Joan Hawbaker

Seven candidates are vying for three seats on the Minot City Council in the city’s June 9 election. Each of the candidates provided comments on their interest in serving and how they would approach city government.What motivates you to want to serve on the city council?

Joan Hawbaker, a long-time nurse and community volunteer, wants to bring new ideas to the council.

What motivates you to want to serve on the city council?

Sitting in on the council meetings I can say I agree with the majority of what they vote on. Then I see some very costly, and what I would consider unnecessary, decisions being made when the people of Minot have so much debt already. Between NAWS and flood control, plus what is coming down the pike for the 3rd street bridge, a few other bridges around town and road work including 21st Ave NW. I would like to be a voice of common-sense spending for Minot.

What knowledge, interests or personal qualities can you bring to the council that will help you to represent the community?

I’ve been attending the council meetings fairly regularly for 18 months or so and have learned a lot.

I’m told by friends that I see things others may not and I’m honest with my assessment of how I see these things. I also, at times, am able to see long term effects of decisions and I think we need to have that vision for the future, not just what will give us relief or a fix right now.

I’ve lived in both S. Minot and N. Minot so have a feel for both areas of town.

Is city spending too high, too little or about right? What approach would you take to setting city spending?

For what’s brought in at this point, I believe it’s too high. We need to look at the budget line by line and see what’s necessary now, what can wait 1 year, 5 years or 10 years and what’s unnecessary. We can also look at what ordinances have us spending unnecessary monies, like mandating a sidewalk in a very low pedestrian area, and can those ordinances be changed.

How do you feel about shifting certain general fund property tax expenses to special assessments or utilizing user fees to hold down taxes?

I think I would need specifics to know how to answer this question. I understand we already move monies from one fund to another at times so again I’d need to know specifics.

Is Minot providing adequate public safety? What needs to be changed, if anything?

Sounds like we have our police almost fully staffed so that’s good. Our fire response I’m told is about 4.5 minutes at the longest, which sounds really good. In the last 12-14 years we’ve added the fire station out on 55th Street and then the one on 4th Avenue NW so we’re in much better shape than we were several years ago and I think good for growth of the city. I also hear several fire stations answer one call and there’s an agreement for a certain call that Minot, Surrey, Burlington, MAFB … all respond if it’s called for. Love the way the whole area will work together!!

How would you prioritize the city’s infrastructure needs, such as flood protection, roads, watermain replacements, etc.? Are there projects that shouldn’t happen or definitely should?

Flood protection – yes, that needs to be completed. Does it need to be completed exactly as planned? Or can we come up with an alternative plan that is more cost effective?

Watermain replacements absolutely – I think of the 3 breaks just within the last month so yes we are in great need to get these done.

Roads, yes, we need to keep up with these as our weather patterns will make roads worse by the following year. I think looking long term we keep up with what is needed.

Are there projects that can wait? I believe Sunset Boulevard is one that can wait. The funding for it needs to come back to the council to be approved and I would have to see what they come up with before I would vote to do it in the near future.

Should the city continue pursuing a police station remodel and if so, how would you like to see it unfold?

Yes, I believe we should. I look back to when they were building the new hospital and as nurses we were told about some decisions made which were not efficient for the nurses or right for the patient. Engineers, architects and administrators aren’t on the front lines. Our managers were able to get them to see they needed our input and we were able to help them see that certain decisions they’d made needed to be changed. I believe the layout of the police station and how it will run efficiently comes back to those who work there.

How do you feel about automated license plate reader technology?

I’m not a fan of the ALPRs.

What is your assessment of Minot as a community? Are there ways to make it better, help it thrive or maintain what is good about the community?

I’ve lived in Minot for 36 years and think it’s a great community. Are there ways to make it better? Can we decrease the wind??? I’d love to see new businesses come in. I know to have something small done at my house sometimes it’s hard to find someone who will do a small job as they are all busy with “big” jobs.

Are there other specific issues you want to address if elected to the council?

At this point I can’t think of anything else that I think needs to be addressed but as time goes on there may be things that come up.