PLATTSBURGH —
Kathi McCleery is a card-carrying union member running for mayor of the City of Plattsburgh.
She talks about sludge, zoning and what once was and still could be in a city, she says, that raises taxes on many residents who can't afford it instead of bringing money in and utilizing what already exists in Plattsburgh.
"I've been told I'm too much of a Republican to be a Democrat, and maybe that's true," said McCleery, running on the Working Families Party ticket. "I do know that development that benefits the community doesn't have to cost the taxpayers, but that all development — any development — must benefit all the community."
An official candidate since mid-July, McCleery has been in public service her entire life, owned successful businesses and retired to Plattsburgh full-time five years ago, though she's been involved with the area for more than 22 years.
"As this summer has unfolded and issues grew in the heat, I have been struck by how many of them I have already experienced, starting with sludge," McCleery said Monday afternoon. "We do have alternatives to composting, including at least one other way to have our waste processing generate money for us."
As McCleery gathered signatures to support her candidacy, she said, city residents asked why there is little to nothing to do in the area. People missed camping and go-carts, wonder why there isn't more entertainment and are saddened by the lack of family activities that don't require traveling an hour out of Plattsburgh.
McCleery read of snowmobile races and thought of Eagle, Wis., which turned a race into a week-long event that draws people from around the Midwest and brings in hundreds of thousands of dollars each January.
"That can be done in Plattsburgh," McCleery said. "Best of all, it doesn't require the city itself to do everything."
An advisory committee working with the Planning Board could come up with ideas such as skating, racing, midway rides, camping, hiking and boat rentals, and pass information to the new funding group being formed, she suggested.
McCleery envisioned a boardwalk along the entire city lakefront.
"Maintaining city control would allow us to rent out concessions along the length, mixing uses for the season and for changes in market tastes," she said. "Wouldn't it be wonderful to have places to sell Plattsburgh-themed items with the proceeds going to a specific fund to expand and maintain the boardwalk? Best of all, careful planning can accomplish this at little or no cost to us taxpayers."
McCleery said the city was once offered $22 million to tap into the methane gas generated by decomposing garbage at the former city dump and turn it into power that could supply municipal buildings and some vehicles. The funding was turned down then, she said, but the potential still exists.
"Other communities around the state have turned their closed solid-waste facilities into recreational facilities," she said. "It's time Plattsburgh did, too."
She also said development doesn't have to occur all at once but can be done individually, using land for multiple purposes until the final dream can be realized.
Current Mayor Donald Kasprzak said over the last four years the city addressed significant fiscal woes, stabilized tax and utility rates, improved the bond rating and replenished reserve funds. The city experienced more than $78 million in development, created some jobs and negotiated two union contracts.
"I hope I will have the opportunity to work in the best interests of the majority of the taxpayers for another term," he said.
McCleery said the city does not belong to a small group and is asking residents to share their vision with her. Every voice needs to be heard, she said, and respected.
"This city belongs to all of us. Let's build that future together."
E-mail Stephen Bartlett at: sbartlett@pressrepublican.com
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