HERMANN – A larger-than-anticipated crowd of residents turned out last Wednesday night to hear candidates for city government positions and seats on the Gasconade Count R-1 board speak in broad terms during a Candidate Forum sponsored by the Hermann Area Chamber of Commerce.

The March 18 event was held in the Showboat Theater with a crowd of about 75 residents on hand.

Mayor Bruce Cox, seeking his third term as the city’s chief executive, said he wants to stay in office to be active in what’s ahead for the community. “There are many positive things coming in the future and I would like to be a part of them,” he said.

He didn’t elaborate on what those things might be, but if Alderman Jim Schirmer has his way the mayor will be watching those development from the outside of City Hall. Schirmer is challenging Cox for the mayor’s office.

“I seek the position…to help the citizens,” he said during his opening statement. “The citizens must be the voice,” he added.

Cox said Hermann is a good place for families. “I want to keep Hermann a great place to raise kids,” he said.

Schirmer said he would like to fulfill the wishes of residents he has talked with who say they want a fast-food restaurant, a family-style restaurant and an upgrade swimming pool. But, he said, the key will be having the funds available to work on these projects and others.

Ward 1 Alderman Dolores Grannemann, finishing her first two-year term on the city board, is being challenged by former Alderman Susan Lenger, who Grannemann unseated two years ago.

“I will continue to ask questions to help me understand,” the incumbent alderman said.

Lenger said she promised “to put the interest of the community above my own.”

The issue of Hermann’s utility problems arose briefly for the candidates. Residents have faced a 10-percent hike in rates this fiscal year with additional increases planned for the next couple years — and possibly even higher rates, considering the cost of purchasing energy during this winter’s prolonged cold snap. As she said about a year ago, Grannemann said city officials might need to consider getting out of the utility business, turning over that service to a private utility company.

Lenger rejected that course of action. “We need to keep our infrastructure. Getting out of (providing utilities) won’t be easy,” she said.

Grannemann said that as long ago as 30 years City Hall should have taken small steps regarding utility rates to avoid sharp increases such as the ones now facing residents. But because it didn’t, city officials now are forced to take more-drastic action. “We’re going to have a long look at our infrastructure,” she said.

In the race for the three seat on the Gasconade County R-1 School District board, three of the four candidates were on hand: Incumbent Amy Grannemann and newcomers Chad Walton and Dawn Grosse. Racheal Brinker, the fourth candidate, was unable to attend the forum.

Like the city government candidates, the hopefuls for the school board were limited to general comments because of the time constraints. For instance, Walton, a member of the city’s Board of Aldermen, said he wants to work to “open communications with the community.” However, he didn’t explain what he meant by that.

Grosse, the district’s recently retired longtime social worker, said, “We need to look forward” and have a plan for the future.

Grannemann spoke of district finances and the difficulty administrators have in figuring the cost of funding operations. “It would be great if we knew how much money we would have each year,” she said, calling state funding “a moving target.”

Walton added, “I would make sure every taxpayer dollar is used wisely.”

Moderator Justin Alferman, a former member of the Hermann Board of Aldermen and state legislator, urged the audience to appreciate the effort being made by all the candidates to run for a public office.

“They don’t do it for the money; I guarantee that,” he said.

Chamber President Colleen Murphy delivered the welcome to those attending the forum and served as the timekeeper. The forum lasted about 90 minutes.