Q&A with Peachy Rentenbach (D) & Casey Noonan (R), District 6

Rentenbach, the incumbent, is challenged by Republican Casey Noonan in District 6, which represents Glen Arbor, Empire and Cleveland Townships

From staff reports

Glen Arbor Sun: Please name three top goals you’d like to accomplish as County Commissioner

Peachy Rentenbach: 1) Through the health department, bring a septic inspection regulation to the code. 2) Develop a full time housing commission. 3) Increase support to parents with zero to three year olds through education, nutrition and mentoring.

Casey Noonan: My three biggest goals would be to maintain a balanced budget, bring more unity and willingness to work together as a whole board, and be a voice for everyone in our community.

Glen Arbor Sun: What should the Commission do to support economic development and jobs in Leelanau County?

Rentenbach: Work with the Economic Development Foundation to follow through on obtaining low cost broadband.

Noonan: To promote economic development the commission should listen to the problems local business are having that are either hindering their growth or preventing other business from moving into the county, and do their best to address each issue and solve the problem.

Glen Arbor Sun: How should the Commission help solve the problem of too little affordable housing in the county?

Rentenbach: As stated above, institute a housing commission with proper staffing to partner with other governmental entities and obtain grant funding.

Noonan: I don’t believe that the problem of too little affordable housing in the county is something that falls solely on the commission. I do recognize that there is a problem and the board should certainly consider supporting efforts to create affordable housing as long as it does not come as a financial burden to the county. They will have to work closely with the townships and possibly villages to find possible locations, and possible zoning changes to accommodate the affordable housing.

Glen Arbor Sun: Many area businesses struggled to find enough employees during the high tourism season — and some curtailed their hours, as a result? How can the Commission solve this riddle?

Rentenbach: Again, a housing commission could work to obtain help with financing new construction. Note: I am not looking for county ownership, but help for private landlords.

Noonan: The lack of seasonal help has certainly had a large impact on local business, and it seems that even problems are arising trying to find year round help. However I do not believe this is an issue that can be solved by a county commission. As I stated in the previous answer, the board should consider supporting efforts to create affordable housing as long as it comes with no financial burden to the county, and I think that would be a step in the right direction to helping solve the problem.

Glen Arbor Sun: What can county government do about Sugar Loaf, which was once Leelanau’s largest employer but has been closed for 16 years? Can the Commission do more to empower the construction code authority to take legal action under the resort’s current “owners”?

Rentenbach: SugarLoaf is in private ownership. The county only has one real option for a solution and that is through construction codes violations and we are working on that.

Noonan: Sugar loaf is definitely a hot topic amongst the county right now. I don’t believe there is a lot more the county commission can do about Sugar Loaf. The code authority and county prosecutor have charged the current owners with misdemeanor charges of code violation, and I think that is a proper way of handling the situation.

Glen Arbor Sun: What environmental issues are most important to you? What role can the Commission play in protecting our natural resources?

Rentenbach: Water! Again, as mentioned previously, we need stronger septic inspection protection. We could also endorse the resolution to shut down line five. Stewardship is preferable to disaster clean-up.

Noonan: The most important environmental issue for me is the protection of our beautiful forests. It is staggering to walk through any forest in our county and see the devastating effects Emerald Ash Borer, beach bark disease, and oak wilt have had on them. The biggest role I see that the commission can play in protecting our natural resources is to study closely each problem that is presented to the board, and immediately take whatever action possible to ensure our beautiful and very important natural resources are protected.

Glen Arbor Sun: The current County Commission voted (twice) against a resolution to shut down the Line 5 oil pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac. Where do you stand on this issue, and why?

Rentenbach: Stated above, why risk our most valuable resource? Work in whatever means are available to protect and preserve.

Noonan: I believe that the thought of an oil spill in the great lakes is very frightening. I have been to several meetings where there were presentations by spokesmen from Enbridge, and a lot of public comment from concerned citizens. I still have a difficult time taking a stand on one side or the other. There is so much information available defending each side of the story. I am very worried about the devastating impact an oil spill would have on our environment as a whole, but I am also very worried about the effect shutting down the pipeline would have on the cost of our energy. There is a lot of research being done to find an alternative to using pipeline 5, and if a better alternative is found I don’t believe there would be any discussion that would be the best option.

Glen Arbor Sun: What lessons should local government learn from the Flint water crisis? Where do you stand on Gov. Snyder’s hallmark initiative, and the state legislature’s law, that put power over Flint decisions largely in the hands of a state-appointed emergency manager?

Rentenbach: Make sure you know the science of your consequences prior to making changes. I have yet to hear of a successful emergency manager.

Noonan: The biggest lesson we can learn from the flint water crisis is to always stay aware and involved in all aspects of our job. I don’t believe that was ok the give that much power to a state appointed emergency manager, and trust that they were doing the job properly. There should have been more people involved keeping check of each other so that an issue like this would not have happened.

Glen Arbor Sun: Politics has reached pitiful new lows this election season. Both presidential candidates are viewed unfavorably; and one of them has made a habit of insulting women, minorities and the handicapped. What, specifically, can you do to promote civility in politics?

Rentenbach: Remember we are trying to do right by our neighbors. Peace begets peace. “We all do better when we all do better.” (Former U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone from Minnesota). Leelanau County is not Washington, D.C. We are a neighborhood.

Noonan: To promote civility in politics the best thing I can do is to lead by example. I believe in treating each person with the respect and dignity they deserve. I also believe in respecting the fact that each person has their own perspective and ideas, and as much as they may differ from mine it is extremely important to show respect for there ideas and do my best the find common ground.

Glen Arbor Sun: What’s your favorite place to spend an afternoon in Leelanau County?

Rentenbach: My home, ski in ski out, the National Lakeshore is my next door neighbor, front deck looks out over Sleeping Bear Bay, Glen Lake, Alligator Hill and South Manitou.

Noonan: My family owns a piece of property with a small lake on it, I spent nearly every day there as a kid hiking, hunting, fishing, or camping we were always there. It is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon.