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May 14, 2004GT COUNTY: Three vie for drain chiefThey all meet qualifications for dual postByRecord-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY - A landscape architect and two civil engineers hope to be the next drain commissioner/soil erosion officer for Grand Traverse County. The county board spent months early this year debating whether to split the soil erosion duties from the elected drain commissioner position. Commissioners worried they might have to hire a new soil erosion control officer while still paying the elected drain commissioner $53,000 a year. But critics thought it was an attempt to weaken the post after outgoing drain commissioner Maureen Templeton recommended charges against farmer-developer Bill Clous for failing to get soil erosion permits for earth moving in East Bay Township. The board abandoned the split, but all three candidates would have met the proposed qualifications. Susan Wilson-Broadus, a civil engineer, was appointed in December to fill the remainder of Templeton's term. She ran her own consulting company and was employed in public works departments in Oregon and in the transportation and water resources offices in California. Her appointment was delayed because she wasn't a county resident. "It's a very important position ... and I am deeply committed to being a strong advocate for the people," said Wilson-Broadus, who wants to retain the position. Kevin McElyea of Traverse City also was a finalist for the appointment. He is a self-employed landscape architect who's done land development work for several engineering and surveying companies. "I'm committed to focusing on smart growth and best management practices that protect our environmental resources while saving taxpayers' dollars," said McElyea, a county resident since 1987. Arthur J. Krueger came to Traverse City in 1994, has run his own engineering firm since 2000 and has been a licensed engineer since 2004. He has worked on roads, drainage plans, sewers and other public infrastructure projects. "I think my background and experience could bring more to the office than others," Krueger said. "I've had a couple dozen projects go through that office so I'm very familiar with the staff." The winner of the Aug. 3 primary will be unopposed in the general election.
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