Saleem Haroon – Mayoral Candidate

What are your plans for a future Boys & Girls Club in Granite Falls and do you feel this is an important part of your community?

The Boys & Girls Club is a VERY important part of our community and unfortunately we have not had one in our community for the last 4+ years.

As Mayor finding a new and permanent home for our youth is going to be my top priority. Relieving the stress of our working couples in finding a safe, structured and fun place for their children.

 

 

Cities need businesses to help stimulate the economy.
How do you propose to bring more business into Granite Falls and more tax revenue along with it?

As a business owner, I know that businesses are a major source of revenue for the city.  I propose to build a truck stop close to the entrance of the by-pass, so all trucks that we have supported for years will spend their money in our city. Also, I will be looking to bringing in new businesses for instance a bowling alley, theater, a clothing store a Resort Hotel/Motel, new shops and restaurants. I would also encourage new factories in the industrial complex. I will look into modifying city ordinances to make it attractive for new businesses to consider Granite Falls home.  Above all to convince investors that Granite Falls is a great place to run a successful and profitable business for decades to come.

 

 

There are several gravel pits and other businesses with large trucks going through the downtown corridor of G.F. Now that there will be a new truck bypass, what are your plans to force large trucks to use the bypass.

With the city pitching in $5 million for the sole purpose of getting trucks off our streets, it is imperative that we make sure that all the trucks use the by-pass. As Mayor I’ll make sure that our streets have  very minimal truck traffic and laws will be enforced to make sure that they abide by the rules, including having clean trucks, sparing the city from all the dust.  Another incentive for the trucks to use the by-pass would be to build a truck stop where they can get fuel, food, and other necessities easily and quickly, all the while generating revenue for the city. 

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  Joshua Golston – Council position # 1

What are your plans for a future Boys & Girls Club in Granite Falls and do you feel this is an important part of your community?

My plan for a Boys & Girls Club in the future in Granite Falls would be based on three things.  First, public support, if the people want it (and I’m pretty sure they do) then it needs to be addressed.  Second, is it in the best interest of the city and in my opinion anything that enriches the lives of our youth and gives a positive outlet for kids is in the interest of the city.  And finally, economic feasibility, if the city and community can afford it and the cost is reasonable then I am all for it.

 

 

Cities need businesses to help stimulate the economy.
How do you propose to bring more business into Granite Falls and more tax revenue along with it?

In my opinion, businesses need friendly zoning and conscientious planning to thrive in any city, Granite Falls is no different.  We must be practical and forward thinking when making decisions in zoning and planning.  With proper zoning and the infrastructure improvements being made like the alternate route, we can attract businesses that create living wage jobs.

 

 

There are several gravel pits and other businesses with large trucks going through the downtown corridor of G.F. Now that there will be a new truck bypass, what are your plans to force large trucks to use the bypass.

With the completion of the alternate route, the flow of trucking will most likely not need to be forced to use it.  The appeal of the route to trucking is the reduction of starts and stops and the congestion experienced in the downtown area.  However, if this is not realized it may be necessary to make adjustments to the current truck routes, possibly making the downtown corridor a local delivery only area.

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  Elizabeth Adams – Council position # 2

What are your plans for a future Boys & Girls Club in Granite Falls and do you feel this is an important part of your community?

I definitely feel that a Boys & Girls Club is a very important contribution for our community. My hope is, now that the old Community Center is down, the Council will look at constructing a new building that will include a City Hall, Police Department and a Community Center.

 

 

 

Cities need businesses to help stimulate the economy.
How do you propose to bring more business into Granite Falls and more tax revenue along with it?

Work to make existing businesses more prosperous.  I did this by helping re-write the Sign Ordinance allowing businesses to advertise more freely.  This will also be an incentive to new businesses.

Work closely with the Chamber of Commerce to make Granite Falls more attractive to new businesses. Strategic planning.   In the last Comprehensive Plan that the Council approved, we gave careful consideration to keeping the commercial district in the downtown core area and the residential on the  outskirts. Additionally, the City Council was very aware of the alternate route and did not allow for commercial development on it.

Finally, the council is currently streamlining the business license process.

 

 

There are several gravel pits and other businesses with large trucks going through the downtown corridor of G.F. Now that there will be a new truck bypass, what are your plans to force large trucks to use the bypass.

The alternate route  was built to divert gravel, logging and other types of large trucks from our city streets.  Delivery trucks will still be allowed to use the main roads.  The City Council has the ability to pass weight restrictions to prevent large trucks from using city streets.

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Wes Grigg – Council position # 2


What are your plans for a future Boys & Girls Club in Granite Falls and do you feel this is an important part of your I have found in my campaign efforts and in meeting residents of the city that having activities for the youth is a big issue.
In our community I see a real need to get the youth involved and prevent boredom which often leads to trouble.  For the Boys and Girls Club I feel it should be rebuilt on the same lot which was recently demolished, if at all possible.  If not, then I feel the city should purchase a building or land at a reasonable value to rebuild a center using local contractors to provide our youth a place to carry on activities and games.  At this point, nobody on the City Council can explain what is being done with the former location and it seems that bringing the Boys & Girls Club back into the city is the least important issue.  In my opinion, having a Boys & Girls Club would be in the best interest of our community.




Cities need businesses to help stimulate the economy.
How do you propose to bring more business into Granite Falls and more tax revenue along with it?
I would like to see more businesses brought into our city by making them feel welcome, which would naturally increase related tax revenue.  One business placed neon signs in their windows and with the increased visibility their patronage increased 300 percent.   With the new sign ordinance, limiting the number of signs, or having businesses remove existing signs may result in such a loss that they would be forced to close and move to another location.  The sign ordinance was passed without considering the existing businesses, so I would work closely to get input from small businesses to create a win-win situation.  We need to make businesses feel welcome, and visible, and the city revenue will come if people know they are there.
 

There are several gravel pits and other businesses with large trucks going through the downtown corridor of G.F.
Now that there will be a new truck bypass, what are your plans to force large trucks to use the bypass.
The quarries located south of the city would be required to come in on Alder Street and catch the bypass north of town and avoid the city.  The trucks north of town would take the by-pass, unless delivering to a location in town off the main corridor.  Failure to use the by-pass would result in a ticket, a monetary fine enforced by the local police.   I would also like to see a truck stop and fuel station with a breakfast and lunch café built at the end of the truck route at Mountain Loop Hwy. to further prevent large truck traffic in the downtown area and to add additional revenue for the city.

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  Tom Fitzgerald – Council position # 3

What are your plans for a future Boys & Girls Club in Granite Falls and do you feel this is an important part of your I have found in my campaign efforts and in meeting residents of the city that having activities for the youth is a big issue.
The Boys & Girls Club provides a valuable service to the community, and I believe it’s return would be an asset to our City.  It’s more than just a place to play, but a place to learn some important life skills.  The Club use is not limited just to residents of the City, but to this entire community.  The City needs a community building, whether it’s a new community center, or another building space that can serve all the small groups and clubs of G.F.  I am open to bringing the Club back to G.F., if and when the right situation comes up.  I’d look for an opportunity where the City would be a partner with the Club.  It would need to be an agreement that didn’t put the taxpayers in the role of financing the club, or the City in the role of  building and landscape maintenance managers. 




Cities need businesses to help stimulate the economy.
How do you propose to bring more business into Granite Falls and more tax revenue along with it?
I would hope to see an increase in excitement return to G.F. as the Mtn. Loop will hopefully be open this entire summer and bring back the number of visitors we’ve had in the past.  I also see that the construction and completion of the alternate route bring a positive that will spur some excitement in property sales and new construction with new access and visibility.   This community is growing whether we like it or not.  If we can show that we have a solid consumer base and a community where residents are willing to spend their money locally, additional businesses and tax revenues will follow. 
 
There are several gravel pits and other businesses with large trucks going through the downtown corridor of G.F.
Now that there will be a new truck bypass, what are your plans to force large trucks to use the bypass.
The alternate route, will allow traffic to bypass the city center by leaving SR 92 just West of G.F and reconnecting  with the Mtn. Loop Hwy. on the north end of town.  My hope is that by moving the trucks off our city streets it will reduce both traffic delays and road damage.   Once the alternate route is open I will propose we implement weight restrictions on vehicles traveling through town.  We will need to post signage on the city streets that will be closed to truck traffic.  This will not restrict regular retail and commercial deliveries, only remove gravel trucks and other loaded trucks from going through town.  With this in place a truck traveling through town would then be subject to a traffic ticket and fine.  I know there will be more details that will need to be worked out, but that is where I would start.

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