Renee Turk - Salem City Council Candidate
Campground Reopening: Are you committed to working with the National Park Service to reopen the Roanoke Mountain Campground for overnight access?
Yes, because it is important to me to ensure that this area utilizes the many outdoor assets we have in this part of the state. Look around at where we are lucky enough to live! The beauty and majesty are unmatchable! The Roanoke Mountain Campground is one of those assets, so revitalizing it and opening it to draw tourists will help stimulate the surrounding municipalities' economy.
Greenway Completion: Will you use your best efforts to secure the right of way and commit to the necessary funding to complete the Roanoke River Greenway from Explore Park to Green Hill Park?
Yes, as I have in the past, I will continue to support securing the necessary right of ways to complete the Greenway through to Green Hill Park. We have finally secured the two areas that have been obstacles for Salem over the past 8-10 years and are excitedly moving forward. Our Greenway is critically important and available to all members of the community and will continue to be a treasured amenity for citizens and visitors alike.
Budget Prioritization: How do you envision balancing budget priorities between greenway development and other infrastructure projects? Will you advocate allocating a dedicated percentage of the annual budget to greenway expansion, maintenance, and improvement?
An evaluation would need to be done of the locality's infrastructure project(s), the level of need of each, and whether the budget has room to dedicate a percentage to greenway expansion, maintenance and improvement. If the evaluation proved there were no dire infrastructure needs and that the budget could handle it, I would advocate for it; of course, it would need the commitment of 2 other members of Coucnil to make it a reality.
Economic Benefits: What are the long-term economic benefits of investing in our greenway system and reopening the campground, and how would you communicate these benefits to constituents who may be skeptical of the costs?
Investing in outdoor amenities enhances and favorably impacts our economic development because it brings people to the area who buy gas, eat in our restaurants, purchase groceries and clothing at our stores, and stay in our hotels, all of which (and more) greatly supports our local businesses. The availability of well-kept amenities adds to the quality of life for all citizens, those visiting and those that are residents.
Community Engagement: How do you plan to engage with environmental groups and local residents to address concerns about expanding the greenway and reopening the Roanoke Mountain Campground? What strategies will you use to ensure transparency and public involvement in the decision-making process?
Each locality has members on the Greenway Commission who advise City Staff and Council members and I have appreciated their guidance when we have engaged in the past. In addition, if I am invited I would gladly meet with environmental groups and have always made it a point to meet with local residents to address concerns. Public meetings provide transparency, and many times websites of environmental groups are a good place to post surveys to gather public opinion. Citizen representation with voting power on whatever Board or Commission is developed is important.
Resource Allocation: How would you work with adjoining localities to secure additional resources for the region's outdoor recreation initiatives, including the greenway and campground projects? Can you support increasing the recreation budget to a specific target (e.g., from 2% to 3%)?
I think it would be important for the City/Town/County Managers of the adjoining localities to work together to help get additional resources. Searches for and awareness of the availability of Federal and State Grants would be helpful. I would support increasing the percentage of the recreation budget IF the various locality budgets can all survive that increase percentage amount.