As a lifelong resident of our community I am proud to announce my decision to run as a candidate for the office of Muskegon County Drain Commissioner. I have a great passion and interest in improving our greatest natural resource…. Water!
Our area’s watershed is a very unique and complex system of groundwater, streams, rivers, and lakes. Among other threats, it is under constant assault from pollution introduced through storm runoff from ditches and county drains. The process of improving and healing our watershed begins with improving and properly maintaining our county drain system which consists of over 240 miles of open and closed county drains that ultimately feed into our waterways.
Improving and Protecting Our Watershed I clearly understand that our greatest asset and most valuable natural resource in our community is …WATER! We need to continue working towards a statewide ban to significantly reduce phosphourous input into our state watersheds. Our county has experienced increased toxic algae blooms as well as several ecoli related beach closures in recent years. We need to do more than ban it in our county, we need make sure every county along our rivers watersheds havs banned it. There is a bill introduced in the State House that would enact a statewide ban to prohibit retail display of fertilizers containing phosphorus.
As a business owner and a leader of a local non- profit it always seems as if a “us against them mentality” flourishes in many of our local governments. I want to create a one stop shop clearinghouse assisting any prospective business that may be considering opening their doors in our county. This does not exist now, as we continue to be a beauracracy full of red tape. I would partner with all involved agencies and establish a clear set of guidelines and requirements needed to set up shop and provide jobs in our community.
My agenda if elected would include:
* Trim expenses by first giving myself a 5% paycut by asking County Board to adjust the annual salary of the Drain Commissioner.
*Fiscally responsible manangement of the Drain Commissioner department.
*Improve efficiencies within the offices of the drain commission to expedite the review and approval process of new development and commercial projects which bring vital jobs to our area.
*Open office policy to quickly answer and assist concerns of property owners and developers.
*Complete department analysis identifying areas of waste or inefficiencies.
*Provide for open lines of communication with County Board and County Administrator.
*Employ environmentally safe vegetation management practices within this drain system that do not have a negative effect on our waters, neighboring crops, gardens, and wildlife.
*Support state wide reduction of phosphorus fertilizers . Phosphorus has a very negative impact on water quality and contributes to the toxic algae blooms which have frequently occurred in our area lakes in recent years.
My qualifications:
I have always had a fascination and a natural interest to work with and be around water of which I have developed my work and lifestyle around. I will utilize the skills and knowledge I have gained the past 20 years in the the wide range of areas of I have worked in primarily in the landscape construction and excavating industry. I have overseen many projects in this area ranging from the commercial construction projects, large retaining wall structures along waterways, irrigation and landscaping the entire site of one of our largest shopping centers in this community. I have been involved in both small and large residential commercial projects along local waterways requiring strict erosion control and have been responsible to put these items in place.
Many of you know me as the Executive Director of the Muskegon Winter Sports Complex. I began helping with the complex when it was first started in 1984 when I was a young boy. I was appointed to the position of Executive Director of the Muskegon Winter Sports Complex in 1998.
Working closely with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, I have secured funding and environmental approval for many of the improvements made throughout the hundreds of environmentally sensitive acres utilized by the complex for luge, x-c skiing, ice skating, and snowshoeing.
What started out as a dream of a mine just a few years ago is now a reality as the first summer luge track in North America will open in Muskegon State Park this June. This track was built in partnership with the Kellogg Access To Recreation Fund, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, United States Luge Association, Muskegon Sports Council and many others.
I will continue to use my hard work ethic if elected to this position. I understand the very fundamentals of which the Michigan Drain Code were based upon. If elected as the Muskegon County Drain Commissioner I will use my diverse work experiences working collaborativley with other government agencies and property owners solving problems and efficiently handle the challenges that face our counties drain system.
I sincerely appreciate your support through this campaign and welcome any questions you may have. Join with me to improve and protect the vitality of our community …our water.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jim Rudicil
Candidate for Muskegon County Drain Commisisoner
