The following is a reply to a request by the Kennedale for information from each of the seven candidates who are running for a Kennedale City Council place. {{more: READ MORE …}}This statement is from Jan Joplin, running for Council Place 5. Place 5 is also being contested by Frank Fernandez and Perry Clementi. She is responding to questions asked by the Kennedale News.
Who are you?I am a child of God and an ordinary citizen of Kennedale TX. One of God?s children, a loving mother, devoted wife, (grandmother of 6 granddaughters), and resident of Kennedale for 22 years. I enjoy walking, biking, hiking, camping and nature in general with friends, family.
Why are you running?
Kennedale deserves leadership that will manage our city resources responsibly and efficiently while listening and being responsive to all members of our community. Like many of us in Kennedale, I became concerned about the recent dramatic increase in our city water bills. After a brief investigation of this matter in my spare time, I uncovered systemic problems that are much more serious and far reaching than anyone?s monthly utilities. After sharing this information with several neighbors, together we began looking further into this issue. After our concerns were virtually dismissed by the city council, it became clear that a change in city leadership was necessary.
What is unique about you?That is not something one gets asked very often! Obviously the fact that I am running for city council. Beyond that, I am a survivor in more ways than one, with a positive outlook which people seem to respond to favorably.
What skills do you have that can help us out of this crisis?
My background in management has given me 25 years of working with service issues, multi-level project management, multi-million dollar budgets, negotiating large and complex contracts, international and domestic meeting planning, executive level strategies including emergencies, communication, expectations, personnel performance evaluations, vendor performance evaluations, promoting companies and people. My favorite part is helping people reach their goals and watching them succeed.
What is the most important issue for you and how would you handle it? (Here are 3 issues.)
1. The 149%-272% water increase is a major issue. Reduce the rates, review the complicated Kennedale water system, have a complete financial audit then adjust slowly.
2. We need a city capital improvement plan with a financial analysis on every project before proceeding with each major project having a cost to benefit and funding analysis before moving forward.
3. The City was not honest about why the water increased. They said $700,000-$800,000 was spent on a sewer replacement that drained the reserve causing the rate increase. I found out that it actually cost $285,913 and want the citizens to have honest, open, transparent information.
The Editor is correct in his statement, “leadership comes from standing up in the face of opposition- and it comes from individuals not groups?. That?s what we need more of in Kennedale. We’ve seen our leaders stand up for themselves and not the citizens.
I believe all citizens and businesses should be respected, treated fairly, openly and honestly. It is the city’s responsibility to make every effort to communicate all city projects and plans along with funding required, to the citizens.
Jan Joplin
