

We are in the process of developing Sustainability Plan.

Mandatory Diversity Training for all employees.

3. What would you like to accomplish if re-elected?

Business and Economic Development by bringing in new industry/businesses.

Maintain a balanced budget, while contributing amounts required to fund Police/Firemen's Pension Fund.

Help SIU bring up Student enrollment

Improve Housing Stock

Improve Community Relations

Improve City Parks and Recreation (Hopefully to merge Park Operations into City Adminstration

4. Is there anything else you would like the voters of Carbondale to know

I am an MBA and M.S. (Agri.). Degree holder, with over 36 years of business and management experience, plus 8 years as a Park District Commissioner, 13 years on the Planning Commission, 13 years on Zoning Board of Appeals, of which I was the Vice-Chair for 3 years, and Chair for 3 years, now almost 4 years as City Councilman. I believe I have what it takes to be an effective motivator and a leader to serve this city.

Navreet Kang

City Councilman

City of Carbondale.Illinois

Political Yard Signs

Apparently 'tis the season for political yard sign abuse. According to an email I received, the Henry campaign says over 90 of its yard signs have gone missing since their placement. The Adams and Kang campaigns have also reported signs missing or damaged, though not in such large numbers.

I also heard, (secondhand) of a landlord requiring a tenant to remove one candidate's signs from the yard, who then replaced them with signs supporting the other candidate. If true, this violated the tenant's 1st amendment rights six ways from Sunday.

Mayoral Debate

Missed the mayoral debate/Q&A session tonight but looks as if a lot of people had interest in it as both the Civic Center parking lot and Town Square lots were full. 

Also have seen a number of Navreet Kang signs popping up around town including in the windows of D'lish 7 Spice Grill.

Election Candidates

Here are the final candidates for  office for next May's council/Mayor election.

Candidates for Mayor:

L – Jane Adams, 606 West Elm Street

L – John “Mike” Henry, 1210 West Hill Avenue

Candidates for City Council Member:

L – Navreet Kang, 613 South Terrace Drive

L – Adam Loos, 512 West Pecan Street

3 – Angela K. Kaye, 113 North Lark Lane

4 – Rebel Pinkston, 1230 West Short Drive

5 - Tom Grant, 5370 Springer Ridge Road

L - Anna Durrett, 800 ½ West Main Street

L - Lance D. Jack, 1026 North Bridge Street

All Mayoral and City Council candidates run on a non-partisan basis, which means they are not affiliated with a specific political party for the municipal election.  They are also elected at-large rather than from wards, which entitles them to receive votes from all areas of the City. Once the Mayor and Council Members are elected, they represent the entire City and all of its citizens, not just one geographic area or one particular group of people.

The Candidates-elect will take office on May 5, 2015.

Navreet Kang Announcement

Navreet Kang sent out the following announcing his candidacy for City Council:

Carbondale, Illinois, a city considered the hub of Southern Illinois, is a beautiful town, which I have called home for more than 25 years. I have a Master’s degree in Horticulture from India, as well as an MBA degree from Southern Illinois University. Also  a small business owner myself, and a landlord, I have come to understand what it takes a community to grow. I have been a part of our ONLY community radio station, WDBX 91.1FM, a not-for-profit organization,  both as a volunteer DJ and a financial supporter as well.  I am currently serving as one of the three Executive Directors on the Heterodyne Broadcasting Company’s Board of Directors.

 

In order to grow Carbondale, we need to not only help current small business owners to grow, but also bring new businesses in order to generate more tax revenues for the city, provide meaningful employment to our residents. These would-be new residents/employees/business owners will not only invest in real estate but generate more revenues for the city government thru increased spending within the city.  In order to keep existing and bring in new businesses, the City will need to offer incentives and above all, look for reasons to accommodate them, rather than not as is perceived today.

 

We have a lot of old vacant properties within the city of Carbondale, which are not only eyesores, but also a drain on our city’s treasury because the city has to provide services, for which it  receives little to no revenues in real estate taxes. While it may be necessary to go outside of the city limits for certain situations,  I will encourage and look for ways to make these properties viable, and revenue-productive. Growing just outside our city limits puts extra and undue stress and demands on our infrastructure, including water, sewer, fire  and police department resources. By making the properties productive, and revenue-producing, we can eliminate such undue demands on our limited resources. In-fill development for both residential as well as commercial properties is required for the city to make an efficient use of its resources. With my 14 years of experience working on the Carbondale Planning Commission, I will work with the city manager and the council members to encourage the in-fill growth.

 

Speaking of bringing new people, businesses, and keeping our existing ones, it is ever so important that all the residents of the city as well as the visitors are afforded a safe and secure environment where they do not feel threatened, and would instead love to come to and stay in  Carbondale, thereby increasing our tax revenues.

 

If I am elected to the City Council, I will strive hard to bring in new businesses, provide incentives to existing local businesses to stay, provide a sustained safe and secure environment in which we all wish to live. I will also work with outside agencies to help improve access to Carbondale both via ground and air, which will further make Carbondale an attractive place to come to. As a Council member, I will encourage the city to work with not only our local Tourism and Convention Bureau but to go outside and network with other such entities to make Carbondale a Tourist destination. Carbondale has so much to offer in and around town that most of it stays best kept secret. As a Council Member, I will make sure that the secret is out, and help our hometown, Carbondale, an welcome place to anybody who would care to come and stay.

 

Generally speaking, the property taxes in the City are very high compared to just outside the city limits, which if not kept in check, will further encourage the residents to leave the city limits and go outside and build. Property taxes have steadily increased in the past three years, after a few years of not having any city property tax levy. Once elected, I will strive hard to find other ways of funding city expenditures, in addition to looking for efficiencies within, thus eliminating government waste and redundancies.

 

SIU is a great asset to our city, being the largest employer in the area. Student enrollment has been on the decline except a very slight increase this year. We need to provide a safe and welcome environment to our most precious commodity, the students of SIU, and encourage their involvement in community projects, and harness their exuberance as well as energy and channel into productive citizens. As a Council member, I will work with the University Administration to encourage enrollment, as well as a positive involvement of the students in our community at large.

 

While there is a large Asian and other minority community in Carbondale, contributing to the city’s tax and revenue base significantly, there is no representation on the city government from this sector. I will help fill that void, and serve not only that particular sector but all residents of Carbondale, thereby bringing more diversity, and build more tolerant environment in  our city. With my business experience, having served as a Commissioner of the Carbondale Park District in the years past, as well as the sitting Commissioner on the Planning Commission as well as the Zoning Board of Appeals for the past 14 years, I will bring all these resources to serve all residents of our great city.  I look forward to working with the City Council, the Mayor, and the general public of Carbondale to make this a better and more economic, culturally-diverse and aesthetically appealing community. 

City Council Candidates

Both Adam Loos and Navreet Kang will appear on the ballot for the three positions open on city council.  Here is Loos' announcement of his candidacy:

CARBONDALE – Adam Loos announced his candidacy for Carbondale City Council Monday morning shortly after filing paperwork at city hall. Mr. Loos currently serves on the city’s Planning Commission, and is President of the Northwest Carbondale Neighborhood Association. Loos previously served on Carbondale’s Sustainability Commission.

 “I have lived in Carbondale for fifteen years. My wife and I own a home in Carbondale, and we are raising our son here. We care about this community and want to see it thrive,” Mr. Loos said in his announcement. “Carbondale has a lot going for it, but it also faces some problems. I want to build on our strengths and overcome our obstacles,” he added.

Loos said his campaign will focus on improving quality of life in Carbondale by improving the city’s downtown and residential neighborhoods and preserving essential city services. Loos also said he wants to encourage small business growth in Carbondale.

Mr. Loos said he is running for city council for two reasons. “First, a lot of people have encouraged me to run. Second, I believe my experience serving on city commissions and working with the Northwest Carbondale Neighborhood Association will help me serve the city and build a government that works for our citizens.”

The council seats currently held by Jane Adams, Corene McDaniel, and Lance Jack are open in 2015. Adams announced on Saturday that she will be a candidate for Mayor in 2015. McDaniel has previously said she will not be a candidate in 2015.

If thirteen or more candidates file for the three council seats, the city will hold a primary election on February 24, 2015, to narrow the field to six. If twelve or fewer candidates file for the three seats, there will be no primary. The general election is April 7, 2015.

City Council Election Petitions Open

Wanna run for city council or even mayor of Carbondale? You can start filing petitions on Nov. 17 through Nov. 24. Councilwoman Jane Adams has said she plans to run for Mayor and I have heard that Lance Jack plans to seek another term on the council, while Navreet Kang will campaign for one of the available three seats.

The Office of the Carbondale City Clerk will be open on Monday, November 17, 2014, through Monday, November 24, 2014, for the purpose of accepting petitions for the 2015 Consolidated Election on April 7, 2015 (or the Primary Election on February 24, 2015, if necessary) for the following offices:

Mayor – one (1) 4-year term and three (3) City Council members – 4-year terms

The dates and times the nominating petitions will be accepted are as follows:
Monday, November 17, 2014 – 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 – 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014 – 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 20, 2014 – 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Friday, November 21, 2014– 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Monday, November 24, 2014 – 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Petitions for Mayor or City Council member must be filed in the Office of the City Clerk, Carbondale City Hall, 200 South Illinois Avenue, Carbondale, Illinois 62901.
A lottery will be held on December 2, 2014, for all simultaneous filings that are filed at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, November 17, 2014, or that are received in the first mail of Monday, November 17, 2014. Additionally, petitions that are filed between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on November 24, 2014, will be deemed simultaneously filed in accordance with 10 ILCS 5/7-12(6). A lottery for those petitions will also be held on December 2, 2014, in the Office of the City Clerk. Both lotteries are open to members of the public.

Corene McDaniel Newest Old Council Member

I did not make it to council meeting last night but probably would have meant a lot of sitting in the antechamber while council met in closed session. According to the schedule, council met in open session for about half an hour to take citizen comments regarding whom should be appointed to Don Monty's empty seat, then moved to closed session to vote on the three candidates. Former council member Corene McDaniel emerged the victor

As I told someone last week, if I was betting a significant amount of money, I would have bet on McDaniel getting the nod from council. She has served on council before, is a known quantity and familiar to most of the other council members. Grant hasn't been particularly active in governmental affairs since leaving his position with the city and, while Kang serves on the Planning Commission, it acts in a purely advisory capacity, with no regulatory power, ergo no idea how he would act in a rule-making.  For the next 15 or so months, I imagine McDaniel looked like the safest bet.

Updated:  According to this report, McDaniel will only serve out the remainder of Monty's term and will not seek re-election. This does make the election to fill the seat for the full term more fair as if Kang or Grant had been appointed, they would have had a significant advantage, as will Monty, in seeking a full term on the council.

Potential City Council Members

The city has posted the list of those interested in taking Don Monty's spot on the city council:

• Ms. Lorie Allen; 1008 West Sycamore Street; Certified Holistic Touch Practitioner and Certified Personal Trainer
• Ms. Judy Cunningham; 509 N. Oakland Avenue; Retired Registered Nurse
• Mr. Thomas Grant; 5370 Springer Ridge Road; President, Grant Consulting Company, President Mulberry Hill Farm, and former Building and Neighborhood Services Manager for the City
• Mr. Navreet Kang; 613 South Terrace Drive; Owner/ Manager local State Farm Insurance Agency
• Mr. George Maroney; 37 Pinewood Drive; Retired Administrator, Memorial Hospital of Carbondale
• Ms. Ruth Corene McDaniel; 516 East Jackson Street; Former three-term City Council Member (until 2013) and Retired Cosmetologist
• Mr. Adrian Miller; 500 Saluki Drive; Undergraduate Student at SIUC (Political Science Major) and President of Undergraduate Student Government for 2013-2014
• Mr. Brent Ritzel; 801 North Springer Street; Graduate Student at SIUC (Masters of Public Administration Program) and Graduate Research Assistant at Morris Library Special Collections Resource Center

Of the above, George Maroney ran for mayor during the last election, while Navreet Kang and Brent Ritzel ran for council seats, with Ritzel barely losing out to current council member Jessica Brandshaw.  Corene McDaniel served on council for about a dozen years, before declining to run again at the end of her last term.

Of the others, Tom Grant was Building and Neighborhood Services Manager for the city for a number of years and currently runs Mulberry Hill Farm.  I am not particularly familiar with Adrian Miller, Judy Cunningham or Lorie Allen.

Of those seeking the seat, Brent Ritzel probably has the "best claim" to it, as he and Kang were the only two to actively seek a seat in the last election and he lost to Branshaw by only a few votes.  However, putting Tom Grant on the council would have two benefits:

1. Having worked for the city for a number of years, he would bring more knowledge of city operations to council than any of the interested parties except Corene McDaniel

2. As the proprietor of Mulberry Hill Farm, he would bring an active business perspective to council, as everyone else on council, with the exception of Lance Jack, is either retired or employed by the university.

City Council Race

In the race for the three open seats on the Carbondale City Council, Yard signs for Navreet Kang and Jerrold Hennrich have been out for a couple of months now.  Brnet Ritzel put out triple the number of the other two a week or so ago and I just spotted the first Jessica Bradshaw sign over the weekend.

Navreet Kang on Attendance

Since Navreet Kang's comment was posted in response to a post of a couple of weeks ago, I wanted to make sure more people read it:

I saw that a mention was made of my attendance at the Planning Commission meetings during the past year. Yes, it was 33% but it was due to some extenuating circumstances, and yes, I do care to elaborate. If anyone cares to go back longer, you're welcome to look it up at the city hall. My attendance record was even better, but here is my past five years' attendance record:

Year Attendance

2007 100%
2008 100%
2009 78%
2010 75%
2011 33%

In 2010, I had a baby boy, and my wife was working mostly evenings while I had to take care of my son during those times, thus missing the meetings. I had always offered to attend in case there was a lack of quorum to the Planning Division. I wanted to seek a seat on the City Council 3 years ago, but due to these commitments, I stayed back. Now my son will be 3 years old, and my wife having better employment hours, I will be able to devote all the time necessary to carry out my duties as a Councilman.

Navreet Kang