Ron Hardy for Oshkosh Common Council

Candidate profile: Hardy
says sustainability needs to
be incorporated in city
policies, development

By Jeff Bollier • of the Northwestern • March 31,
2010

Sustainability permeates many elements of Ronald
Kane Hardy’s campaign for a seat on the Oshkosh
Common Council.

Hardy has been involved in Oshkosh’s Sustainability
Advisory Board since its inception and presently
serves as chairman, but for Hardy, it’s more than
just a green buzzword to remind people to turn off
their lights or drive less. Hardy sees an opportunity
for the city to save money, but he also sees bike
lanes, community gardens, more parks, resolving
storm water management problems and central city
revitalization inherent in a drive toward a better and
more sustainable community.

“I’m not about the bottom line so much as I’m about
improving our city and quality of life,” Hardy
explained. “Of course I don’t want to pay more
taxes, but that’s not the important question. You get
what you pay for. What people want to see is their
tax dollars are being used efficiently and
effectively.”

Hardy, who previously looked into a referendum to
change the city’s form of government, said he chose
to challenge incumbent Burk Tower and opponents
Brian Poeschl, Steve Cummings, Steve Herman and
John Hinz this year to keep the council on track at a
time when it’s tackling strategic planning and future
growth.

“I’m concerned the council might take a step
backwards,” Hardy said. “The council has often been
reactionary about what’s brought before them for
consideration. I’d like to see them be more proactive
with what comes to them. The council is supposed
to provide vision and direction for the community.”

With storm water management, for example, Hardy
recognizes the importance of protecting homes from
flood waters, but he also recognizes that reducing
pollution in storm water benefits drinking water,
fishing tournaments that are important to the local
economy and general recreation in the area.

Hardy also sees a council seat as a chance to ensure
the work the Sustainability Board has put into a plan
for city operations doesn’t fall on deaf ears when it
comes time for the council to act on it. Parts of the
sustainability effort like bike lanes, smart growth,
planting trees in neighborhoods and enabling
opportunities to be more healthy will really hit home
with families living in Oshkosh, he said.

“There’s been pushback from the staff on the board’s
efforts,” Hardy said. “It needs to be made a priority
at the executive level. Once it is, the community,
individual residents and businesses will get on
board.”

Hardy also believes sustainability practices should
be worked into businesses’ requests for city
assistance whether it be tax incremental financing,
or TIF, assistance, industrial revenue bonds or land
purchases. He would like to research and develop
policies that would require including alternative
energy, energy efficiency or sustainable practices in n
ew commercial and industrial developments.

“TIF or any city funding for development should
require minimal expectations for energy efficiency
just like we have minimum requirements for parking,
safety and signage now,” Hardy said.