Tom Carr
Name: Tom Carr
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 651-303-8001
Campaign Website: None
Twitter handle: None
Facebook Page: None
Candidate Bio
I have previously been Mayor for 14 years and currently serve on the City Council. I have also been in Grant for over 50 years and have strived to keep Grant rural and a great place to come home too.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
I would bring a management style that would make the Council fully involved with how the City is run. I would also have the residents feel like their input is welcomed and encourage more participation at Council meetings. Basically establishing the open door policy to welcome communication and then discussion.
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
Making sure the Cities financial status is good. Having our contractors and staff be good about communicating work done and all info flowing to the Council. Letting Council members run a meeting once in awhile to get a feel for it. I can’t do this forever.
What do you consider the biggest challenge and conversely, the biggest opportunity in Grant?
The biggest challenge is to avoid spending too much money on things that will long term cost us more money. We have several things the Council will need to look at going forward. It will be advantageous for these discussions to be done right away but action not quite as soon. Just Council input to staff to start to move forward with that direction.
Please characterize your perspective on the ideal collaboration between government and the business community when it comes to tackling challenges whether they be education, housing, or workforce development. Do you feel the outcomes of the 2023-2024 legislative session positively or negatively impacted that collaboration and our state's business climate?
I don’t think I am involved in what happens at the State level. And the Council the same. A bit more at the County level. Grant is unique so close to the Metro with few businesses, no development of businesses, two school districts and mostly rural residential. We strive to keep our low tax increases and react to what happens at the State level.
How would you characterize the business climate in Grant and what role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs and new businesses in Grant?
Rural business seem to be good. We neither encourage or promote business as we are a rural community and will always try to be.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your community?
We are currently involved with some grant money to put in sidewalks at the schools for safer road crossings. Also installing guardrails where needed with either State funds received, or other funds budgeted. We also are involved in dust control on our roads to make the experience of living or driving on the gravel roads better.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
This issue is not something Grant has as an issue. The Met Council dictated we go to 10 acre lots to keep out sewer and water so that was that.
How would you work to improve transportation options in your community, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
We are working with the County on sidewalks, horse trails, highway intersections and other safety issues as they come up.
Cities have addressed many ongoing needs with temporary, federal COVID relief dollars, what are your plans to ensure fiscal stability as these federal, one-time funds run out?
Not to overspend on things that will increase costs in the future. To look at the budget and plan wisely for the future. Grant has always spent wisely and I would encourage the Council to continue to do so.
Uber/Lyft wages and proposed childcare subsidies funded by local property taxes are just a few areas where local units of government are wading into policy debates that may be best suited at the state. Please articulate the different scopes of work between state and local government (City/County). Are there specific areas of policy that the city should lead on in lieu of the state or county government?
Grant should be allowed to control its own ordinances and its building codes. Every city should. Grants code was also managed years ago by the Met Council which limited what we could do under the shadow of sewer and water coming in to Grant. To now have the State come in, after Grant did what was required, would be a gross disrespect to Grant Councils that have kept their promise.
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 651-303-8001
Campaign Website: None
Twitter handle: None
Facebook Page: None
Candidate Bio
I have previously been Mayor for 14 years and currently serve on the City Council. I have also been in Grant for over 50 years and have strived to keep Grant rural and a great place to come home too.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
I would bring a management style that would make the Council fully involved with how the City is run. I would also have the residents feel like their input is welcomed and encourage more participation at Council meetings. Basically establishing the open door policy to welcome communication and then discussion.
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
Making sure the Cities financial status is good. Having our contractors and staff be good about communicating work done and all info flowing to the Council. Letting Council members run a meeting once in awhile to get a feel for it. I can’t do this forever.
What do you consider the biggest challenge and conversely, the biggest opportunity in Grant?
The biggest challenge is to avoid spending too much money on things that will long term cost us more money. We have several things the Council will need to look at going forward. It will be advantageous for these discussions to be done right away but action not quite as soon. Just Council input to staff to start to move forward with that direction.
Please characterize your perspective on the ideal collaboration between government and the business community when it comes to tackling challenges whether they be education, housing, or workforce development. Do you feel the outcomes of the 2023-2024 legislative session positively or negatively impacted that collaboration and our state's business climate?
I don’t think I am involved in what happens at the State level. And the Council the same. A bit more at the County level. Grant is unique so close to the Metro with few businesses, no development of businesses, two school districts and mostly rural residential. We strive to keep our low tax increases and react to what happens at the State level.
How would you characterize the business climate in Grant and what role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs and new businesses in Grant?
Rural business seem to be good. We neither encourage or promote business as we are a rural community and will always try to be.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your community?
We are currently involved with some grant money to put in sidewalks at the schools for safer road crossings. Also installing guardrails where needed with either State funds received, or other funds budgeted. We also are involved in dust control on our roads to make the experience of living or driving on the gravel roads better.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
This issue is not something Grant has as an issue. The Met Council dictated we go to 10 acre lots to keep out sewer and water so that was that.
How would you work to improve transportation options in your community, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
We are working with the County on sidewalks, horse trails, highway intersections and other safety issues as they come up.
Cities have addressed many ongoing needs with temporary, federal COVID relief dollars, what are your plans to ensure fiscal stability as these federal, one-time funds run out?
Not to overspend on things that will increase costs in the future. To look at the budget and plan wisely for the future. Grant has always spent wisely and I would encourage the Council to continue to do so.
Uber/Lyft wages and proposed childcare subsidies funded by local property taxes are just a few areas where local units of government are wading into policy debates that may be best suited at the state. Please articulate the different scopes of work between state and local government (City/County). Are there specific areas of policy that the city should lead on in lieu of the state or county government?
Grant should be allowed to control its own ordinances and its building codes. Every city should. Grants code was also managed years ago by the Met Council which limited what we could do under the shadow of sewer and water coming in to Grant. To now have the State come in, after Grant did what was required, would be a gross disrespect to Grant Councils that have kept their promise.