Tom Tait has only been a Carroll resident for a little over nine years, but he has already served as a council member for Carroll’s second ward for eight years. In moving here, he saw that Carroll was different and it was the place he wanted to raise his two children, Nicki and Jeff. He says after being asked by local residents to run for office, it was a natural transition based on his experience, drive and the example fostered in him at an early age.
Tait has served on church boards, a YMCA board and has been in charge of donations for 10 years at Cargill, the company he has worked at for over 33 years. In his time on the council, Tait said there is almost always a hot topic, and the hottest has been the library. He has listened to the last survey that reported 80 percent of the people wanted it left where it is with upgrades, and he feels it is his civic duty to see that the people have a voice and that it is heard.
He added, there are ideas for solutions with the library and he is confident they will find one. As for the other key issues facing the city, Tait said there are two that work in tandem; the first is keeping the community as one of the safest in Iowa; and the second is keeping it vibrant. He says it reminds him of an ecosystem that is impacted as a whole by all the small changes.
Even though we are one of the safest communities in the state, Tait noted that nearly 70 percent of the law enforcement resources are spent in one area of Carroll. This, he says, is the type of growth that is not beneficial to the community as an ecosystem. To remain the hub of this area and grow correctly, Tate believes the city needs to allow local builders the chance to do the right things that attract the right type of people for the right type of growth. There are many things he is proud the board has implemented in his tenure, from stop lights that save lives to the proposal to move forward with improvements on the Sexton’s office at the cemetery. And, as a policy maker, he wants to continue to recognize, create and act on policies that promote positive change and growth for Carroll.
All of the candidates will have the opportunity to answer questions from the public at a forum hosted by the Carroll Chamber of Commerce next Wednesday, Oct. 14, in the Carroll High School auditorium beginning at 7:00 p.m. Questions for the candidates can be submitted to the chamber by following this link: chamber@carrolliowa.com.
