This is the fourth story in an 11-part series featuring the candidates for City Commission and School Board. One story will be featured each day between Oct. 8 and Oct. 18.
Brian Landon
Candidate for City Commission
Current Job
Plumber at Jim Bost Plumbing
Why are you running for this election?
Well, my political party called me and asked me if I would run and I thought, why not me? And then as I got to looking more and more at it, I got to realizing that the people that are in office have detached themselves from the real world. Like, I still have bills I need to pay every day, so I need to lace up my boots to go shake it for money every day. So I’m very aware of, you know, like, the ongoings, and, as a person, like what I feel like the city needs.
The opening of Panasonic will have a big impact on the region. What steps do you think the city should be taking right now to prepare for that?
So yes, Panasonic is a big deal, but it’s also a big deal for De Soto. It’s a big deal for Gardner. It’s a big deal for Olathe. Eudora is growing and, like most things that grow, you need to have a good infrastructure, and I feel like we need to spend more time on infrastructure and by infrastructure I mean like roads or water treatment plant or sewage treatment plant, our electrical grid, so therefore we don’t have the big switch once a day. You know, so I feel like that would be – you need good bones, and I feel like we’re really lacking in that department.
Residents in town have expressed concerns both about how much taxes are and about the need to keep the small town feel for Eudora. How do you think the city should address these concerns?
I mean, taxes are inevitable. It’s one of those things that, you know, two things you can’t escape: taxes and death. I feel like, as a taxpayer myself, it’s not great seeing my property value jump over $100,000 in one year, but I also feel like there’s taxes that need to get paid, but I want to see my tax money get spent wisely, not just thrown about.
There have been talks about road improvements with the RAISE grant, other needs for wastewater treatment renovations, etc. What do you see as the biggest infrastructure needs for the city right now?
Obviously, we’re a town that travels. Most people who live here travel, so I would say mainly the roads, but if we do roads, you know, what about things underneath roads: water lines, sewer lines, those things need to get fixed. You always have to start at the bottom and work your way up in that situation.
What departments in the city do you see as needing more support, funding or additional services?
So, mainly the city employee.
Like, I always thought it was weird that we hired eight firefighters and only one city employee. [Editor’s note: This is referring to a City Commission story where new staffers were introduced.] You know, like, I feel like the city employee, like the guy who runs the treatment plant, the guy, you know, that takes care of the roads and those people, I mean, Eudora is such a small town, they’re all over the place. Like, I think my neighbor’s the same guy that takes care of the roads, that takes care of the power grid, so that is where I feel like we need to structure ourselves.
What are your hopes for the future of the Nottingham development?
I was like, for me, to be honest with you, I thought that would be more manageable to go into multi-family. Because we really lack a lot of multi-family [housing] in the area. I would really hope that it gets developed. I always felt like Eudora needs a hotel. Because it’s almost a prime spot for it, like you don’t want to stay in Lawrence, but I really hope the city gets its money’s worth out of it.
The city is exploring a STAR Bond and bringing a sports arena/entertainment district to town. What are your views on this proposed project?
The problem with sports parks are who’s taking care of them? The idea is, like, the city has to take care of the sports parks. That’s more money that we’re dumping not once but twice, three times into it, and then on top of that is then who pays taxes for that land? Well, we the city do. We the taxpayer have to take care of that. So I mean, I’m for more entertainment. I’m more for the growth and for the hotel, but I feel like the sports park is – we should focus more on ourselves on that situation.
The senior citizen population is important to Eudora residents. How will you support them and are there services you want to see increased for them?
Yeah, I think so. I’m not originally from Eudora. I moved here about eight years ago. Now, mind you, my grandfather was a class of 1950. He never really talked about his time, just like a little here and there. So the lady who walked down my street asked me if I was related to him and [said] “I went to school with him.” That’s important to me that I have a base. Like, senior citizens mean a lot to me because it gave me a tie to Eudora that I didn’t know I had. I wish everybody got to spend more time with senior citizens even to just shoot the [expletive].
Obviously, not all senior citizens can take care of their property, and I would like to see more, obviously the Meals on Wheels. I know we both have a program for this one retirement center and the other retirement center I would like to see grow.
Overall, what is your vision for Eudora’s future?
Wise man plants trees he’ll never see grow. I would hope Eudora doesn’t lose its small-town feel, but I also hope that we can treat its people, like instead of growing in the wrong direction.
Anything else you would like to add?
I don’t have an arts degree. I don’t have a history degree. I got into plumbing when I was 19 years old. So it’s been about 18 years now. It’s not an easy trade. I basically picked a job that’s either going to kill me or put me in bad health or eventually going to break me. When you work construction so long, it’s not who you are. It’s about getting [expletive] done. And that’s how my mentality works. It’s not like, am I the best choice? Probably not. I mean, there’s probably other candidates out there that are great, but do I feel like I can get stuff done? Yes.
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