Five questions with Milton City Council candidate Tom Powers

Early voting is underway in Santa Rosa County and will continue until Nov. 2, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Below are Tom Powers’ answers to our questionnaire:

SRPG: What are some of the qualities that the new Chief of Police should have?

Powers: The chief must ensure officers are provided with training to meet the needs of the city, including technology improvements. The chief should excel in community relations and be able to handle both emergency and non-emergency situations effectively. Develop and implement a plan for moving the department forward with both short- and long-term improvement goals. He or she must be willing to listen to the citizen’s input while maintaining a positive police presence.

SRPG: Citizens have addressed their concerns with the wastewater effluent carrying PFAS into our drinking water. How will you address these concerns?

Powers: I believe there are better ways to dispose of the wastewater from the plant rather than spraying it on the ground over the aquifer. Relocating the spray fields is a viable option, as well as deep well injection. There are also filtration systems (granulated activated carbon plus ion exchange technology) that can remove these chemicals from the waste stream to prevent releasing them into the environment. A technical review and cost analysis should be carried out.

SRPG: Traffic has been an ongoing issue in Downtown Milton. What should be done about this, if anything, and what would the timeline for that project be?

Powers: The state is currently in the design phase of the Highway 90 expansion project. It is important that the city ensures that the ideas and desires already provided by the citizens and city board members (Council, Planning, Preservation & Community Improvement Board) be incorporated into the design of the highway to ensure we have a viable downtown and provide the traffic relief we desperately need. We must have a council that is 100% behind this important project.

SRPG: What makes you the right candidate? Tell us about your platform.

Powers: I am a retired engineer, so I am available to citizens as well as attending the city meetings. I have a strong background in project management, including $25M plus projects, have managed a staff of 100-plus engineers and maintenance personnel, as well as provided engineering and operational support for a 4 million gallons per day wastewater plant. I am the only candidate that has wastewater experience that is vital to the city wastewater expansion project.

SRPG: How can you reaffirm the citizens trust in you as a city council member?

Powers: Listen to the citizens. Provide an open door for them to reach out with their ideas for city improvement. Provide them with adequate input at council meetings. We are elected to serve them. Most of all, stop the infighting on the council and work to improve the city for all of the citizens that live and work here. Ensure we are accountable and transparent with the citizens and responsive to their needs.