Leader needed
Curtiss is a village that will soon be in need of a leader. At the annual caucus in January, longtime village president Randy Busse announced that he would not be seeking another term in office. No one else at the caucus was willing to accept the nomination for the position, so village voters will see an empty spot on their ballots.
“I guess it’ll have to be write-in,” Busse said.
The fact that no one is running for village president should be a concern to Curtiss residents. Even with its small population size, the village still faces many pressing issues, including the need for new wastewater treatment facilities that will cost $20 million or more. Completing this project will require continued cooperation with the village’s big industry, Abbyland Foods. Village officials are the middle of renegotiating the company’s wastewater treatment agreement, which will have a big impact on how sewer infrastructure is paid for.
In addition, Abbyland’s owner is in midst of building two apartment buildings for the company’s employees. With one building expected to include up to 16 units and the other between 12 and 14, the village could have dozens of new residents moving in within months of when the buildings are completed. This will help address a chronic housing shortage in this area, but it will also be a major population boost for a village with a population of just over 200 residents at the time of the last census in 2010. Growing pains are always a concern with a sudden influx of new residents.
For example, the village board is still grappling with what to do about liquor licenses for the handful of businesses that have them. The Abbyland Truck Stop was once against denied a license to sell liquor at its gas station last week. The owners of the business, however, are determined to press the issue, either by appealing the decision to the county court or submitting a petition to force a referendum on the issue. At the same time, a couple village board members raised the prospect of denying the renewal of other alcohol licenses within the village.
For a growing community like Curtiss, these are important issues to address, and that requires strong leadership. Village residents have been lucky to have Busse providing a steady hand in local government for the last several years, but his time as president is coming to an end.
That means it’s time for someone to step up. Curtiss needs a village president who can lead the village through this era of growth and change. It won’t be easy, but it’s necessary. If you live in Curtiss, consider running a write-in campaign or encouraging some you trust to do so. The election is April 6, so now’s the time to start organizing.
The Tribune-Phonograph editorial board consists of publisher Kris O’Leary and editor Kevin O’Brien
