Candidate County Board #11: Andy Blankenbaker

The Issues

  1. Controlling Taxes and Expenditures
    This year everyone's property value has increased. I will pay close attention to how the county is spending the tax payers' money. The County Board was talking about getting a new court house and I think that is a bad idea for the time being; we need to improve our infrastructure before a new court house is constructed. With gas prices going through the roof, we have to look at the fuel economy for the County's fleet of vehicles. We need to look at more ways for our county to go 'green', but with an economic eye on the process. We have to keep our county taxes at a level that continues to make Jo Daviess County a desirable place to live. Talk of additional taxes, such as sales tax must be looked at very carefully and should only be used to bring our present infrastructure up to date, such as Blackjack Road and other county roads and bridges, rather than creating new projects. I'm all about the safety for our residents as well as our visitors.
  2. Securing State funds for infrastructure Improvements
    1. Scenic Tower
      The Scenic Tower has been closed for over a year; this is a site that both our citizens as well as our visitors can enjoy because it is one of the main places you can see the Jo Daviess County beauty over miles and miles. I'm working with IDOT, the State Government and the Federal Government to get enough money so the Scenic Tower can be reopened.
    2. 3.5 million dollars for Silver Eagle Infrastructure
      I have been lobbying in Springfield to secure $3.5 million in funds owed to the county for the Silver Eagle Infrastructure. Senator Frank Watson, Senate Minority Leader, agreed with me that the state should fulfill its responsibility to the Silver Eagle in Jo Daviess County. Once the Capital Bill gets passed, the state will write a check to the county and City of East Dubuque for $3.5 million to cover the expense that the County puts into the Silver Eagle Infrastructure.
    3. Blackjack Road
      Blackjack Road is a very dangerous road that needs to be widened to make it a safe passage for those driving on it. I'm working with the state to secure supplementary funds to help with the project.
    4. Hwy 20 project
      Another concern is making sure the Highway 20 project is in the Capital Bill and that one is finally passed in Springfield. The Highway 20 project needs to be finished by the end of the next decade.
      1. Galena Bypass
      2. Glacier Shadow Pass
  3. Economic Development
    We need to create an economic climate in Jo Daviess County that will help our current businesses to grow and encourage new low impact industries to come here. This will create good paying jobs for our citizens and encourage continued economic growth in our county.
  4. Amtrack Service to Galena
    Once the Capital Bill passes, the Amtrack Service to Galena will come. Senator Dick Durbin's aid, William Houlihan, told our group that the Amtrack service to Galena is their number one priority.
  5. Affordable housing for the working class
    I am continuing to work for affordable housing for our working class citizens; this means controlling property taxes as well as controlled development in the county.

 

 

 

 

 

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