by Laura Freeman

Reporter

Hudson -- Development along Seasons Road was one area of disagreement among the six candidates for Council at-large at their first appearance on the campaign trail.

The Hudson Economic Development Corp. sponsored a City Council candidate forum at the Country Club of Hudson on Middleton Road Oct. 2. The forum allowed the candidates to discuss economic trends in the community, according to HEDC President Jill Bacon Madden.

All Council at-large candidates attended. They are incumbents Hal DeSaussure, John Logan and Kristina Daley Roegner, and challengers Tom Elicson, Bryan J. Holmes and William Wooldredge, who is on the HEDC board.

The candidates discussed economic development, new business in Hudson, collaboration between the schools and city, regionalism, a downtown ice rink and gas wells.

They also discussed the Seasons Road project, which involves using eminent domain to purchase of portions of six properties, one in Hudson, to widen Seasons Road and install sanitary sewers.

The candidates disagreed on the use of eminent domain for the project. The negotiations for the six properties in Stow, Hudson and Cuyahoga Falls will be decided by the Summit County Probate Court.

DeSaussure and Elicson did not support eminent domain to purchase private property on Seasons Road, while the four other candidates -- Roegner, Logan, Holmes and Wooldredge -- did.

"It's a last resort only," Elicson said. "Use other options first."

DeSaussure said he supported property rights.

"Eminent domain is a terrible power and cities must yield it thoughtfully," DeSaussure said.

Wooldredge said eminent domain was used at First & Main, and Seasons Road was another instance where it would be properly used.

Logan said cities need to strike a balance because individual homes are the most important possession.

"Eminent domain is necessary when it becomes the greatest good for the greatest number of people," Logan said.

Holmes said eminent domain was a great power and should be used judicially, but in the right circumstances, necessary.

Roegner said she supported individual rights and private property and didn't like eminent domain, but said it was necessary with Seasons Road.

Seasons Road infrastructure

Another question that divided candidates asked whether infrastructure, such as utilities, should be completed before any businesses commit to Seasons Road.

All of the candidates believed in waiting until a business committed to the area to construct infrastructure, but some candidates want the businesses to contribute, while others want neighboring cities to help.

Wooldredge said when the interchange is complete, companies that want to build would need infrastructure then. However, he said he could not support adding the infrastructure at this time.

Holmes said neighboring communities could help with the infrastructure and pursue it when there was interest in the area.

"We should share the burden with companies coming in and not do it up front," Holmes said.

Elicson was concerned about the city taking on additional debt, especially with projected revenues down by $1 million, and supported infrastructure as development comes about.

DeSaussure said he didn't support building infrastructure to attract business, but to provide resources and support areas of interest.

"We will eventually need infrastructure at some point," DeSaussure said.

Roegner noted that the city wasn't alone in developing Seasons Road.

"We work together so when businesses commit, we are ready to put infrastructure in place," Roegner said.

Candidates agreed that economic development was important to the city, changes were being made to create a more business-friendly community and collaboration is necessary between the schools and city.

They all said they would keep an open mind on regionalism and liked the idea of a downtown ice rink.

All of the candidates supported drilling of gas wells in the city as long as the drilling company was sensitive to residents.

The League of Women Voters has scheduled a candidate forum Oct. 22. See page 14 for details.

E-mail: lfreeman@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3150