West Melbourne candidates focus on infrastructure improvement, potential fire services
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Four candidates are vying for three seats on the West Melbourne City Council in the Nov. 8 election, with a number of issues involving infrastructure on the table.
The four candidates are incumbents Diana Adams, John Dittmore and Andrea Young, along U.S. Navy veteran William Johnson, who sits on the city’s Board of Adjustments.
The city of more than 28,000 residents has a $50 million budget, and is set to complete its own water plant in December 2026. It is Brevard County's fourth-most-populous city, behind Palm Bay, Melbourne and Titusville.
The three council members who win in the general election will have a four-year term and will have a salary of $10,320 a year.
The other three members of the City Council — Mayor Hal Rose, and Councilors Pat Bentley, Daniel McDow and Stephen Phrampus — have terms that run until 2024.
“West Melbourne is building our own water plant, and now we’re talking about having our own fire stations. These are the two issues that I plan to be talking about,” Young said.
Filling vacancy: Diana Adams appointed to West Melbourne City Council, replacing Daniel Batcheldor
Police chief vacancy: West Melbourne names eight finalists to replace retired police chief Richard Wiley
City manager change: West Melbourne may hire Tim Rhode as city manager; Daniel Batcheldor to leave City Council
Adams also points to the importance of focusing on the town’s infrastructure needs.
“These kinds of investments drive responsible growth,” Adams said.
West Melbourne, a 10-square-mile enclave nestled between its larger neighbors of Melbourne and Palm Bay, moved to support its own water plant to meet the needs of the growing city.
“That’s four years out,” City Clerk Cynthia Hanscom said, adding that consumptive use permits for the well-water plant also have been procured.
City Council members also could soon discuss the feasibility of building their own city-run fire department. A study reviewing the need for a city fire station could come before the mayor and the other six City Council members by October.
“I will continue to support the creation of a West Melbourne Fire Department," Dittmore said. "With the projected population expansion expected to be over 40,000, fire and safety services need to be controlled by the city, not contracted out.”
The city, for now, contracts out its fire services to the county.
Candidate Johnson said he planned on focusing on the city’s continued upward trending growth.
“Growth will continue in West Melbourne," Johnson said. "It must be in a smart, resilient and low-impact manner.”
Here is more on the four candidates:
Diana Adams
Occupation: Small-business owner and nonprofit executive director
Education: Doctorate of public administration (in-progress); master's in educational leadership; bachelor's in elementary education
Political/government/civic experience: West Melbourne City Council (appointed June 2022); secretary of Space Coast Field of Dreams board; West Melbourne Citizens Leadership Academy; former deputy chair of West Melbourne Parks & Recreation board; former Brevard educator; Transportation & Intergovernmental Relations Policy Committee member; member of the Melbourne, Palm Bay, Titusville and Cocoa Beach chambers of commerce; and LEAD Brevard board member.
Campaign Email: diana@dianaforcouncil.com
Campaign phone number: 321-423-4557
Campaign website: dianaforcouncil.com
Campaign Facebook page: Facebook.com/DianaForWestMelbourne
What are the top two to three issues in West Melbourne, and what specific actions will you take to address them if elected?
1. Infrastructure needs: Invest in, maintain and improve our infrastructure, while being mindful of residential, economic and environmental impact. These kinds of investments drive responsible growth, reduce traffic and support efficient response times for law enforcement and emergency services.
2. Fiscal responsibility: Ensure the city’s strong finances by providing budgetary oversight and being fiscally conservative with taxpayer funds, especially with the recent rising costs.
3. Outreach and communication: Create channels of communication with residents and local businesses to understand and address concerns, engage residents in civic opportunities, and work together to proactively plan for our city’s future.
John Dittmore
Occupation: Insurance agent
Education: University of Akron/Chancellor University
Political/government/civic experience: 30 years of public service, including four years with the City Council in West Melbourne
Campaign email: johndittmore@gmail.com
Campaign phone number: 321-917-7029
Website: www.johndittmore.com
What are the top two to three issues in West Melbourne, and what specific actions will you take to address them if elected?
The top issues in West Melbourne are the water quality, flooding and safety services.
I will continue to support the implementation of the city's own water plant and will support measures to reduce the risk of flooding in our community.
Further, I will continue to support the creation of a West Melbourne Fire Department. With the projected population expansion expected to be over 40,000, fire and safety services need to be controlled by the city, not contracted out.
This will not only provide tax savings, it will allow for a more equitable taxation of the residents of West Melbourne.
William Johnson
Occupation: Environmental health physicist
Education: Bachelor of Science in physics, University of Central Florida
Master of Science in health physics, Georgia Tech
Ph.D. in health physics, Georgia Tech
Political/government/civic experience: U.S. Navy, enlisted, 1980-1990; U.S. Department of Energy Nuclear Engineering and Health Physics Fellow (1991-1995); associate professor and chair, Department of Health Physics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (1995-2004); U.S. Air Force scientist, 2004-2022; president of church congregational council (2017-2021); member of West Melbourne Board of Adjustments (2019-2022), member of School Advisory Committees (Suntree Elementary, 2006-2009; Longleaf Elementary, 2010-2012; West Melbourne School for Science, 2013-2015)
Campaign email: Bill4WestMel@gmail.com
Campaign phone number: 321-684-8966
Website: https://www.Bill4WestMel.com
Facebook: Bill4WestMel
What are the top two to three issues in West Melbourne, and what specific actions will you take to address them if elected?
Growth will continue in West Melbourne. It must be in a smart, resilient and low-impact manner. New developments cannot be at the expense of our existing neighborhoods.
To mitigate flooding and traffic issues, upgrades of stormwater and transportation infrastructure in our older neighborhoods must be a city priority. Where possible, the natural flow and filtering of runoff must be restored. Runoff from neighborhoods in the St. Johns watershed should go west, rather than being pumped to the lagoon.
Issues such as these shouldn’t be decided on emotions. As a scientist, I will bring critical thinking to our decision-making.
Andrea Young
Occupation: Full-time West Melbourne City Council member; previous mortgage underwriter for Chase Bank for nine years; previous title agent for more than 20 years; previous finance manager for several auto dealerships
Education: Bachelor's degree in business administration in management and another bachelor's degree in business administration accounting and finance. Numerous annual continuing-education classes on ethics and city planning classes.
Political/government/civic experience: West Melbourne city councilwoman since November 2009 and current deputy mayor
Chairman of the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization since 2019
Member and current vice chair, Brevard County Tourist Development Council since 2018
2021 president of the Space Coast League of Cities
Board member of the Metropolitan Planning Organization and board member of the Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council
Board member of the Florida League of Cities Land Use and Economic Development
Campaign email: andyyoung910@gmail.com
Campaign phone number: 321-480-2770
Website, Facebook, other social media pages/links: I don’t have a specific Facebook page for my campaign. I post on my regular Andrea Young Facebook and I frequently post on my local Nextdoor.com website
What are the top two to three issues in West Melbourne, and what specific actions will you take to address them if elected?
Continue work on West Melbourne flooding issues. In the past 13 years, extensive betterments for residents experiencing flooding have been successful. Neighborhoods with flooding issues are already planned during 2023-24 budget year.
Road improvements and joint cooperation with the state of Florida, Melbourne Airport and Brevard County to widen Ellis Road.
Rebuild of State Road 192/Hollywood Boulevard intersection, including Evans Road.
Continue with the septic-to-sewer program helping residents who voluntarily want to discontinue septic and connect to sewer at a reduced cost
Continue moving West Melbourne toward independence by building a potable water facility.
Continue exploring need and feasibility of West Melbourne building a fire department.
J.D. Gallop is a Criminal Justice/Breaking News Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jgallop@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @JDGallop.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: West Melbourne candidates' issues include infrastructure, water plant
