• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Newcomers make statement on Milton City Council

Photo

Don Vruwink

Photo

Anissa Welch

Photo

Brett Frazier

MILTON — Milton High School teacher Don Vruwink plans to retire this spring, but his schedule’s already filling up.

“I’ve got 16 umpiring jobs. I’ve got to balance all of that out in there,” Vruwink said Tuesday night.

And that doesn’t count his new duties on the Milton City Council.

The three-decade Milton resident scooped up the high vote total with 917 votes in a bid for three open seats on the council. Newcomer Anissa Welch came in second with 757 votes, and incumbent Brett Frazier secured the third open seat with 747 votes.

The three candidates knocked off incumbents Maxine Striegl and Dave Schumacher.

Frazier said he’s excited to have earned a second term on the council. He said he’ll work to ensure that progress continues on improvements to the city’s east and west side business districts and as well as the city’s industrial park.

“We have to continue to invest in ourselves. We have to make sure that every tax dollar we take in we are using it as an investment in our future,” Frazier said.

Vruwink said he wants to make certain that plans move forward on a new department of public works building.

“I strongly believe we need to build a public works building. That would be my priority to see that through and make sure we get a decent place with enough room for public workers to put their equipment,” Vruwink said.

Welch said she believes the city should knuckle down on budget planning. She said she’d focus on trimming costs of city services.

“The budget gives us an opportunity to look at everything. We can become more efficient and become more creative. I think primarily we can look at how we’re providing our services and whether we’re doing that in the most efficient way that we can,” Welch said.

Welch said she hopes a higher-than-average voter turnout in Tuesday’s election means people want to be active in city government.

“I really hope it signifies that Milton residents want to get involved in the budget process and want to work together,” she said.