This is the fifth 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.
Roberta Lehmann
Candidate for City Commission
Current Job
Works for an agency that cares for adults with intellectual disabilities.
Why are you running for this election?
I grew up here in Eudora, so a lifetime of love for Eudora. I love the direction our city’s going, and I’m just really enjoying the process of seeing the growth and keeping it at a slow pace, so that’s kind of my why. I don’t have an agenda for any one thing.
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?
I think we had already started preparing. Before we knew about Panasonic, we had already put plans in motion to start with the infrastructure and keep building on that, so we’re going to stay the course with the plans that we had already made, because they were already projecting what the growth was going to be.
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 tell people this, you can’t have it both ways. If you want lower taxes, we have to bring in businesses. To bring in businesses, they bring in people. When K-10 went in in 1980 [or] whatever year that was, that set our path for growth. It’s been a lot slower than probably what it would have been. Growth is inevitable, so we need to get in front of it, and if we want taxes down, we need businesses.
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?
The wastewater is huge, but that’s already on our radar and we’re working towards getting the streets up to date, and I honestly think we’re working in that path. It’s a slow process. There’s a lot that needs to be done. So we’re doing it, it’s just we have to do it when we have the money and we’re being financially responsible with it.
What departments in the city do you see as needing more support, funding or additional services?
You know, every department needs something from us. I don’t think there’s any one department that’s just perfectly content with what they have. City Hall needs people, police force needs people, fire department needs people, wastewater treatment. I really think the city as a whole, every department needs something. It’s a matter of how we can address them and where that money is coming from to pay for those positions. So I can’t say there’s any one that needs it more than the other. I think we do a really good job of making sure if you need an employee, we’re going to help you with that. So I think we’re doing what we need to do.
What are your hopes for the future of the Nottingham development?
My hope is that we get all of those spaces filled with businesses that make sense to Eudora. Nottingham was started before I joined the commission. The commission before me, which is currently almost all intact, well, two of us are new me and Alex [Curnes], they had a vision of how they perceived it should be filled and to fit Eudora’s model and I think that staying that path is the way to go. We’ve been very particular of how we want to progress, and we’re moving slowly on purpose.
The city is exploring a STAR Bond and bringing a sports arena/entertainment district to town. What are your views on this proposed project?
As a parent of a child that plays youth sports, this is a huge win for us to be able to get this to work with the people that we’re working with to achieve the STAR bond. It’s a huge win for Eudora. Youth sports is a billions of dollars industry. Us having the ability to capture that is huge. I’m all on board.
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?
Definitely support them. I think they’ve got a strong foothold already. I think, as their needs rise, they’ll just have to come and ask for the things that they need for us to continue to support them.
Overall, what is your vision for Eudora’s future?
To keep it as small-town feel with the growth that we’re going to be achieving and just to still make it feel small even though it might not be. We’re still going to be a small town.
There’s no way we can grow beyond that. We are landlocked, so we’re going to have growth, but we will not be a Johnson County. It’s not going to happen. But to add more services and to have more things for the Senior Foundation to do and then the youth, families, all of that. I’m a big Parks and Rec proponent. Parks and Rec is what brings your community together.
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