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Candidates tout experience, communication in forum BAXTER GOVERNMENT Staff Writer Experience in Baxter city government and their ability to listen to their constituents were reasons why both Baxter City Council candidates at Thursday's candidate forum felt voters should cast votes their way on Nov. 7.
Mark Cross, an incumbent on the Baxter council, faced off with candidate Rob Moser, who serves on the city's utilities commission. James Klein, a third candidate running for the two open council seats, did not attend the forum.
Cross said he has enjoyed serving on the council for the past 10 years and would like the opportunity to remain on the council.
"I think I've shown to be a reasonable voice for average citizens and taken great care to make sure my decisions are fair," said Cross.
Moser said he feels he is qualified to serve on the council because of his experience on the utilities commission.
"I feel I'm a good listener and I'll always try to make the right decisions for the right reasons," said Moser.
The candidates' answers rarely differed when asked about topics like the environment, managing growth and their views of cooperation between Baxter and other government entities.
"I feel it's a never-ending challenge," Moser said when asked if protection for the environment has been fully addressed with the rapid growth in Baxter. "I feel that with developments at least in the past 10 years they've done very well and it's very important we continue that requirement."
"We work closely with the Crow Wing County Soil and Water District in dealing with wetlands and development and I think we're trying very hard to keep that as one of our top priorities," said Cross.
When asked whether there was enough green space in Baxter, both candidates said the city continues to work to ensure more green space is added to the growing city when developments are built.
"Baxter has 80-100 acres of parks now and we require park dedication fees or land from developers so there's a good mechanism in place to make sure we get green space and so it's not developed fully," said Moser.
"As we grow and add more people to Baxter it's important we continue that," Cross said of the city's park facilities plan. "Yes, we need more green space."
JODIE TWEED can be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.
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