My answers to the Jackson County Advocate’s candidate questionnaire (as part of my run for a seat on the Grandview Board of Aldermen):

JCA: Please describe your background…Please include any educational, career and family info you would like to share, and any accomplishments and community involvement.

MAF: I am currently a member of both Grandview's Planning Commission (appointed in 2008) and the city's Advisory Committee on Transportation (appointed in 2005 and elected Chairman every year since 2006). I am a member of our local water district board of directors (elected in 2007).

Professionally, my background is in both media and personnel management. I currently work as a communications consultant. Prior to that, I worked as a human resources manager for one of America's fastest-growing companies and also managed a multimillion dollar staffing contract with a Fortune 500 company in Kansas City. I teach business and communications courses as an adjunct instructor at a local college on occasion.

 

I majored in Communications and have a Bachelor's degree from Charter Oak State College. I have also earned the Certified Staffing Professional designation from the American Staffing Association. I have served on the advisory committees of three colleges and one charitable non-profit group.

 

My two children and I are active members of Southland Baptist Church.

 

JCA: Lack of economic development continues to be a prime issue for Grandview. While city officials cannot force businesses to come here, they can certainly work to improve its infrastructure and image. What specific ideas to you have to make Grandview a more attractive place to businesses?

MAF: I will address the specific question about transportation infrastructure in the following answer. My end goal for it is a simple benchmark: when someone drives through Grandview on 71 Highway, they should clearly see our businesses and easily drive to them. Otherwise, they will simply continue on to Belton and spend money there.

We need to expand our recruitment when it comes to economic development. In the current economy, and considering our frontage road situation, attracting new retail is very difficult. We need to find ways to attract things like small colleges or trade schools to fill some of the empty storefronts. While these will not directly generate sales tax revenue, they will bring hundreds of customers to town. That will help attract retail businesses that, otherwise, may not consider Grandview. Business wants to be where customers are, so let's not forget to bring customers here.

 

Attracting more jobs to Grandview will also help attract more retail businesses. Some of the larger empty store buildings could be used as warehouse and distribution centers, medical centers, colleges or other enterprises.

 

For example: ideally, we would have another "big box" retail anchor in the old K-Mart (Red X) building. The fact is, however, that is unlikely any time soon which is why we should actively look for non-retail businesses at the same time we continue to look for retail. We cannot let the ideal be the enemy of the realistic improvement. I would rather see 50-100 good warehouse jobs in the old K-Mart building than have us hold out for years in hopes of finding a new retail business for it - leaving the building empty and ugly at public expense.

 

It is also important to remind ourselves that government cannot solve all these problems. Creating an attractive environment for businesses involves more than government work. We, as residents of Grandview, cannot forget to patronize our local businesses whenever possible. We are all in this economy together. Government tax revenue is not the ultimate measurement of progress - good jobs, thriving businesses, reliable basic governmental services and both public and private amenities are all vital parts of a successful community.

 

JCA: Grandview has been working with MoDOT (Missouri Department of Transportation) on several options to transform the frontage roads along 71 Highway. Which option do you feel would best facilitate successful development through improved traffic flow?

MAF: Grandview needs our frontage roads to be two-way traffic again. This is vital to our efforts to bring businesses to Truman Corners. Of the proposed plans I saw on display at the public hearing, I like option two the best. Improving traffic flow and access to Truman Corners will, I believe, also benefit the businesses on both Main Street and Blue Ridge Boulevard.

JCA: This winter, Forbes magazine called Grandview a “dying city.” Do you agree? Why or why not?

MAF: Of course I disagree with Forbes' assessment of Grandview. I believe the article selectively used negative statistics and ignored related data (like job growth and the fact that we have residential homes being built now) that shows Grandview is very much alive. Like other communities in the metro area and across America, we have economic challenges in front of us. Grandview is facing them and will overcome them in the years ahead.

JCA: Richards-Gebaur has had a direct impact on Grandview for decades. What impact do you feel the former (Air Force) base will have on the community as it is converted into an international freight gateway?

MAF: The changes at Richards-Gebaur (the CenterPoint Inter-modal hub), along with the relocation of the Honeywell plant near it, are something we should be excited about in terms of economics for Grandview. These developments will literally bring thousands of people to Grandview's doorstep at least five days a week. This increases our chance to will move forward with the retail development at 71 and 150 highways sooner rather than later.

 

The highway improvements (to both 71 and 150) that are already underway are also a positive step for our city. We must harness that traffic flow and encourage those commuters to become customers for Grandview's businesses. Having these jobs so close to Grandview can potentially boost to our housing market as well.

 

JCA: Besides those listed above, what do you feel is the most important issue facing the city right now, and what solutions might you propose?

MAF: Besides the issues addressed above, Grandview's public image is an important concern. In addition to the community morale issue, it directly affects our ability to attract businesses and new residents. Complaining that hits to our image are unfair, while justified, will not fix the problem.  

We need aggressive public and media outreach that highlights the successes in our community. From new home construction to the Grandview High School Bulldogs' #1 state ranking in basketball to the family-friendly activities offered by Gail's Harley-Davidson in the spring and summer to live music at the Hard Bean Cafe to - of course - Harry Truman's boyhood farm home tours, people need to know about the positive things happening in town. We have much to be proud of and telling people about them is not just good for morale, it is good for business.

 

[On a related note: I’ve also got a campaign website at www.mikeforgrandview.com.]