Republicans Matt Holland and Bill Spalding are running for the Republican nomination for county commissioner in District 3. The Daily Reporter asked both men a series of questions about their qualifications. Here are Holland’s responses. Spalding’s answers are in a separate post on our site.
What makes you the most qualified candidate for the job?
Currently serving the past 5½ years on the Sugar Creek Township Board, I am the only candidate for Hancock County Commissioner in District 3 that has experience serving in a local governing position. Sugar Creek Township has top-of-the-line fire service employees, equipment, and facilities all while maintaining fiscal responsibility, having become completely debt free in 2020. We recently completed a new fire station by paying cash and not taking on new debt. This station was completed on time and under budget. I plan to bring this type of fiscal conservatism to the board of commissioners.
What is the most important issue facing Hancock County?
There are several important issues facing Hancock County. The most pressing is helping to be a catalyst and not a barrier to getting through the COVID-19 pandemic and helping citizens and businesses get back to work and earning a living. Completing ongoing road improvement projects; healthy and positive economic development; ensuring the new jail construction project stays on time and within budget; improving mental health accessibility; and revisiting requirements for tax abatements are the priorities that I am most concerned about. All of these are priorities that need equal attention to keep Hancock County moving in a positive direction.
How can the county government ensure that the businesses and housing developments being constructed in the county meet the needs of a growing population?
This has been a popular topic of conversation among people I have heard from. I will be diligent in working with and listening to the opinions of multiple boards, councils, and county departments such as the Hancock Economic Development Council, Hancock County Plan Commission, the Hancock County Building Department, surveyor’s office, etc., to do due diligence in making decisions involving development. I believe maintaining proper balance of all types of residential, commercial, and agricultural land is essential in building the proper tax base to sustain the necessary funds for capital projects such as road and infrastructure improvements.
Other than the new jail, what do you see as the most pressing needs for infrastructure or capital projects?
Due to the relocation of the jail, I have had multiple discussions with citizens and officials about the plans for the current jail. While this is still undecided it does present the task at hand, which is the realignment of county facilities. There will need to be some improvements made on facilities when this domino effect occurs. I will make sure that this happens in an organized, efficient, and financially sound manner. I would also like to focus attention on the Mt. Comfort Road corridor capital project to ensure this is completed in an efficient, timely, and collaborative manner.
What factors would you use to determine whether a company should be granted a tax abatement?
The Hancock Economic Development Council has proposed funding an employee to monitor businesses that have been given tax abatements to ensure that businesses are employing the number of employees at the wages they specified when they received the abatement. This employee will be funded through business fees in turn to monitor the requirements originally set when the tax abatement was granted. I am an advocate of tax abatements when it brings a business that will provide quality jobs and wages. However, I am not in favor of multiple renewals of tax abatements if the business isn’t fulfilling their end of the bargain.
What is your assessment of how the county has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic?
This is definitely unprecedented times in our lives. I feel that the Hancock County government has responded very well given the circumstances. It is apparent to me that the county officials did not take lightly the decision to implement a travel warning in an effort to maintain public health and safety. The officials followed the lead of the state of Indiana and did not overstep their bounds and put precautions in place that fell in line with those in neighboring counties. The commissioners were very proactive with their decisions and notified the public through official correspondence in a timely manner.
