Grand Forks City Council candidates say more needs to be done for childcare issues and mental health support
May 21—GRAND FORKS — Candidates running for open seats on the Grand Forks City Council believe the city needs to be doing more to address childcare challenges and mental health support.
Their comments came during a Tuesday candidate forum, hosted by the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce. The discussion was led by Stacey Dahl, the chamber's government affairs committee co-chair. For an hour, a full house in the Grand Forks City Council's chambers listened as candidates answered questions attendees had submitted.
Four candidates in two wards are seeking to fill the open spots on the council. In Ward 3,
Tricia Berg
and
Marie Stewart
are seeking to fill the spot being vacated by council member Bret Weber. In Ward 5,
Jodi Carlson
and
Mike Fridolfs
are seeking to fill the spot being vacated by Kyle Kvamme. Both Kvamme and Weber have chosen not to run again for the council.
During the forum, the candidates agreed the city has issues with affordable childcare and mental health support. Their comments varied, however, regarding addressing those issues and where the city should focus efforts.
"I believe that the city needs to be involved in some way," Carlson said. "I'm not necessarily talking about financial ways; we know that often, building or land is donated for that purpose. But when we look at our workforce right now ... how can the city work with them?"
Fridolfs said the costs and regulations of childcare make the economic proposition untenable for families and businesses alike.
"When I hear the costs of childcare, I'm floored by it because people are spending probably a third of their income during the month to put a child up in daycare," Fridolfs said. "It's unsustainable to keep up that kind of cost."
Fridolfs said the city should make it easier to navigate the rules and regulations of daycares, even working with the school district to see what opportunities are available.
Discussing mental health challenges in the community, the candidates said the city should explore helping coordinate a response with local nonprofits and even advocate in the next session of the Legislature.
"Working through that legislative session and prioritizing our city's needs and our agenda to ensure that there's support for our local businesses to able to provide, ensuring that there are ways for people to get licensed and to provide these counseling services," Berg said. "Whatever is needed to support our community."
Stewart added that there aren't enough providers and resources in the community currently, but the role the city has varies, based on what the community itself can provide.
"I think that we have a lot of nonprofits that can do community outreach and lifestyle, habit stuff," Stewart said. "I don't know if it's the city's responsibility to fund those things, but if we don't have those nonprofits there to facilitate that I do think it's the city's responsibility to fund those things."
The candidates notably disagreed on the proposed property tax initiative that is garnering signatures for the November ballot. The measure, led by
U.S. House candidate Rick Becker
, would block cities, school districts, counties or any entity that levies a tax on property from continuing to do so.
Berg, Stewart and Fridolfs, all against the measure, said it would have many unintended consequences.
"I don't like paying property taxes. I don't think anyone does, but they are a necessary source for us to fund our city," Berg said. "(Property taxes) fund things that we want and we deserve — having law enforcement, having fire department, having the 911 call center."
Fridolfs said "there is a way to do reform smartly, but I do not believe that we can just eliminate it. There are some residual effects of removing property tax I think no one's actually talked about ... increasing sales tax to generate revenue or other forms of taxes, which actually affects everyone besides the homeowner."
Said Stewart: "I think that it will end up hurting the lower middle class and non-property owners. I think that housing prices will rise because people will come buying property in North Dakota if we don't have those property taxes and benefit developers."
Of the four candidates, only Carlson is in favor of the proposal.
"Although I don't have (my petition sheet) with me tonight, if anyone is interested in signing a petition to get rid of property taxes, I am very much in favor of that," Carlson said. "I don't believe that it's legal that the government is able to hold our homes hostage under the guise of property taxes."
The four candidates will appear on the ballot at the June 11 municipal election. People will also be voting for their council representatives in Ward 1 and Ward 7, as well as Grand Forks mayor. All three of those elections — Ward 1, Ward 7 and the mayor's race — have candidates running unopposed but could have write-in candidates.
