Thomson Township Supervisor Seat C Candidates

Nathan Barta

Briefly summarize your personal background and qualifications.

My name is Nathan Barta, and I am a lifelong Esko resident. I graduated from Esko high school, and I am currently a Junior studying Social Studies Education and Political Science at UMD. I have been heavily involved in local politics since high school and have made great connections.

What made you decide to run for Thomson Township supervisor this year?

I love my community, and this open seat on the Board is a great opportunity for me to step up and serve my neighbors.

What do you think are the top two issues facing Thomson Township and how would you go about tackling them?

Many people have talked to me about infrastructure, particularly road and sewer issues. Many sewer systems were installed decades ago and are now experiencing problems or aren't up to code as homeowners try to sell homes and ordinances and policies change. It's encouraging to see the board work to see the issue on Randall Avenue solved. If elected, I hope to push for more proactive work on sewer issues where homeowners do not have to foot the entire bill. The same can be said about many roads in the Township that have only been patched since first paved.

Another pertinent issue facing our community is our rate of growth. People choose Esko for our outstanding school district and our close-knit small-town community. For us to support this growth (we will likely be close to 6,000 people by 2030), the Township needs to have zoning and a permitting process that is simple and easy to navigate for new residential development, commercial development, and current homeowners. Permitting and inspections should be conducted on a reasonable timeline to make the process as efficient as possible. The more housing/commercial stock the Township can build up, the more we expand our tax base.

Elaborate on an issue you think was handled well by the township over the past two years.

It is critically important that everyone in Thomson Township has access to high speed, reliable internet and the Board has been very proactive in addressing this issue. The Board has contributed financially, along with federal and state money allocated to broadband expansion. The Township has worked with the Minnesota DEED, and Mediacom has been working to install miles of fiber optic cable. If elected I hope to help expansion continue.

Why should people vote for you?

I have great relational skills and strive to work collaboratively with everyone to reach common sense solutions.

My understanding of local politics, and the connections I've made with current supervisors, other local officials, and state legislators puts me in the best position to serve Thomson Township on the Board.

Jaryn Edblad

Briefly summarize your personal background and qualifications.

I'm 35 years old and have been a resident of Thomson Township for 13 years. I have a wife and three kids. I have been a public works employee with the City of Duluth Utilities Department for almost 12 years and I am also a small business owner.

What made you decide to run for Thomson Township supervisor this year?

I don't want to see Thomson fall more behind on its infrastructure and want to see the town continue to grow and not outgrow!

What do you think are the top two issues facing Thomson Township and how would you go about tackling them?

First, Thomson is growing at a rapid rate and unfortunately the infrastructure has not been updated at the rate needed to keep pace with the town's growth. Currently Thomson is being reactive instead of proactive, which will cost residents more money and frustration in the years to come. This has also prevented business growth within the town. We need to make a plan to improve and expand both roads and utilities such as water and sewer. Thomson is not a pioneer town anymore.

Second, Thomson needs safer routes for both kids and adults to travel by foot, bike and other means. Such as lighting the crosswalks and extending the existing paved paths and sidewalks to include the neighborhoods that are farther away from town center. There are plenty of state and federal grants and aids available throughout the year to help achieve this goal.

Elaborate on an issue you think was handled well by the township over the past two years.

Honestly, I struggle to think of a situation that was "handled well." There has been far too much money wasted, especially in the past two years.

Why should people vote for you?

Thomson needs someone who has the experience of working on infrastructure, has networked with cities and towns across all of Minnesota, is financially responsible and holds multiple water and wastewater licenses that will aid the town in its future growth. I'm that candidate!

John Bergman

Briefly summarize your personal background and qualifications.

Retired former Electronics Manufacturing & Test Engineer having administered many Federal Government contracts of various values from $60K up to $1.25 million. I've participated on several voluntary public service Boards including on former WITC-Superior Electronics Citizens' Advisory. I hold a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree from U of MN.

What made you decide to run for Thomson Township supervisor this year?

I've followed the Board for over a decade, frequently the ONLY citizen at meetings. The Board seems good at recurring issues, but not with extra-ordinary issues.

What do you think are the top two issues facing Thomson Township and how would you go about tackling them?

No. 1: Reasonable Housing and Growth control: With active (real) Citizen involvement the Town Board needs to revisit those portions of the 2020/2040 recently passed Comprehensive Plan dealing with both those issues. This needs to be a committee picked by the Citizens (rather than hand-picked by Planning & Zoning – as previously) with complete autonomy from the Board (the Board was way too intimately involved in Committee proceedings for the 2040 Comp. Plan) to make recommendations back to the Board. And the Board needs to substantially accept those recommendations as amendments to the existing Comprehensive Plan.

No. 2. Private Driveways & Roads proposed control ordinances need the Board to take action very similar as outlined above. Some control is becoming necessary to help keep our Township EMS ratings low risk for over-all property insurance premium costs. Unfortunately a few older and some newer construction is establishing "roads" and driveways way too narrow, long, and tree/brush obstructed: that does need to be reasonably addressed; BUT, existing situations need to be "grandfathered" with respect to landowners' rights of usage, development, etc. without undue restrictions. OR, the Township needs to compensate the affected landowner equitably in loss of value.

Elaborate on an issue you think was handled well by the township over the past two years.

High speed internet to the home is an issue I've pursued for 10 years. As a consequences of Covid, and most having to school and work remotely, the Township made a large grant from state and federal Covid Recovery monies toward Mediacom's present project. I was involved heavily in background AND foreground in that as a priority of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan (See "https://thomsonesko2040.wordpress.com/, my name is first listed!)

Why should people vote for you?

I have experience, ability, wherewithal and time to actually do my own research into issues which citizens have.

Unlike my competitors, I'm not a full-time student, nor am I working two full-time jobs with kids in school - which all take extraordinary time not available for Town Business.