Meet Your Grandview Aldermen Candidates

The Grandview Chamber of Commerce reached out to all Grandview Aldermen candidates to ask the following four questions:

1. What is the City of Grandview’s biggest hidden asset and how would you promote it?
2. What is the City’s biggest issue and how would you address it?
3. If you received a $1 million grant to use for the City, what would you do with it and why?
4. If elected, how will you communicate with your constituents???

We have compiled the answers from those who responded below:

What is the City of Grandview’s biggest hidden asset and how would you promote it?

Thomas Rousey (Candidate for Ward III):?Grandview’s biggest hidden asset is its parks along with the citizens.?I would promote these wonderful assets by showing the family connection to the community including our schools, our Community Center, and our parks and neighborhoods.??

Ron Browlnee (Candidate for Ward III): I believe Grandview's biggest hidden?asset is that it's a small city with a big city feel. More and more people are moving their families to Grandview.?In the last 5 years, Grandview's housing has increased significantly. New buildings and new businesses have also increased in Grandview over the years. I'd like to see that trend continue. During my first term as Alderman, I was instrumental in securing a third party analysis, at no cost to the City, to determine if a second grocery store in Grandview was needed. That analysis identified 74% of Grandview residents shopped for groceries outside of our City at least once a week, if not more.?If re-elected, I would continue to advocate for a second grocery store in our great City and any other development that would improve the lives of the people in our community.

What is the City’s biggest issue and how would you address it?

Ron Brownlee: One of the City's biggest issues currently being addressed is an issue shared by many other cities as well -- trash!?While Grandview's Public Works staff spend a number of hours in their work week picking up trash throughout our City, it is not enough.?There are times throughout the year that Grandview also enlists the help of volunteers to pick up trash but still it is not enough.?The City continues to consider cost effective ways to address this issue.?If re-elected, I would advocate for a program similar to the Missouri's Adopt-A-Highway Program. Adopter groups could include non-profit organizations, businesses, families, and individuals who volunteer to pick up trash and are recognized through signage bearing their name, business or non-profit organization posted near the area that trash is being picked up.?I believe that TOGETHER WE CAN ALL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Thomas Rousey: One of the issues that I see is how to improve our image to other communities when they hear the word Grandview. We need to better promote our schools, our parks, Community Center, our annual festivities, and our weekly Farmer’s Market.??

If you received a $1 million grant to use for the City, what would you do with it and why?

Thomas Rousey: Help expand our Grandview Assistance Program (GAP), Provide more benches in parks and along trails. Enhancements in the parks, including protective coverings from the elements

Ron Brownlee: There are so many ways I can see using that grant money for our City.?With the rise in cost of food, gas, and basic necessities, that money could help many in our community who may need assistance or even from becoming homeless. I have always advocated providing assistance to those in need.?During my first term as Alderman, I partnered with the Grandview Assistance Program's Food Pantry and McKeever's Price Chopper, for which I have a long affiliation with even before being elected Alderman for?Ward III, to provide holiday meals to local families. I currently partner with this grocery store to support three other?local food pantries that include?one of our local churches’ food pantries in Grandview.?I also partnered with the Chamber of Commerce to distribute financial assistance through the CARES Act to local businesses in need during the Pandemic. I could see using that money to support the Grandview Assistance Program or any other means that would benefit many in the Grandview community during these difficult times. Also while Grandview has seen a 16% drop in crime, the Grandview Police Department continues to find ways to support our community by hiring two responders to provide support on calls where mental health issues could be a factor.?I could see using this grant money towards that effort in keeping our Grandview citizens safe.?I am an advocate for mental health issues and all our first responders and believe it affects all of us in the community.

If elected, how will you communicate with your constituents???

Ron Brownlee: If re-elected Alderman for Ward III, I would continue to make myself available to the people who elected me by any and all means most convenient to them.?The past two years have been some of the most difficult years for many in and out of our community.?The reality is that parents have had to work from home and home school their children at the same time, while others have become caregivers to their loved ones who were previously in senior care facilities and just don't have that extra time to do much else.?Although we are living in the age of technology and social media even that can sometimes be information overload.?During my first term as Alderman I have been able to successfully communicate with my constituents through face-to-face contact, phone calls, texts, emails and even at board meetings attended by Grandview citizens.?The most rewarding communication is when I can recognize individuals or businesses in the Grandview community.?If I am re-elected I will continue to communicate through any means necessary that is most convenient to my constituents. With that said, I'd like to take this opportunity to remind our voters that on the April 5 ballot, Grandview residents will be asked to vote on three questions totaling $21 million.?This is a NO TAX INCREASE bond package that will IMPROVE Grandview's streets and sidewalks; RENOVATE our fire stations as well as Grandview's DMV and Police Department.?VOTE TUESDAY, APRIL 5 AND LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!!!

Thomas Rousey: There are a hundred ways to communicate with the community. The best way I think is to get into the community and have conversations with the citizens of Grandview.?

We hope you found this information helpful and we encourage you to VOTE on Tuesday, April 5th, 2022.

Sincerely,

Your Grandview Chamber of Commerce