Eau Claire Voters' Guide 2001 article

Eau Claire
Voters' Guide 2001

Pettis ready to take on Boettcher in District 3

Rodney Pettis

By Steve Kosanovich
UW-Eau Claire Public Affairs Reporting Student
Wednesday, March 28, 2001

Challenging an incumbent is always tough in an election, but Rodney Pettis is up to the challenge. Pettis, 53, is a lifetime resident of Eau Claire who will challenge incumbent Beverly Boettcher for the District 3 seat in the April 3 Eau Claire City Council Election.

Pettis is a 1966 graduate of Eau Claire North and spent 1½ years at the Chippewa Valley Technical College. Pettis was then drafted into military service and fought in Vietnam, leaving decorated with 27 Distinguished Service Medals and Awards for meritorious service to his country.

How They Stand

How do you envision Eau Claire's outward growth?
Boettcher: There needs to be boundary agreements with neighboring communities. The possibility of sharing services for people on the borders need to be examined. Pettis: Eau Claire's outward growth needs to be curtailed. The city has expanded beyond its tax base, further expansion will risk a loss of municipal services. How should the city deal with the downtown area?

How should the city deal with the downtown area? Boettcher: It needs to be revitalized. The HyettPalma strategy is part of this.
Pettis: Use federal and state funds to offer low interest or no down payment loans to young families and fixed income families to encourage them to live in the downtown area. Also open up the river front to encourage more businesses to move in.

How should the city deal with flood mitigation?
Boettcher: Wants to keep the amount taxpayers have to pay as low as possible.
Pettis: Fix the problem of the storm sewers, which is a result of urban sprawl, to avoid future problems. Keep taxpayers share at a minimum..

What is your stance on the police and fire contract negotiations?
Boettcher: The negotiation process needs to be examined. She would like to see a time limit on how long it can take to resolve differences.

Pettis: Allow a council member or two to sit in on the negotiations to allow the council to get a balanced story and find out what the hang-ups are.

. How do you see the city government working with young adults?
Boettcher: It's important to involve youths in getting things done. She would like to see a youth advisory council and a teen recreation center. Pettis: Keep a closer eye on landlords and the upkeep of the rental properties. Offer the low interest/ no down payment loans to encourage young families to move into the Randall Park neighborhood.

Pettis’ political experience includes nine years as a member of the Eau Claire County Veterans Service Commission, 15 years as a lobbyist for the Vietnam Veterans organization, and three years as a Union Steward representing Pace Local 42 and Plainwell Tissue in Eau Claire. Pettis has also served on the Hallie Peace Memorial steering committee and, since 1996, the Northside Hill Neighborhood Association steering committee. He is also a member of VFW 305 in Eau Claire, the American Legion in Augusta, and Chapter 5 of the Vietnam Veterans Organization.

Pettis would like to see the outward growth of Eau Claire curtailed to avoid outgrowing the city’s tax base and increasing the current debt. “Any new outward growth would have to be looked at very carefully,” said Pettis. "Further expansion puts new development at risk of being without adequate municipal services," added Pettis.

In regard to city services, Pettis would like to assign one or two city council members to listen to the negotiations about the new police and fire department contracts in order to present the council with a balanced view. Pettis wants the storm sewer system upgraded to avoid problems such as the sinkhole that occurred at Platt and Oxford streets after the major storms September 10 and 11.

The university is a valuable asset to the city according to Pettis and he encourages the students to vote. “If, as a student, you are living in Eau Claire you should be interested in what is going on in the city, by voting city officials will be more inclined to listen to student demands and work for their needs,” said Pettis. For the youth of Eau Claire he wants to maintain a parks and recreation program that is primarily directed at the young but also includes the older citizens of Eau Claire.

Pettis is currently employed at the Plainwell Tissue paper mill and lives in Eau Claire at 1515 Birch St. with his wife of 32 years, Diane, they have one daughter.