Candidates for County Council hold discussion

Three Monroe County Council democratic candidates addressed voters about environmental issues Wednesday night.

Incumbent Warren Henegar, Geoff McKim and Julie Thomas talked for about 45 minutes about issues such as alternative transportation, Lake Monroe conservation and creating a green economy at Karst Farm Park.

Candidates used the park as a way to highlight the need for environmental policies, which they called one of the most important issues to be addressed.

Thomas said that it can also help people save money.

“Environmental sustainability creates fiscal sustainability,” Thomas said. “Let’s save some money.”

Alternative transportation dominated a lot of the talk. McKim said bike paths need to be constructed from the county to the city.

“Anybody that wants to commute to work, they should be able to do.”

Candidates connected alternative transportation to reducing people’s need for gas, which they said is both an environmental and financial issue.

Light rail and rail roads were also mentioned as alternatives to be explored, although candidates admitted they would be built only in the long-term.

Henegar talked about the need to add a conservation district for Monroe Lake.

“We should be doing something to protect the lake,” Henegar said.

He cited the need to protect the water supply and drinking water.

“We need to get some control over our water system,” Henegar said. “The conservation district would at least give us some say-so.”

Henegar also said the burden of paying for storm water damage should be shifted from taxpayers to groups that are responsible for the runoff.

All three of the candidates are running for the three at-large positions on the Council. Currently the positions are held by Henegar, Michael Woods and Sophia Travis.