There are five candidates running for four seats on the Taylor Mill city commission, including three incumbents and two challengers. The candidates answer questions from LINK nky below, starting with the incumbents and followed by the challengers.
QUESTION (for incumbents): What do you see are the main issues facing your city?
Caroline Braden: As a city, our main purpose is to maintain the safety and security of its citizens while balancing financial constraints. These are the primary issues facing the city of Taylor Mill.
Mark Kreimborg: Our streets and infrastructure are a top priority, as well as addressing and improving the firehouse needs without going into debt.
Dan Murray: We need to move forward on the firehouse, keep fixing the streets, and keep the taxes low, attract new businesses to keep the taxes low and give the citizens a wide choice of services and businesses.
QUESTION (for incumbents): What are your chief accomplishments while you have been on council?
Caroline Braden: I have made myself available to both citizens and city staff and have worked in conjunction with the efforts of others for the purpose of making changes that will improve our city. I have been fortunate to be a member of the committee to review the city’s zoning, the committee to review and rewrite our city policies, and to work on the new amphitheater project. In addition, I have worked with the commission to revitalize the park.
We have brought park rangers in to provide our citizens information about the environment and vegetation in the area. Two local Eagle Scouts did their final projects at the park- a new permanent corn hole game and replacement of several of the worn-out park benches. Also, we have had several volunteer days in which citizens gave their time to beautify and benefit Pride Park.
Mark Kreimborg: While I was Mayor, we became debt free and remain that way today. The purchase and development of Pride Park and the Community Center was accomplished. We secured a grant for the first phase of our sidewalks. We secured $80 million dollars for the development of Pride Parkway (Route 16). I helped create the “Taylored with Time” Seniors Group.
We worked on the development of “The Districts” area plans. We created our Recreation Department. I have been involved in the development of most of our newer subdivisions. I am a charter member of the Kenton County Mayors Group. We took our part-time police department and developed it into a state and nationally-accredited full-time department. Our fire department was all volunteer, we turned it into a full-time department with our life squad now EMS/ALS. We improved the snow removal service in Public Works. We took the city from a paper-only city clerk’s office to a fully computerized department.
Dan Murray: We went from a BLS (basic life support) to an ALS (advanced life support) fire department. Park Place Community Center and Shelter 3 parking lots were paved, and we have put more money into street repairs. The sidewalk project linking Taylor Mill Road with Pride Parkway at the south to Taylor Mill Road and Pride Parkway at the north should be completed by end of 2023. Our police department is internationally accredited, and we were recognized as the safest city in Kentucky for 2022.
QUESTION (for incumbents): What projects would you like to see accomplished while you are on council?
Caroline Braden: During my tenure, the city has worked systematically to address the repair of the city’s roads, using objective analysis to determine the order of the road repairs. I would like to see us continue to repair our roads and also, to bring a new amphitheater to the city for the enjoyment of our citizens.
Mark Kreimborg: I would like to continue to keep our city debt-free, improve our streets, complete our sidewalk program, improve the needs of our existing firehouse, and make sure our future development remains controlled.
Dan Murray: I want to continue to put more money into streets. A new firehouse or a complete overhaul of the one we have now must happen, and some type of shelter for our maintenance department to house the equipment such as our trucks and backhoe has to be done.
QUESTION (for incumbents): What do you see as your greatest strength, the quality you can bring to the table to get things done in your city?
Caroline Braden: The thing that I enjoy the most, and hopefully is my greatest strength, is collaborating with the citizens and city employees to hear their thoughts about how to make the city better so that we get the best results.
Mark Kreimborg: Many of the listed items above are partly what will help me with the city in the future. I have 37 years’ experience in city and local government, I am well connected with outside agencies for any help we may need, and my extensive history and knowledge of the city will help to keep our city moving forward.
Dan Murray: I listen to both sides of a problem. I don’t many any rash decisions and everything I do is to make the city better, and I always want to take care of our employees.
QUESTION (for incumbents): Where do you see your city in 10 years?
Caroline Braden: The city will be citizen and city-centered and it will be safe. The team effort from all departments, the mayor, and commission, will provide an environment which attracts new citizens and businesses. The city will remain safe and fiscally sound.
Mark Kreimborg: I see our city continuing to have a small-town feel, with excellent services and controlled growth.
Dan Murray: We continue to make good decisions. We have our streets in great shape and our police, fire and maintenance departments are second to none. We keep improving Pride Park and have a wide variety of shops in our business district.
QUESTION (for challengers): What specifically made you put your name on the ballot?
Ed Kuehne: I have lived in Taylor Mill over 32 years and have seen much improvement and positive changes, but there are some recent decisions that I am concerned are not in the best interest of our city, so I feel I need to run for office. I am recently retired so I have the time to be more involved in the working of our city and feel the city commission could use my years of working experience to make good, sound decisions. I have been a commissioner of Taylor Mill in the past and love living in Taylor Mill. I want to see our city grow in a positive direction.
Matthew Martin: Commissioner (Rose) Merritt told me her intentions not to seek re-election. I would like to bring another perspective to the Commission. For the past six years, I have been the Taylor Mill representative on the Kenton County Planning Commission. I would like to bring my knowledge at a county level back to the citizens of Taylor Mill.
QUESTION (for challengers): What do you want to change if you are elected?
Ed Kuehne: Taylor Mill needs to have more citizen involvement in the decision-making. An example would be to establish a Citizen Park Committee that would have recommendations regarding the city park’s needs to properly serve the people who utilize it. Another example is to establish a Citizen Review Board where one can come and openly express their thoughts, concerns and opinions. That board would then organize the concerns of property owners before the commission meeting. Taylor Mill needs more citizen community involvement.
Matthew Martin: I wouldn’t necessarily make any large changes but more of a continuation of following the engineer’s report with street replacements/repairs. I believe we need to continue to be flexible in our new Downtown Core and Downtown Gateway zones to attract businesses. Our ALS ambulance service and accredited police department must be continued for the health and safety of residents.
QUESTION (for challengers): What qualifications do you want to highlight that will make people vote for you?
Ed Kuehne: I have served and volunteered in Kentucky for 50 years, including Boone County Water Rescue (23 years – current); Tank Board (12 years – current); EMT instructor (23 years – current); Kenton County Zoning Compliance (6 years); Board of Adjustments in Taylor Mill (current); Chief of Florence Rescue volunteer in my early years; Volunteer Fire Dept in Richmond, Ky. after graduation from Eastern Kentucky University; and I was on Taylor Mill Commission when the Trifecta and Pride Parkway were constructed.
I have had much success in my years of business, which will help in knowing how to recruit businesses to come to Taylor Mill. I am recently retired, giving me the time required to get out and communicate with the community and potential businesses.
Matthew Martin: Over the past several years, I have been involved with several aspects of our city and government:
• 6 years on the Kenton County Planning Commission as the Taylor Mill Representative
• Taylor Mill Zoning Committee for implementing the new zoning code this year
• Volunteered at different city-hosted events
QUESTION (for challengers): Is there something specific you would like to change in the city?
Ed Kuehne: The grants procurement process. I believe the city is lacking when it comes to identifying, applying for and receiving local, state and federal grants. There are more out there that we are missing. This needs to be addressed and changed.
Matthew Martin: Over the past several years we have had many of the same voices on our city commission. I believe this city needs a fresh voice on the commission that is raising a young family in Taylor Mill.
QUESTION (for challengers): Where do you see your city in ten years?
Ed Kuehne: Taylor Mill is a community that is currently establishing today for tomorrow and needs me as their city commissioner. I want Taylor Mill to be known as a community with excellent Police, Fire, EMS and City Maintenance Services. Additionally, as a walkable community with safe streets and a place where people want to live and raise their families.
Matthew Martin: I believe the city will have a stronger economic development in the new Downtown Core and Downtown Gateway zones. I also see an influx of housing opportunities on the few remaining undeveloped land parcels. If developed that will provide some additional tax relief to the city.
