Fike faces Rhodes for mayor again
The following is the first in a three-part series on the race for Uniontown mayor.
In a rematch from the 2007 election, the Uniontown mayoral race features Democrat Ed Fike against Republican Russ Rhodes.
Fike is the incumbent this time and, at a recent debate held by the editorial board of HeraldStandard.com, he said the city is better off now than it was four years ago and he would continue to work to improve the tax base and revitalize the city if he were elected to a second term.
Rhodes said, if elected, he would market the city to attract businesses, use state resources to find ways to control spending, look for ways to get vacant property back on the tax rolls and build a recreation center.
Fike said he has brought fiscal discipline and management to city government and some unpopular decisions were made to put the city on solid financial ground. He said it took “the courage of integrity” to cut spending and raise property taxes to balance the budget.
When he entered office, he said he discovered that a $92,000 payroll was due, but there was only $15,000 in the general fund.
New homes are being built on Maple Street, 30 rent-to-own houses were built in 2009, the Maple Garden Apartments opened on Gallatin Avenue in July, the senior day-care service Senior Life opened and the parks have been improved during his term, Fike said.
In addition, a criminal booking center opened in the police department, the city has contracts for extra police and fire services with the Fayette County Housing Authority, more than 100 blighted properties have been demolished, building codes are enforced, the number of police officers grew from 16 to 23 and the Italian Heritage Festival boosted tourism under his administration, he said.
“To be a leader of all, one must first become a servant of all,” Fike said.
Rhodes said he would market the city to attract businesses, which would lead to new jobs and bring more people to the city to fill those jobs. He said a city website would help in marketing and give residents easy access to information and permit applications.
“It’s time to address our declining tax base by aggressively marketing Uniontown,” Rhodes said.
He said he would use free resources from the state to look for ways to control spending.
Bad financial decisions made under Fike’s administration have added to the high taxes city residents pay, Rhodes said. Taxes were increased in 2009 after employees were laid off in 2008, but some some employees still got pay raises, he said. Laying off the sanitation department in 2008 resulted in a lawsuit, which cost the city money, he said.
The city needs a strategy for getting vacant lots where blighted properties were demolished back on the tax rolls, City Council meetings should be held at a time when more residents could attend, Rhodes said. He also said he would pursue building a recreation center.
A plan is needed to retain the five police officers whose salaries come from grants and other arrangements after the city becomes responsible for those salaries, Rhodes said. He said he would work with the South Union Township supervisors on a contract for the city to provide police services if the township were interested.
He also said he would try to reduce sewage and garbage bill and try to bring a grocery store to the city.
See related video at www.HeraldStandard.com.