Councilman Blanchard Addresses Waukee’s Growth and Taxpayer’s Concerns

Submitted on Behalf of Waukee Councilman Shane Blanchard:

Councilman Shane Blanchard has been a huge supporter of establishing a Community and Economic Development Department within the City of Waukee. With the success of Alice's Road becoming a reality while being elected to Council in 2010, Blanchard knew the City had to be more active and hands on with respect to bringing businesses into the City. After meeting with WEDCO (Waukee Economic Development Corporation) in May 2012, Blanchard asked for data in relation to accomplishments in regards to Economic Development.

"The taxpayers of Waukee are the largest contributor to WEDCO, giving $60,000 year for three years. As a representative of our taxpayers, I expect results," Blanchard said. “Having a Community and Economic Development Department will bring control back to the people of Waukee. An Economic Development Advisory Board will be created to engage Citizens in our process. This board will be comprised of Professionals from diverse backgrounds creating a vision to Waukee's future growth. Having this in house approach will create a stronger presence in attracting development project by leveraging existing skills and resources from those that serve on this board,” Blanchard explained.

Councilman Blanchard has been very enthusiastic about priorities set by the Council and Mayor in a work session earlier this year. "Waukee is blessed to have two major corridors, Hickman Road and Alice's Road. I am in complete support of creating an action plan to make sure Waukee has sustainable growth in these two areas, and thus growing the City of Waukee."

Blanchard understand that with high residential numbers, the tax burden is put on the backs of the citizens of Waukee. Blanchard said, “Waukee has great opportunity for more businesses to come in to ease that burden. And these two areas are key to lifting that burden by creating more business”

In 2009, Blanchard mentioned that many builders felt Waukee fees were high in comparison to neighboring communities. After being elected to the City Council in 2010, Blanchard worked with Council members to lower those fees by an average of $600. Blanchard feels the City can lower them even more and is working on achieving this goal.

Blanchard also listed a few successes that he set out to accomplish in four years of his first term in the  City Council. Among the success are more trail systems throughout the City, lighten the sign ordinance, lower construction fees thus creating more business development along Hickman Road and creating more jobs at Waukee Library to ease burden on current staff.

Blanchard said the best thing about being on Council is meeting with Waukee residents. "No matter, the reason. If someone calls or emails me,  I will go to their home and meet with them. I can't tell you how many times I have been surrounded by people in the neighborhood that had issues or questions that I was more than happy to address."

Blanchard feels that being readily available to the people of Waukee is his duty and he takes it seriously. "I enjoy going to peoples neighborhood and meeting with them. Not only does it bring them together, but it creates a stronger Community knowing they have a Council Person that will listen to them and respond to them in person,” Blanchard said. 

Blanchard is up for re-election in November and hopes that what he has accomplished has earned the trust of the residents of Waukee. Blanchard states, “I hope citizens will get out and vote for me. My door is always open for their concerns. I have been honored to serve them and I hope they will give me another term so I can continue to help Waukee grow.”

You can connect with Councilman Blanchard on facebook at www.facebook.com/blanchard4waukee.