Q: Tell our readers this: Why are you running for office?
Incumbent Holly Tilton Byrne: Over the last 8 years I have had the privilege to serve the people of Brookings as a City Council member. Throughout this time I have been inspired by the resilience and unity of our community. I am deeply committed to the future of our city and the well-being of its people, and I hope to have the opportunity to continue serving the residents of this great place.
Incumbent Bonny Specker: I care deeply about Brookings and its people. Since being elected to City Council in 2022, I have listened, learned, and used my experience and professional skills to help ensure that all people have opportunities to fulfill their dreams in our city.
Al Austreim: I have been a resident of Brookings for 30 years. I own a business and have raised my family here. hrough the operation of my business and raising my kids, I have a pretty good knowledge base of where our community has come from and where we are headed. I would like to use my knowledge to help give back and make a positive impact on our community. We ask people to Bring Your Dreams. My goal is to help them achieve their dreams by creating policies and procedures that will help them be successful.
Q: What are the most important issues facing the city?
Austreim: Brookings continues to grow and with that comes many different challenges. We need to provide housing for the workforce that we need to fill the positions at our local employers. We need to make sure our community is affordable to live in and that we are looking forward when planning and not looking back trying to keep up with growth.
Specker: There are several important issues facing the city. The Fire and Police Station downtown needs replacement; its important to identify the appropriate land and get the new safety center built. Most people agree the city needs a vibrant downtown. We need to continue to work on the downtown revitalization program, especially given the recent fire. The Downtown Brookings Master Plan and downtown Brookings committee have some great ideas on how to do this.
We need to be creative with development and future growth. Brookings is surrounded by water and floodplains, resulting in limited availability of land. The council and city have done a lot to address this parking minimums for large-scale projects have been reduced, maximum build heights have increased, and floodplain ordinances have been updated. We should begin thinking about ways to encourage re-development rather than just development.
The ash borer is going to keep Forestry busy over the next several years as a large percentage of our trees will need to come down or be treated; the urban forestry and tree initiatives will be important to support. We also need to identify a safe water source for the golf course.
Tilton Byrne: One of the most immediate priorities of the city will be to select a new city attorney. We have been fortunate to have a wonderful city attorney for many years in Steve Britzman, and we wish him all the best in his retirement. Since the Council is ultimately responsible for hiring the city attorney it will be important for us to select a well-qualified attorney to serve in this critical role.
Irrigation for the golf course has also been a need voiced by community members. The city is in the process of locating an appropriate water source and preparing for the implementation of the updated system. We are currently in the planning phase of this project and hope to move to implementation in 2026. Short-term solutions are ready for this years golf season.
Other top priorities include supporting smart and sustainable economic development by collaboratively working with developers, successful completion of the Marketplace, and continuing to act as a community partner on critical endeavors like childcare, affordable housing, access to mental health services and responsible water management.
Q: Economic development is important, but what should the citys role be in it?
Specker: Economic development is important, and the city should continue to play a role in it. The city provides partial support to the economic agencies within Brookings, supports developers applications for state grants, and provides tax-increment financing. The Citys Development Review Team is an amazing group that provides individuals interested in property development with a one-stop service to go over plans. Workforce development, affordable housing, childcare availability, and quality of life through access to parks and recreational facilities all play into economic development.
Austreim: The job of the city is to create policy that allows private developers to do the development. If there is a demand for a certain type of development, the private sector will take care of it. The city needs policies that allow developers to do this without unnecessary obstacles.
Tilton Byrne: Ultimately, the city needs to be a good partner in economic development. The role we play in any specific economic development project may be unique and different depending on the needs. Sometimes that may be through our financial support of the economic development organizations, which are currently considering plans to merge into one cohesive organization. Other times the citys role may be to evaluate rules and regulations related to zoning to ensure they cultivate smart, safe, and efficient development. While other times the city may facilitate a land sale like with the Marketplace. Each development project is different, so the way the city can support them will depend on the specific needs.
Q: Whats one area the city needs to improve?
Tilton Byrne: Right now we are working hard to improve our tree population given the presence of Emerald Ash borer. This will include removing infected trees and treating those that can be saved.
Another area where we can always improve is with community engagement and communication. We work hard to make sure we are providing a wide array of opportunities to meet with council members and city staff. In the last year we have drastically increased the number of public outreach events with council members. It is so critical that the council hears from the public frequently, so that is something we can always be working to improve.
Specker: The city and council have worked hard to increase transparency and inform the community on how the city operates. This includes posting detailed budgets on the city website, the Engage Brookings app, and study sessions addressing specific topics. The city also holds numerous events to inform the community about construction projects and to obtain community input in planning. Council members and city staff have held coffees, been at public events, and presented at service and community organizations. In 2022 and 2023, Council members participated in less than 10 events a year. In 2024, we had over 60 events. We are there because we want to hear from you, and we want our community to be informed. I believe this is important and we need to be creative about it there is a lot of misinformation out there and we need to continue to address it.
Austreim: Public engagement and transparency. We need the public to be involved in our community and take an active part. I dont believe that enough information is shared with the public and that leads to frustrations and eventually them withdrawing from being a part of the process.
Q: Why should people vote for you? What special talent and/or characteristics do you offer?
Austreim: I travel and work in all areas of our community on a daily basis. I have watched many of our neighborhoods get developed and grow. I am a multi-tasking problem solver and am willing to listen to any citizens comments or concerns.
Listen Learn Lead is my motto. I feel that I have many qualities that can help Brookings as we grow.
Specker: I believe in a community in which people take responsibility, advocate, and care for each other a communityin which the unique needs ofindividualsare valued. I have spent years volunteering so that individuals feel cared for and heard. I was a member of the Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors, where I served on several committees. I was a jury moderator for Teen Court, a CASA volunteer, and Team Director for the Rangers Girls Varsity Hockey. I am aware of the issues that face our youth.
I believe decisions should be well-informed and based on data and that problems are solved through collaboration. As an epidemiologist, Ive spent my life analyzing and interpreting data. I understand and appreciate the process. I also know that part of the process is tokeep asking questionsand investigating an issueuntil I fully understand it.
I have collaborated extensively throughout my career. My expertise in public health was recognized by my appointment to Governor Daugaards Task Force on Infant Mortality, and Ive worked extensively with the Tribal Chairman Health Board and Epidemiology Center and the South Dakota Department of Health. Im good at collaboration and consensus-building. Im a hard worker, and I have the time and energy to listen and understand people.
Tilton Byrne: I am an experienced City Council member dedicated to serving others. I bring the perspective of being a fourth generation Brookings County resident, a professional in the local non-profit sector and a mom to three young children. I have strong roots in Brookings, and I have a passion for collaboration and problem solving. I currently serve on the board of directors for the local domestic abuse shelter, Margos Place. If re-elected I will continue to dedicate my time and passion to helping improve our community and supporting the people of Brookings.
Q: How do you envision the city five years from now? Ten years from now?
Specker: I like to envision the city as fiscally sound with a diverse economic base and one that is welcoming to all people. A city where people can live their dreams.
Austreim: I dont see our city changing drastically in the next 5-10 years. We will continue to grow as much as possible. We will have the challenge of housing. I realize the need for apartments and multi-family housing. I also believe that families want to own their homes and have a yard etc to call their own. Our midwestern values will still guide us in the direction of family neighborhoods, without Homeowners Associations etc. We do have drainage obstacles that we have to deal with, considering our location. If we build everything close together and have too much hard surfacing, that will only add to our existing challenges. The more green space that we maintain, will not only help with more attractive neighborhoods, but also help with water retention and drainage.
Tilton Byrne: In five to ten years I envision Brookings being the welcoming and inclusive community that it is today. I hope to see that we are able to continue to provide a high caliber of community services that residents have learned to expect. And we will be able to provide those services through a balanced budget that we maintain through proper stewardship and long-term planning.
Q: What other insights should our readers be aware of?
Tilton Byrne: For anyone wanting to learn more about me I would encourage them to visit my website www.HollyForBrookings.com or search Holly for Brookings on Facebook. I welcome any questions or feedback that folks have.
Specker: Exciting things are happening, and you should be proud of your council, your city staff, and your fellow community members.
Austreim: My goal is to work for the people of Brookings. I took out a petition to run for the City Council in hopes of getting elected, so that WE as a community can accomplish great things.
Leave a Reply