Floyd County Supervisor Candidate Q&A – Dennis Keifer, District 2

Each of the candidates for Floyd County supervisor was sent a list of eight questions regarding current county topics of interest. Here are the answers of those who responded:

Dennis Keifer, age 71, retired from the crop insurance industry.

No previous elected experience.

Single with four grown children.

Question 1) – Why are you running for a seat on the Floyd County Board of Supervisors?

I am running for a seat on the Floyd County Board of Supervisors because I feel that property taxes have increased to a point that they are causing a hardship for many families. Young families’ budgets are impacted by high property taxes and people with fixed incomes also feel the impact of increasing property taxes.

Question 2) – Do you support passing an essential services levy in the county to pay for emergency medical services? If yes, how should the use of that tax money be prioritized? If no, how would you propose supporting EMS services in the county?

There is a big difference between the proposed levy of $500,000-plus dollars and the present cost of around $200,000. I will support the EMS levy if passed with the combination of property tax levy and an income tax surcharge. I don’t agree with property owners having to shoulder the entire cost. Also I feel this has been rushed through with not enough research. Also I question the fairness of the levy countywide. From the EMS Advisory Council information, on average there are 1,500 EMS calls in Floyd County; 1,100 are transfers and approximately 500 emergency calls. An estimated 8% of the 500 calls are outside of Charles City or St. Charles Township.

Question 3) – Have county property tax rates been handled responsibly in recent years, and what, if anything, would you have done differently regarding specific spending?

Certainly the recent increase in property taxes is a result of the overspending on the new LEC and courthouse renovations. When the supervisors were told they did not have enough money (from the $13.5 million bond issue) to do the project they wanted, I would have scaled the project back to the point where the $13.5 million would be adequate, or would have gone back to the voters and asked for more money.

Question 4) – Would you favor increasing the size of the board of supervisors to five members? Why or why not?

I am undecided on whether or not we need five supervisors. With the new districts being formed for the next election we should wait and see if there is better countywide representation with the three members. One disadvantage with three members is that two supervisors cannot have any dialogue with each other concerning a matter before the board because it would be a quorum.

Question 5) – If it was entirely your decision, how specifically would you spend the more than $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that the county is receiving?

Some of the $3 million in ARPA funds should have been spent to upgrade the county’s 911 system. Although I did not necessarily agree with the way the funds are being spent, using ARPA money on the LEC and courthouse renovations should be saving property owners some tax money.

Question 6) – If the power was entirely yours, what two things would you do the first 100 days of being sworn into office?

1) Find out exactly what kind of financial condition the county is in.

2) Determine what the status is of the county’s lawsuit against the architect hired for the LEC and courthouse project.

Question 7) – What is the most important single thing you hope to have accomplished by the end of your term in office?

To slow down or stop the spending spree of county government as Floyd County residents tighten their belts to pay for increased cost of living and increasing property tax bills.

Question 8) – Why are you the best choice to be elected for your race?

1) Common sense.

2) Will always know and understand who I work for.

THE REST OF THE CANDIDATES