Sean Cavanaugh
The Change Monmouth Needs
Given the demographics, what can the City of Monmouth do to ensure all residents have access to basic needs and quality of life?
We all know Monmouth has changed quite a bit over the past several years. We have become much more diverse, and there are many among us who are in poverty, especially children. Rich or poor, newcomers or old-timers, we are all members of this community. My job as mayor is to focus on improving our community – safe streets, more jobs, more housing, maintained infrastructure, and also encouraging people on becoming more involved in Monmouth. I have maintained since day one, that all mayors need to encourage others to volunteer their time to organizations that offer hope and services to those in need. Everyone has the power to make a positive change. You could join a local service club, as they all work very hard to improve our beloved town. You could donate to a local nonprofit. You could visit Jeannie at the United Way of Greater Warren County, as she could certainly provide direction on what you can do. Whatever way you can imagine to help others, you can actually do it. You can donate your time, talents, or funds. It makes a difference and feels good. I do it all the time. Every year I freeze for food, I volunteer to help at the Prime Beef Festival, I volunteer with Merit Badge University, I've raised money for the cross-country team at the high school, so athletes with little money can have quality shoes. You can do it, too. Never sell yourself short, as you are far more powerful than you think. You could start by helping an elderly neighbor bring her recycling bin to the curb. You could go through your closet and remove clothing you haven't worn in a while, then donate them. There is so much you can do, and even do for free. You don't need to have wealth to make a positive change – I am living proof of that.
Funding for capital improvements to infrastructure largely comes from state and federal grants. Please talk about your experience with successful grant applications, administering projects and submission of required reports.
I certainly agree with the premise of the question – a successful local government has to be able to reach outside the community to find money for projects and improvements that we need. I have a lot of experience in grant writing, as it is a very important part of my job at Warren Achievement Center. I have been quite successful, as Warren Achievement Center needs those funds in order to operate at the level it has for decades. As mayor, I will work very hard to do the same. I will, naturally, utilize our City Manager, legislators and the entire Monmouth team to succeed in this area. This is an area where Monmouth College could also be involved. There many people in town who could walk into City Hall and write successful grants, and I am one of them. I would especially like to secure funds to improve Monmouth's South end of town. There is so much opportunity down there – it is a canvas just waiting to be painted. In speaking with residents, they feel they have been ignored for 20 years, while other areas of town are not. Everyone recognizes the need for a vibrant downtown, but we must honor those on the South side by providing their neighborhoods with aggressive attempts at development. That is an issue I am told about over and over, and over again.
In recent years, the city approved a housing development in the United school district. What programs/plans does the city have to increase housing offerings, or a housing development in the Monmouth-Roseville school district?
I believe any mayor or city council would be happy to have more housing in Monmouth. And I truly understand the question about more housing in the Monmouth-Roseville school district. Schools need funds to operate and succeed. Property taxes are vital to the bottom line. At this very moment Monmouth is losing the housing war to our neighbor in Knox County. Galesburg just completed an extensive housing study, which was to define needs, projections, obstructions and solutions – both short-term and long-term. They will aggressively use the information from that study to solve the problems facing them regarding housing. They already have certain advantages over us, and now they will have more if nothing is done. We all know people who work in Monmouth, but live outside of town, and even outside Warren County. This must change, or we will see our population to continue to decrease, which will place a strain on all entities relying on property tax revenue – including the Monmouth-Roseville school district. When schools are not funded adequately, a whole host of problems can arise. Our current housing stock is aging. There is a demand for both new and rehabilitated housing – focusing on affordability and demographics, such as seniors, retirees, and families. There is also a demand for quality rental, in addition to home ownership. Housing is one of many challenges Monmouth faces, and I look forward to taking it on – head on. I will appoint a special task force of committed individuals to help tackle the problem. Some people feel a task force is a last resort with little hope, but it isn’t when you have the right people involved. Then it becomes a success.
Do you have any plans to rehabilitate existing housing stock that has gone into disrepair? If so, are there specific plans and a time-line for the rehabilitation to start?
Yes, I do. When I served on Davenport's Abandoned Housing Task Force, I learned very quickly about the pitfalls of abandoned and condemned structures. First, it costs an absolute fortune to tear down a house. Second, such structures bring down the property values of neighboring properties. Third, nothing good happens in an abandoned property. I believe Monmouth has around 25 of these properties, which are referred to as “zombie houses”. Those houses might be in the process of foreclosure, or in the process of being condemned, or could have already been foreclosed upon or condemned. A bank or lender typically owns a foreclosed home. This happens when a homeowner defaults on their mortgage and the lender takes ownership of the property. Lenders usually try to sell foreclosed homes quickly, perhaps even at a discount. With a condemned house, the homeowner owns it until the city takes control of it. The city takes control when the homeowner is unable to fix or maintain the property, based on various conditions. The process of foreclosure or condemnation can take a bit of time, but eventually one conclusion or another does arrive. If a house is condemned, it does Monmouth zero good to hold on to these properties. As mayor, I will make it as easy as possible for someone else to own them – with strings attached. The prospective owner would need to prove they have financing and plans for rehabilitation. They may even wish to demolish it and build new on the site. If more than one person/entity/developer in interested, there could be a bid process or auction. Prices would start at $1. I know of people this very second that would love to take advantage of that program. We need those properties to be back on the tax rolls and out the city's hands. As far as a time-line is concerned, I would say as soon as humanly possible.
Every immigrant population goes through a generational process of assimilation. The first generation continues its own language, culture, and identity; the second generation holds onto the language, culture, and identity of their parents while embracing those of the native population; and the third generation largely identifies with the native population. Unfortunately, there is such thing as "downward assimilation," in which the second and third generation become trapped in the same cycle of poverty and crime as some of the native population. This is caused by segregation, poverty, weak community structures, and lack of opportunities. How will you help the second and third generation of immigrants in Monmouth to integrate and assimilate in a way that ensures upward mobility?
We have always been a welcoming community and I want that to continue. The best way, for a mayor, in my view, to give newcomers the best chance to succeed and contribute would be to grow our tax base, improve housing, recruit business, and maintain infrastructure. By doing that, our schools can have more resources to provide quality education and teach new skills, which benefit the immigrant population. More housing would allow more workers at Smithfield to live where they work, instead of commuting from somewhere else. I knew a hard-working fellow who was commuting from Beardstown for goodness sake. I would also encourage our immigrant population to become involved in Monmouth, whether be it in our schools, churches or numerous service organizations. Take schools for example, the more involved a person is, the more integrated they are – no matter where they are from. But to address your question, immigrants involved in, let’s say, cross country and theater become part of a team – they are depended upon, they contribute and are appreciated for it. They will be seen as friends, teammates, the person who just won a medal, the person who learned to push themselves, the person who helped a buddy with homework, the person who is an artist in the making, the person with increasing confidence, the person who will succeed. Schools provide many positive things, especially for those seeking opportunity and inclusion. Give the effort, gain the reward. I can't speak for our Superintendent, but I think he would agree. As I stated earlier, the same can be said about churches, clubs and other organizations. Again, as mayor, I will work every single day to expand our tax base, grow housing, recruit business creating jobs, and maintain infrastructure. When I do that, there is more opportunity for the immigrant population to integrate, assimilate, and be provided the best chance for upward mobility.
In what way (if any) should city resources (funding, police, personnel, detention facilities) be used in enforcing immigration law?
As mayor, I will be required to follow the law. Failure to do so would have dire consequences for me, and for Monmouth. Once I take the oath of office, I can't pick and choose what law can be enforced. I want to make sure that our police are prioritizing fighting crime, getting dangerous drugs off the street, and keeping us safe.
How well do you know the personal stories and experiences of recent immigrants – both documented and undocumented – in Monmouth?
I have been speaking to a lot of people, and yes, I have spoken to many members of the immigrant community. When I hear their stories, they remind me of my mother and father. They are hard workers who wish for their children to have better opportunities then they themselves have had. They have strong families and help make a strong community. When we have a strong community, everyone benefits. Many of the immigrant community have come from harsh circumstances and see the American Dream as something to strive for. I can’t help but admire their work ethic, strong families, and the fact they wish for the American Dream. Not only do I care for their futures, but I care for their “right now”. They want better lives. I want a better life; don’t you want a better life? As mayor, I will do my best to provide them the best possible city for all of Monmouth to enjoy, including the immigrant population.
In my 2+ years that I have been working here in Monmouth, I have seen a couple city projects still in the works to try and help the city look better or upgrade/refurbish. There are a lot of run-down homes in the city, and by the Midwestern Pet Food plants, that I have been told, and it is felt “push people away from wanting to live here and/or work here”. As a manufacturer in this town, we count on and need people locally to assist our business to grow. What will be done to make Monmouth more attractive and create a WANT for people to move here and make a life & how long of a road do you anticipate this to take? What is a realistic plan for growth, is larger industry coming a part of the plan and your strategy to achieve this over the next 5-10 years?
The best way to make Monmouth more attractive, is for Mayor Cavanaugh to do my best to create a town that attracts those candidates. Maintaining infrastructure, conquering the lack of housing, keeping our town safe, expanding our tax base, and caring for our citizens will lure more people to live in Monmouth. We need to reverse our population decline. I would seek grants that could help Monmouth offer incentives to homeowners to make improvements on their property. With my work on Davenport’s Abandoned Housing Task Force, I can see there could be a way to do something similar in Monmouth regarding “run-down” homes. We also must understand that not everyone who owns a home can afford to spruce it up to another person’s liking. If they own the property, pay their taxes and follow the rules, then they are meeting the responsibilities of being the owner of the property. You also asked how long it would take to for a strategy to show results. That would depend on how aggressive a person, or group of people or local government is in tackling the problems of Monmouth. I can assure you that I will be jumping in the pool, head first, as soon as I become Mayor.
Hiring local people for our two Midwestern Pet Food locations has been challenging. In addition, MPF has quite a few folks that travel from out of town to work in Monmouth. Supervisors, Managers, Operators, Food safety, Sanitation, Quality and Warehouse people. What is your plan to create a better pool of skilled candidates locally for our current industries in Monmouth to obtain an opportunity for a career in a manufacturing setting that is currently growing /developing with the new tech that is out there?
The answer to this question is quite similar to your first question. The best way for a mayor to create a better pool of skilled candidates for local industries, is to do their best to offer a town that attracts those candidates. Maintaining infrastructure, reversing the housing crises, keeping our town safe, expanding our tax base, and providing services for our citizens will lure more people to live in Monmouth. You stated that quite a few folks have to travel from out of town to work at your place. We want them to live here, but we have that pesky housing shortage breathing down our necks. Sadly, you are not the only one who faces those challenges. Perhaps there is a way for you to collaborate with Carl Sandburg College or Monmouth College to develop quality candidates that can step directly in roles you have available. I know both colleges are keen on collaboration when it benefits their students and their community. I will always be available to you to discuss these issues further. I want you to succeed, just as I want everyone to succeed. That is what a good mayor does.
What opportunities do you see for new ways to partner with Monmouth College to attract and retain new talent to our city?
Personally, I have been always looking for ways to increase collaboration with Monmouth College. As a County Board member, I utilized professors and had them present to the board when advocating for wind turbines, which was most helpful. At Warren Achievement Center, where I work as Marketing Coordinator, I have partnered with Monmouth College for years. We take great pride in our college interns. We have had interns majoring in Marketing, Communications, Psychology, Exercise Science and more. A student named Anna Castor interned at our Day Program Facility. She was assisted in creating a program that slows the progression of dementia in some of our aging achievers. Now she runs the program. Additionally, when the second semester begins, Anna will be a paid employee, and will continue to run this important program. We are working with Dr. Shimmin in the hopes that Monmouth College can provide interns each semester to keep the program going indefinitely. When recruiting interns, I always ask them, “What would you like to appear on your resume? Let’s make it happen.” Our interns are provided opportunities to have real world experience they can take with them after graduation. Our interns are not to perform minor tasks that are meaningless to potential employers, we give them roles which will serve them well. Other businesses in Monmouth could do the same thing. Once it gets going, it benefits everyone. A successful hands-on approach could increase enrollment. This collaboration would allow talent to be created beyond the classroom. In addition, I am friends with the President of the University of Michigan. After I asked a favor from him, he agreed to speak with President Draves on how Monmouth College could form some sort of collaboration with the University of Michigan. Surely there is a way to make this happen. This could be most beneficial to Monmouth College. As Mayor, I will do whatever I can to help Monmouth College, as the college is of vital importance to Monmouth.
Monmouth economic development and beautification attracts citizens, students, and businesses to our town. The success of one area leads to the success of the others. First, can you share how the City partnering with the College, other agencies, businesses, and schools can help focus our efforts to update some of our aging storefronts and homes on our main streets which often are the first impression of our town. Second, provide one economic development idea you would love to focus on in the upcoming year.
Whenever the City and other entities develop a partnership, it is a good thing. Monmouth is old and we have many aging buildings that could benefit from structural and cosmetic work. The city currently has a façade program that provides matching funds to businesses is a small area downtown. I am not sure how much is spent on that each year, but it could always be increased. Ultimately, there can be partnerships to take on this problem, but it comes down to the almighty dollar. The city would need grant funds or other funds to beautify the area. That being said, there are other parts of town where businesses exist that would not have access to this program, regardless of need. Monmouth needs a plan that will be beneficial to all. As mayor, I will do my best to bring new businesses and employers to town, as that can spruce up aging buildings. There is also the TIF district in Monmouth, which is quite large. Businesses need to understand how it may benefit them. Property owners pay into the TIF district, but not all feel that it will ever benefit them directly, like it does others. The second part of your question was to provide one economic development idea. The South end of town hasn’t changed much over the last 20 years. Residents down there feel ignored, and quite frankly, have been. There is a lot of opportunity for developers, and I would like to see a maximum effort to provide development for those who are feeling left behind.
Digital transformation is one of Monmouth College's priority pillars. The college is working to ensure every student is prepared for the digital economy and the rapid change that AI is and will continue to bring. How can we incentive young entrepreneurs to stay in Monmouth after their Monmouth College graduation to bring new businesses to our city?
First of all, if we can’t turn around our housing problem, there will be few choices on where one can live in Monmouth, even if they want to stay. We need to win the housing war with our neighbors who are working this very moment at fixing their problem. That will be a priority of mine. Also, with the digital economy, many people are able to go to work in their own living room or home office. Employees and entrepreneurs working remotely should consider Monmouth after graduation, as it is a great place to live. The cost of living is affordable, and there are plenty of opportunities to get involved locally. Obviously, we have Monmouth College, which offers wonderful events throughout the year to enjoy. And I must say, football games at Bobby Woll Field are always a good time, and typically a win. As mayor, I will work to, without sounding like a broken record, create more housing, as well as recruit businesses – large and small. We need to expand our tax base and increase our population if we want money to spend on infrastructure, beautification, pension obligations and our other bills.
Monmouth College has rich intellectual resources and most of our faculty and staff live in our town. How can we utilize these vast resources, resources that most rural Midwestern cities don't enjoy, to support the growth of Monmouth and enrich citizen's lives?
You are correct, Monmouth College does have vast resources that most rural towns don't have. The college already participates in internship opportunities, they allow high school events to take place on campus, employ many Monmouth residents, and more. I assume by your question, that you want to improve upon, or enhance current activity. First, I would suggest Mayor Sean Cavanaugh and President Patricia Draves have a meeting to discuss the future. The vast academic resources most certainly are of great value to the town of Monmouth, beyond the classrooms. In our meeting of the minds, we could discuss what Monmouth College faculty and student body is willing to do in regards to involvement in the local business community, the schools, other organizations, entities, and with individuals. What would be the best use of your vast resources and how they can be utilized? Professors and students could: · Offer advice on any number of topics · Aid in creating business plans for local upstarts · Providing marketing assistance to local businesses and organizations · Continue to assist with tax preparation · Market college events to all of Monmouth, and surrounding area, as there are so many great events for others to enjoy · Assist local businesses with social media · There is no end, as the imagination can create an endless list It would be a pleasure to work with President Draves to accomplish this goal.