Three Republican candidates have filed for Antrim County Commissioner in District #6, which includes Custer and Helena Townships. Incumbent Brenda Ricksgers is running against challengers Gary Lockwood and Ronald Barwick.

Click here to see Lockwood’s candidate Facebook page.

Barwick did not reply.to our questionnaire regarding views on the new jail.  Responses from the other two candidates are below.

1. Do you agree that all meetings should be held in the evening??? This would encourage participation from working community members and would open up the field of Commissioners to working people. Feel free to explain.
Answers:
Ricksgers: No, because there are people giving reports that need to do so during their working hours. Some of our day meetings go 6-7 hours, there just isn’t time to get it all in at night. Some of us, both young and older, are a morning person and after 8 PM may not be as alert for making important decisions. We do have one meeting each to try to accommodate the most people.

Lockwood: All meetings should be in the evening.

2. a) Do you or your family have any special interests or connections to any company that will bid on the project or be involved in any way? if so, please explain. Will you earn money from any part of the jail building project? If so, please explain. Do you have any personal connections or previous work with the consultants Byce? If so, please explain.
Answers:
Ricksgers: Not at all! / No / No

Lockwood: No relatives / No / No 

3. Do you support the Stepping Up Program to reduce jail population? Do you feel that the Sheriff should make this one of his priorities? Please explain.
Answers:
Ricksgers: Definitely! I know he turned it over to Todd and not sure why. I have not had a chance to talk to him about it.

Lockwood: Yes, I but would like more concrete data from counties like Oakland who have done this.

4. Which of the options do you believe the board should pursue as far as renovating or building a new jail? Please explain.
Answers:
Ricksgers: I am one that is still considering. It is very hard for me to justify putting a lot of money onto a very old building. It is also hard to ask taxpayers to fund a new jail and with new programs coming to help keep prisoners at a minimum, I do not want to over build!

Lockwood: I have not seen the current jail, but I have heard that it is adequate for the number of inmates currently there. Renovating could be done to improve. Building a new jail no comment right now.

5. Should the Board hire a Structural Engineer to evaluate the current jail for an addition, since it was built to accommodate two stories?Answers:
Ricksgers: That is a good question. We hired a hydrologist to study the land by Animal shelter and they said it would support a one story building and the talk has always been if there is a new build it would be two story! The animal shelter has had problems because of moisture!

Lockwood: I have heard that it was built to accommodate two stories. The county should look at the plan with a structural engineer with no connections from up here to see if it is possible. Until you see the plans, it’s hard to have an opinion.

6. Do you believe that the citizens should be able to vote on this project? Or do you think a board that is split 5-4 should have the $76 million decision?
Answers:
Ricksgers: I do think the citizens should vote! I’m sure before it is done that will happen. Meadowbrook renovation was voted on by the people before the bond to build. We have I think 12 more years to pay for Meadowbrook. The bond is being redone to save $400,000 on it. I don’t think we can tax people without a vote!

Lockwood: It should be brought up to the voting populace.

7. How do you think the project should be funded? Fund balance / millage vote / bonding our children’s future?
Answers:
Ricksgers: It may be a combination. I have contemplated this.

Lockwood: Many avenues: I have heard that money has been set aside that could build the jail. Taxpayers always end up paying for things like this if the funds that were allocated for this project have been re-appropriated.