State-Journal.com - Candidates tackle green issues at festival forum

Photo By Hilly SchifferStuart Harrod, 44 of Frankfort, sits on his cargo bike during the second annual Going Green: Frankfort Climate Action Festival on the Old Capitol lawn Saturday. The bike has an electric motor attached to the front tire and is used for picking up groceries and running errands around town, Harrod said. The motor helps along the hills and it is good exercise, Harrod said.

Hiring a sustainability coordinator, opening a commuter service, and reducing energy costs were among key issues discussed at a forum Saturday for candidates for Frankfort mayor and city commissioner.

Adding a sustainability coordinator to the local payroll was a focus at the session sponsored by the Frankfort Climate Action Festival. Several hundred attended the festival, which was held on the Old Capitol Lawn from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday.

The position was included in a set of recommendations provided to the city commission by the Mayor's Task Force on Energy Efficiency and Climate Change.
The employee would monitor and reduce the city's energy and fuel consumption and could save $150,000 a year. According to the task force's report, the savings would pay for the employee's salary and benefits.

Commission candidate Terry Sutton said he supports hiring a sustainability coordinator with a 1-year contract on a trial basis.

Kathy Carter is seeking her third term on the city commission and said she supports hiring a sustainability coordinator when the funds are available " which she says they currently aren't.

The city has a hiring freeze and revenues are falling as the economy registers borderline recession.

"We need to live within our budget," Carter said.

Commission candidate Sellus Wilder said hiring a coordinator is a "no-brainer" although there are a number of other things the city can do to become more environmentally friendly.

Creating mixed-use walking and bike paths will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Wilder said. Installing solar-energy water heaters will also reduce energy expenses, he said.

"There is a perception that doing what is good for the planet is hard on your pocketbook," Wilder said. "That's not necessarily true."

Commission candidate Ken Thompson said he supports the development of commuter rail or bus service between Frankfort and Lexington and Louisville.

"A lot of people commute between Frankfort and Lexington and Louisville," said Thompson, a former city manager.

Frankfort Mayor Bill May said he also supports the idea of developing commuter rail service and has had several face-to-face meetings with officials at the RJ Corman company.

"Mr. Corman is really interested in the idea," said May, who is seeking a city commission seat because he cannot serve another term as mayor.

Mayoral candidate Gippy Graham said it's important to manage growth and promote urban in-fill by attracting businesses and families downtown.

"We need to use our existing resources," Graham said.

City Commissioner Doug Howard is seeking a second term in office and said he wants to see participation in the city's recycling program increase from 80 percent to 100 percent. That would extend the useful life of landfills and save the city money, he said.

"That's the first step I'd like to see," Howard said. "It would be a huge step forward."

Mayoral candidate and professor of psychology at Kentucky State University Lynn Bowers said educating the public would help increase participation in the recycling program.

"We need to make individuals aware they are part of the problem solving-process," she said.

City Commissioner Rodney Williams said he would like to expand the city's recycling program to include commercial buildings in the downtown Renaissance district. However, increasing services will require additional manpower and equipment.

"There is going to be some tipping point," Williams said.

The climate change festival also included a variety of children's activities, art events and performances by local bands.

Several hundred also attended workshops on cooking with solar energy, composting, community gardening and bicycle commuting.