Fred Schuetz: 'An interest in Developing a Vision of ... Our Community'

Qualifications:

I am a Montgomery County native and, along with my wife, a 42 year resident of Trappe. We have no intentions of leaving for warmer climes. In this period of time I have developed strong community commitments to :Church-42 yrs; Scouting - 40 yrs: Trappe Ambulance - 10 yrs; Trappe Planning Commission-10yrs; Perkiomen Valley Teen Center-4 yrs; Regular Trappe Council attendance-25 yrs.

In that period of time I have acquired an interest in developing a vision of what our community should and could look like. That vision includes the expansion of the definition of “community” to go beyond streets and borough lines. The friendships my wife and I have established over the years have allowed me to work toward achievement of that goal.  While serving on the Planning Commission for those 10 years, I authored grants that returned to the Borough close to $900,000, which was used for open space land acquisition and park development and improvements. Rambo Park is an example of the gem that was envisioned and waiting to be polished. Water Works Park is an example of improvement through cooperative efforts with Collegeville. The interest in vision continues.

Important Issues
Fiscal responsibility is a most important matter in this small community with a limited tax base and lagging economy. Beginning with the budget process, we must look at all of our available resources and reserves and determine how they may be best used to meet our anticipated needs over the next few years. This is another area where vision is of importance. The public is invited to review a copy of the borough’s five-year budget plan, for which we were given Governor’s recognition last year. Upkeep of borough roads has been a subject of neglect for too long. We cannot continue to operate from one minor crisis to another. A street inventory is being developed to identify maintenance needs and priorities. We need to look at the borough reserves and determine how to utilize them in the most prudent manner. Is it wise to maintain nearly a $1 million in CDs at 2 percent interest while we watch our infrastructure fail?

To ensure the safety of Trappe residents and those within the area of Trappe Fire Company responsibility, it will be necessary for us to immediately plan on how to meet the cost of replacing an aging and failing firehouse structure. Close cooperation with the firemen is leading to the development of structure plans while at the same time exploring ways of meeting cost through grants and fund raising activities. This is a process that will begin to evolve in earnest within the next few months and will become a serious topic of discussion within the community.

Revitalization
I will continue to promote the idea of Trappe as a destination rather than just a point through which one must travel to get to a more distant point. The Main Street Vision Plan, prepared by a professional planner with community input through meetings and questionnaires, and unanimously approved by council after several public community presentations, will be the guide in this effort.  This is a concept plan of what the Borough could look like from one end of Main Street to the other. It is not the design to be implemented immediately and in its entirety. It will be necessary for Borough Council and resident committees such as TTT (Trappe Today and Tomorrow) to review the plan and pick elements of the plan that can be put into a grant application in a form that will be given favorable consideration by supporting partnerships that must be established and the grant providers. Although grant funds are limited today, the programs are still there. The borough must be ready to immediately take advantage of them when they become available.  This is a vision that must be accomplished over a period of time and is not to be looked upon as a need for taxing.  A Historic Walking Tour pamphlet is a vision intended to promote tourism interest by developing cooperation between our historic resources, business interests and the borough.

Before you vote
When stepping into the voting booth on Nov. 8, please recall the overwhelming voter response my associates and I received in the elections of 2007 and again in the spring primary of 2011. We have been honored by the strong support and trust placed in us by both Republican and Democratic voters. We pledge to work to earn and keep that trust in the future. Lew, Paul, Marshall and I have not had the benefit of endorsement by the local Republican Committee in our efforts to move forward in our efforts of 2011 and into the future. We do not expect support in those efforts from their endorsed Republican candidate whose name appears on the Nov. 8 ballot.  Therefore, we are encouraging all voters of all parties to do the WRITE thing. Press Button G33 and then WRITE-IN Marshall Stomel.