League of Women Voters of Ohio
Hamilton County, OH November 4, 2003 Election
	James Squires Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Springdale

The questions were prepared by the LWV Cincinnati Area and asked of all candidates for this office.

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

1. How would you implement your top priority?

There was a time in the history of our city that a loss of a business would be only temporary! Springdale had an economic climate that would fill that void quickly. This is no longer the case! We must now actively compete with surrounding communities. Council recently took action to enable us to do this. I continue to support the establishment of the office of Economic Development ad the hiring of a full time executive.

2. Numerous important issues including transportation, land use planning, housing and economic development for the Greater Hamilton County regions are being deliberated by OKI's Land Use Commission and Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission and Planning Partnership COMPASS; how engaged should local government be in these planning activities? If elected, how would you participate in these planning activities?

Local governments should actively participate in these activities. Springdale is involved! I am a former OKI trustee. I also participated in the original Planning Partnership COMPASS. City council continually is in support of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce in its efforts to revitalize the business climate. Council has a representative to OKI meetings and he reports to council these matters. Springdale has a commendable record in senior housing development and land use planning.

3. Ohio Department of Natural Resources in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Recycling Coalition conducted a state-specific study and found recycling businesses in Ohio generated $650.6 million dollars in state government revenue. If elected how would you promote recycling and support recycling programs currently in place in your community to reduce solid waste generation?

I continually support recycling efforts in Springdale. Council recently authorized a leaf removal service. The leaves together with our established brush collection effort are turned into compost. Springdale operates an excellent compost facility. The city makes use of this compost/mulch. We purchase none. The city is also under contract with a waste management firm. Recyclable items are collected weekly.