ShawneeDispatch.com

Looking at Shawnee’s economic development, one of the things that continues to worry Shawnee City Council member Dan Pflumm, is the open space created by former grocery stores.

“Shawnee currently has an Economic Development Council,” he said. “We need to increase our support of their efforts and help them to broaden the promotion of Shawnee so that we can fill the four big box stores we currently have sitting empty.”

Pflumm, 48, is running against newcomer Jim Neighbor for his Ward I seat on the Council in the April 6 general election. Pflumm is a lifelong Shawnee resident and has been a Council member since 2002.

Economic growth is the only acceptable method for increasing the city’s revenues, Pflumm said.

Pflumm puts economic development at the top of the three most important issues for Ward I. He also lists repealing the reinstated franchise fee and street maintenance as important issues.

More commercial property taxes from increased economic development will go a long way to helping those issues, but with decreasing revenues currently, Pflumm suggests there are areas the city should look at cutting back.

“First, we should look at cutting spending without reducing city employee’s compensation and services provided to city residents,” he said. “Second, we should identify those budget items that increased significantly over the previous years and try to reduce their growth.”

He said the city also should look at all expenditures, except public safety, with a goal of cutting spending by 10 percent.

Improving civility among Council members is a issue Pflumm’s opponent has supported, and Pflumm said he agrees.

“First and foremost I feel we need to show respect for fellow council members even when we disagree with their opinions,” he said. “Recently there have been several letters to the editor from Shawnee residents commenting on the shameful behavior of some Council members toward other members during Council meetings.”

Pflumm said his individualism made him the best candidate for Council.

“I support the people’s interest, not special interests,” he said.

Dan Pflumm

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