Mike Klund for Mehlville Fire Protection District

Patch sent all local candidates for office identical questionnaires in order to compile candidate profiles prior to the April election. Each candidate who returned the survey will be featured on the site.

Mike Klund, 54

• Address: 560 Lind Road, Lemay
• Occupation: Steering column repair, High Security Locksmith.
• Education: High school
• Family: Two children. Jeff, 27, works at Scott's Auto Repair. Michelle, 29, is a special needs teacher at Fox School District.
• Years in Mehlville: Lifelong resident

Background

I have been an active member of the community for years doing local charity work, including:

• SOS
• Secret Santa
• Light the Night
• Kids with Cancer.

What do you see as the biggest issue facing the Mehlville Fire Protection District? 

The biggest issue's is accountability and transparency. According to the Fire District's own web site, you see astronomical expenditures that do nothing to keep the community and its taxpayers safer. Building huge fire houses is nothing more than an example of a fire board that has no checks and balances. While they boast that these firehouses with no tax increases, Mr. Ryan does not explain  that they were built with Fire District reserve money.

The District's reserve is allocated to protect the tax payers in case of unforeseen cost or a significant drop in tax income. Case in point, upon Mr. Ryan taking office had a large cash reserve. Now that cash reserve has dwindled down considerably. I would not intentionally spend down my home savings down in today's world. 

In what area does Mehlville Fire Protection need to improve? Are you satisfied with the way the district has been operating?

As with the the previous question, we need to put service to the taxpayers as our number one priority. I have attended many board meetings and Mr. Ryan very rarely, if ever, is concerned with public safety. His issues are disproportionately focused on new building and pretty landscaping. By not putting the transcript of the meeting minutes on-line and hosting meetings while the majority of our community is at work he protects himself from exposure to the fact that Mr. Ryan is more concerned with irrigation systems than life support systems. The priorities will change on day one if I'm elected to saving lives and property as the number one thing we do. 

Assume you win the election. What single thing do you want to accomplish during your first term on the board? 

The number one thing I will do if elected is to engage the public in our Fire District and put the focus back on public safety. I would have rotating meetings at all the Firehouses and at times when people can attend. Most meetings are attended by less than five people with minimal open sessions and due to this turn out proceed directly to lengthy closed sessions. I find this secrecy concerning to say the least.

That process will end and I promise that open sessions will be just that, open, transparent and conducive to the schedules and addresses of all our residents. I thank the Patch for allowing me to shed some light on my campaign.