Beryl Bartkus for Lowell City Council

These are 4 of the topics I believe are most important and will have the biggest impact on the people of Lowell. They are in no particular order. All are important for our future.

#1 Covenant Park must be beneficial to our residents. We must create and execute a well-defined plan so that this development at I-96 benefits the city residents. Without transparency by the city there is no way to truly assess this situation.  Currently there are only a couple people with information on the details of this project.  I am uncomfortable with the level of secrecy surrounding this development.

#2 Water & Wastewater System needs versus rate increases: Major plant expansions required for Covenant Business Park must be funded from multiple sources. Grants, developer investment and township contributions must be required.

The current multi-year rate increases are already stretching residents’ budgets. They will ultimately raise customer water/sewer bills 70% from 2024 to 2030.  I want to find ways to lower scheduled rate hikes.

#3 Fire Department Funding: As a member of the Lowell Area Fire Authority Board, I have an inside glimpse of how our current “paid on call” fire department works. The current method of funding is unsustainable. We need to seek creative ways to keep our Fire Department strong, especially with the annexation of township land at I-96. Our fire personnel will be stretched with this expansion of services. I am determined to find reasonable financial solutions that support our fire authority.

#4 Communication between city government and residents.  The biggest complaint I hear from residents is that communication with the city can be difficult. They tell me their concerns are treated as unimportant and ignored. This should not be the case.  The city is for the residents and they deserve to be listened to.  Not every request can be granted, but every request or concern should be respected and sincerely considered.