COUNTY BOARD CANDIDATE DATA SHEET
NAME: Dennis Manthei
ADDRESS: 527 West Garland Street, West Salem, WI
54669
PHONE NUMBER: 608.786.0971
E-MAIL: dbmanthei@centurytel.net
AGE: 65
NUMBER OF YEARS LIVED IN LA CROSSE
COUNTY: 43
FAMILY: Spouse, Barbara; three (3) adult children
EDUCATION: High School Diploma 1961; University of
Wisconsin – Madison, Bachelor’s Mechanical Engineering, 1965; University of
Wisconsin – La Crosse, Masters of Business Administration, 1990
OCCUPATION (if retired, former
occupation): Various engineering,
marketing, and management positions at Trane in La Crosse 1965 through 2004
retirement, part time engineering consulting 2005, part time HVAC engineering at
Multistack 2006 through present.
ELECTED OFFICES HELD (include years
served): West Salem School Board, nine (9) years, approximately 1976 – 1985;
West Salem Village Board Trustee 1996 – 2005; West Salem Village President 2005
- Present
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND
MEMBERSHIPS:
West Salem Lions Club, 1970’s
West Salem Historical Society
West Salem Care & Share Food
Pantry
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, West
Salem
LADCO Board Member
La Crosse County Board Candidate
Questionnaire
A. Why
do you want to serve on the La Crosse County Board? (Please limit this answer to
75 words so it will fit into a standard format.) I want to serve on the La Crosse County Board
to make a positive difference in the future of La Crosse County. The La Crosse County region has great assets
of natural beauty, educational and medical institutions, retail and wholesale
distribution, and widely varied business enterprises that require workers and
capital to grow. The La Crosse County
Board needs to be the collaboration glue to make the entire area economically
strong.
B. What
are the two most pressing issues facing La Crosse County, and what do you think
La Crosse County government should do about them? 1.) La Crosse County continues to operate the
Lakeview County Hospital, has initiated cooperative ventures with surrounding
counties to keep the Hospital viable, and needs to continue that effort. 2.) La Crosse County, and associated County
groups, own and are developing the former County farm in West Salem. Continuing emphasis to attract new and
relocating businesses into the Lakeview Business Park is important to the
County and Village of West Salem, where the Business Park is located. 3.) La Crosse County needs to be one of the
lead advocates, along with LADCO, to develop and bring more good paying jobs
into the entire region.
The
next several questions will ask your feelings about past and future actions by
the county board. Please answer by putting an “X” next to the statement that
most closely reflects your view. Then, please explain your reasons in writing
1.
Do you support or oppose reducing the size of the county board by half?
Strongly
Support
Support
No
opinion
Oppose
Strongly
Oppose
Reason: The County Board should be reduced in size,
but it is premature to define the reduction to be exactly half
2.
With the switch to a county administrator four years ago, how satisfied are you
with the county board’s new role as a board of directors that makes policy
decisions rather than operational decisions?
Very
satisfied
Satisfied X
No
opinion
Unsatisfied
Very
unsatisfied
Reason: A governing board, such as the County Board,
should be the entity that makes policy decisions and leaves the implementation
of said policy to the professionals hired by the County. This gives the Board members the ability to
view problems and results from a higher level, permitting them to develop
policies that are meaningful and apply to the entire County.
3.
How satisfied are you with the county administrator's new four-year contract?
Very
satisfied
Satisfied
No
opinion X
Unsatisfied
Very
unsatisfied
Reason: Without knowing the total details available
to current County Board members it is difficult to make a totally factual
judgment regarding the contract. From
what I read, observe, and hear, the County Administrator is properly performing
his duties and providing valuable management skills to the County
administrative operations.
4.
How satisfied are you with the proposed “smart growth” comprehensive plan
scheduled for county board approval in coming months?
Very
satisfied
Satisfied X
No
opinion
Unsatisfied
Very
unsatisfied
Reason: The County started the ‘Smart Growth’ or
Comprehensive Planning Process mandated by the State before West Salem. The plan appears to provide adequate details
defining existing conditions and defines a path for moving into the
future. The County plan will also
incorporate the various County municipality similar plans by reference as they
are completed.
5.
Do you support or oppose having the county board hold a referendum before
borrowing money for buildings or other capital projects?
Strongly
Support
Support
No
opinion
Oppose
Strongly
Oppose
Reason: It would seem reasonable to define a
threshold value or dollar value point above which the County Board could or
should hold a referendum. Requiring a
referendum for every project, regardless of value however, should not be
required. The elected County Board
members should be entrusted to make the routine, general business borrowing
decisions. Major projects, such as a new
jail, would seem reasonable to be exposed to the referendum process.
6.
Do you support or oppose La Crosse County being the main developer of its
vacant Lakeview Farm property in West Salem?
Strongly
Support
Support
X Limited
No
opinion
Oppose
Strongly
Oppose
Reason: La Crosse County may be wise to consider a
strategic alliance with established developers for various segments of the
farm. It is unlikely one developer would
have the expertise in the wide variety of development targeted for the farm. La Crosse County could still have oversight
responsibilities for the development to ensure the overall plan is
followed. The County can and should
retain planning direction and control in cooperation and consultation with the
Village of West Salem.
7.
Do you support or oppose La Crosse County's criminal justice philosophy, which
includes finding alternatives to jail for offenders who are not a danger to the
community?
Strongly
Support
Support
X
No
opinion
Oppose
Strongly
Oppose
Reason: Finding the most productive, safe alternatives
for offenders is a good goal. This
requires constant, intense vigilance to ensure the most cost effective
practices are utilized. County, State,
and Federal tests/reports/etc must not be repeats or duplicates and must be
done at the most local level possible.
8.
Do you support or oppose spending more of the county's budget reserves to
reduce the property tax levy?
Strongly
Support
Support
No
opinion
Oppose
X
Strongly
Oppose
Reason: The State already is dictating the property
tax levy limit increases and probably will continue to do so into the near
future. Continuing to reduce the
property tax levy by using budget reserves means the reserves will quite soon
be exhausted and no longer available for a true unforeseen emergency. Reducing the tax levy increases is the
responsibility of the County Board through its budgeting and policy setting
responsibilities.
9.
Do you support or oppose the state of Wisconsin's use of a "property tax
cap" which limits La Crosse County's ability to raise property taxes by 2
percent, or the percentage of new construction growth, in 2009?
Strongly
Support
Support
No
opinion
Oppose
Strongly
Oppose
Reason: Whether we oppose or support the “property
tax cap” for 2009 is not the issue. It is already a fact written into State
law. La Crosse County, like all other
local municipalities, must figure out a way to work with the 2 per cent
cap. Energy used fighting the “property
tax cap” for 2009 is wasted time; the County Board and Administrator would be wise
to use that energy investigating new ideas on how to make the tax dollar
stretch even further to maintain essential services at acceptable levels.
10.
Do you support or oppose the county's plans for a $29.5 million jail expansion?
Strongly
Support
Support
No
opinion
Oppose
Strongly
Oppose
Reason: The
County Board is already on record as totally supporting the new jail. That being the case, it is not appropriate to
second guess this decision. The energy
should be to support the project plans and make sure the County Board clears
obstacles out of the way in a timely manner.