3 seek commissioner nominations
WAYNESBURG – The three candidates for the Democratic nomination for county commissioner should be familiar to most voters. Vying for the two nominations are incumbents Chuck Morris and Blair Zimmerman and former commissioner Dave Coder.
All three candidates speak of their records in office and agree major issues for the county are the expansion of water and sewer infrastructure to spur growth and the need for housing. The candidates also agree the boom in natural gas development has overall been a benefit to the county.
Morris was appointed commissioner by Greene County Court in August 2010 to complete the term of Coder, who resigned to work for then-Congressman Mark Critz. Morris was elected to a full term in 2011 and served as chairman since late 2012.
When he initially considered seeking appointment to the board, Morris said he thought he could offer “a little different viewpoint, a less political viewpoint” from others. He said he has found the work interesting and believes he has done some good.
One thing he focused on, he said, is changing the relationship between the commissioners and department heads.
“I’ve always thought the best way to run an operation this size it to have good people in the departments,” he said. “If they’re doing a good job, let them run, let them do their job and kind of stay out of the way,” he said.
This doesn’t mean he doesn’t pay attention to what department heads are doing, he said. But, “if you tighten the reins too much, people are afraid of making mistakes. They won’t be innovative, they won’t try to find new ways to do things.”
The current board also worked to foster a “spirit of cooperation” among the county’s economic development organizations, including the county’s economic department, Greene County Industrial Development Authority and Greene County Industrial Development Corp., Morris said.
The commissioners had the sense there was little cooperation among the organizations. It was almost as if they were competing against each other, he said.
“But it doesn’t really matter who attracts a business or an industry to the county. The whole purpose is for the county to grow,” he said. He said he believes cooperation among the groups improved.
In regard to the issue of housing, Morris said the county supported the Gateway Senior Housing project in Waynesburg, contributing $200,000 in Act 13 funds to the effort.
The commissioners also provided funding to revive the county redevelopment authority, which were “pretty much non-existent,” he said. The authority started a program with money from a state grant and additional contributions from the county to eliminate blight and develop affordable housing.
The program rehabilitated several houses, one of which was sold, and recently partnered with Accessible Dreams for the construction of a four-unit apartment building for people with disabilities in Jefferson.
“These are kind of baby steps at this point, but maybe as time goes on it will have more of an impact,” he said.
The county also provided funding to jump start the industrial development authority, which initiated projects to redevelop brownfield properties and to market the county’s commercial and industrial properties through a new website linked to similar regional and state websites.
The website should help attract businesses that are looking for property to expand or to relocate, Morris said.
The difficulty in expanding water and sewer infrastructure was finding the money to do it, Morris said. The commissioners met with U.S. Rep Bill Shuster about money for local projects. However, it seemed federal funding primarily covered much larger projects that served many more people than those in Greene County, he said.
The county attempted to help local municipalities with infrastructure projects by letting them know it has funds available to help with costs, Morris said. “We’ve let them know if they have a project going on, we’ll match their funds,” he said.
The county awarded $10,000 grants, for instance, to the both Dunkard Valley Water Authority and to Carmichael Municipal Authority for system repairs, he said. It also provided technical assistance to municipalities that seek its help.
Using Act 13 impact fee money, the county made necessary repairs to the courthouse and other county buildings, Morris said. It also renovated the pool and playground at Mon View Park.
The proposed plan for the Mon View pool was to fill in the old pool and create a small “splash park,” he said. Morris said he proposed rebuilding the pool, which cost only about $200,000 more and ended up providing the community with a nice recreational facility.
Morris said he does not accept political contributions. He said he tries to be “straightforward” with people and do what he believes is right. “What you will get from me,” he said, “is a decision that has not been influenced by a donor, a company or lobbying group. It will be an honest opinion of what I think is best for the county.”
Coder was county commissioner for 14 years, from 1996 to 2010. He resigned to accept the position of district director for Critz.
His last position was chief of staff for state Rep. Pam Snyder. Before becoming commissioner, Coder also served as district field representative for Congressman Austin Murphy and was county prothonotary.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to come back,” Coder said. “I believe not only my previous record as a county commissioner but my last two positions (with Critz and Snyder) have provided me with a wealth of knowledge to bring to the job.”
Coder said his work at the federal level with agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be especially helpful in connection with employment opportunities and the energy industry.
Working with Critz, he said, they assisted with permitting issues involving several local coal mines, including the Cumberland Mine and Dana Mining.
Coder said he has been involved in a number of projects dealing with the development of recreational facilities, as well as water and sewer infrastructure.
“I believe it’s important as a county commissioner to make your county the best place you can to live, work and play,” he said.
As commissioner, he was involved in the development of Greene River Trail and the Waynesburg water park. The trail is a big success, he said. “It’s helped many of the communities that are next to it. … I’d like to see it expanded farther down the river.”
Coder said he also is looking forward to helping Greene County Memorial Hospital Foundation in its efforts to build a new community recreation center. “I’m excited about using my experience to help them, either with technical details or fundraising or grants, whatever it takes to get that accomplished.”
Coder said he gained experience with the issues involved in funding infrastructure projects working with Critz and Murphy, but also as a county commissioner.
In 2006, the county issued $5.29 million in bonds, part of which was used as “seed” money for a number of water and sewer projects.
Among the projects was the construction of an 8.3-mile water line to Mt. Morris and sewer line extensions in the Cabbage Flats and Mapletown areas of Monongahela Township, he said.
Coder also speaks of his experience in regard to transportation issues. As commissioner, he served as chairman of Southwest Pennsylvania Commission, the regional transportation planning group.
The experience, he said, helped him better understand the process of transportation funding, which was useful in the development of Murtha Drive, the access road to Walmart in Franklin Township.
In regard to housing, Coder believes the expansion of water and sewer infrastructure will be important, but he also would focus on searching for developers and home builders who might be interested in developing projects in the county.
The need for jobs to provide opportunities for young people also is important issue. “I have a good working relationship with a number of business leaders here in the county, and I believe that can be very helpful,” he said.
Coder also said he is accessible to anyone who needs his help. He noted his business cards list his personal cellphone number. “I don’t mind taking calls any time of the day, and if you have a problem, I want to be the one you call for help,” he said.
Coder said he has focused his campaign on his experience. “I’d like to have the opportunity to return as county commissioner to use my experience to move the county forward,” he said.
Zimmerman was appointed commissioner by Greene County Court in December 2012 to complete the remaining time in the term of Pam Snyder, who resigned after being elected state representative.
When appointed to the position, Zimmerman was employed at Alpha Natural Resources’ Cumberland Mine. He had been a coal miner for 40 years and mayor of Waynesburg for nine years.
“I retired from a job I could still be working to be a full-time commissioner,” Zimmerman said. “I originally changed my schedule (at the mine) so I could come to meetings, but I really thought to be dedicated to the job, I needed to retire.”
Zimmerman said he chose to run for a full term to help complete projects that were already started, including an initiative to establish veterans’ transitional housing and the development of retail space at the county airport that, he hopes, will attract a sit-down restaurant.
“I see a lot of potential for different projects in the county, and I want to see them through,” he said.
Zimmerman said the main issue for the county is the need for sewer and water infrastructure. The need for housing also is important and in many areas is hampered by the lack of water and sewerage, he said. “They’re hand in hand. You can’t get any new development or do anything when you don’t have water and sewage.”
In recent years it is not been easy to get state or federal financial assistance for water or sewer line extensions, he said. The commissioners have lobbied elected officials, traveling to Washington, D.C., to make elected leaders there aware of the county’s needs, he said.
For their own part, the commissioners have used the county’s resources to assist municipalities with infrastructure projects by helping them search for grants, write grant applications or providing supplemental funding, he said.
“We’re a resource,” Zimmerman said, but action has to start at the municipal level with local investment. “We’ve never turned anybody down that’s willing to invest in their own project,” he said.
The county, for instance, provided $10,000 to Dunkard Valley Municipal Authority to help it replace a water line that had been the source of constant leaks. It also has provided technical assistance to various municipalities.
The commissioners also each year award grants of about $3,000 each to municipalities and nonprofit groups to make improvements to parks and recreation facilities, such as construction of baseball dugouts or restoration of ball fields or park fences.
The county has supported efforts to address the county’s housing needs, providing $200,000 in Act 13 money to help with the Gateway Senior Housing project in Waynesburg and funding to the county redevelopment authority and its program to eliminate blight and develop affordable housing.
With Act 13 impact fee money, the commissioners also have renovated the pool and playground at Mon View Park and made needed repairs to the courthouse and other county buildings.
“Some of (the Act 13 funds) we have put away for a rainy day. We don’t want to raise taxes. We’re trying to be good stewards of that money,” he said.
Zimmerman speaks of the volunteer work he has been involved in for many years that includes serving on the board of Habitat for Humanity, Southwest Regional Medical Center, Relay for Life and the United Way.
“I care about people. I care about what is important to them and what benefits them,” he said. “I like making a difference in people’s lives.”