South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

Hoehn challenges Mayor Konopka in Green Park

Candidates answer Call’s exclusive questionnaire
Fred Hoehn
Fred Hoehn

A former alderman is challenging incumbent Green Park Mayor Tony Konopka in the April 7 election.

Fred Hoehn, who led the effort to incorporate Green Park and served as a Ward 2 alderman from 1998 to 2000, will square off against Konopka, who is seeking his second two-year term as mayor.

Asked to identify the most important issue in the race, the candidates responded:

• “Refocus the city’s goals through effective leadership. Reason why: new emphasis on our residential community,” Hoehn said.

• “I believe now, as I did in the past, the most important issue in this race is to protect and maintain the residential integrity of the city of Green Park while maintaining a good commercial base,” Konopka said.

Hoehn, 72, 10909 Acton Drive, is a retired small-business owner. He has two grown children.

Besides leading the effort to incorporate the city, Hoehn twice served as president of the Board of Aldermen. He is seeking election to the mayoral post because he wants “effective leadership (and) better communication with city residents.”

Konopka, 70, 10721 Antrill Drive, is retired. He is married to Suzanne Konopka.

Konopka, who served four years as a Ward 2 alderman, previously served on the city’s Board of Adjustment and formerly was the city’s street commissioner. He is seeking re-election to the mayoral post because he is a “concerned citizen.”

The candidates gave the following responses to a Call questionnaire:

Since voters approved a half-cent, capital-improvements sales tax, are you pleased with how the revenue has been spent? Have the residents’ needs been served?

Hoehn said, “Improvements have been made. Pleased? Not so much. Reason: All the residential streets have not been replaced. They should have been completed by now. The city has almost $4 million in the bank. Use these funds to complete the streets. Then we will have real residential integrity and better property values.”

Konopka said, “When I held the office of a Ward 2 alderman, the board that I was part of approved a Street Master Plan that laid out a schedule for street replacement. This schedule was drawn up based on street need. The work of street replacement has been funded by the capital-improvement sales tax. I believe the residents’ needs are being served.”

What is your position on the use of tax-increment financing and other tax tools?

Hoehn said, “A better term would be tax-increment extortion. It has not been used properly. Some of the other tax tools, while not perfection, do not have the same impact on the community.”

Konopka said, “I am not aware of any request for the use of a TIF at this time, but there are other tax tools that could be considered.”

Do you agree with the direction the city is moving?

Hoehn said, “The current city administration is reactive. It should be more proactive. Opportunity is what you make of it. A former alderman said: ‘Mediocrity is good.’ I have never believed that.”

Konopka said, “New businesses are moving into the city. These businesses are creating new jobs as well as generating additional revenue for the city — unlike many cities today who are dipping into their cash reserves to balance their budgets. In addition, the city of Green Park’s cash reserve is expected to grow despite the economy being as bad as it is. So saying that, yes, I believe the city is moving in the right direction.”

Do you support the performance of City Administrator/City Clerk Zella Pope?

Hoehn said, “I was surprised by the lack of can-do attitude by the city administrator/city clerk during a work session about rental property. If elected, I will work with the administrator to bring better operational focus to City Hall. We need a can-do attitude, especially City Hall.”

Konopka said, “In the 18 months that our City Administrator Zella Pope has held this position, I believe that she has done an excellent job.”

The Green Park Road redevelopment project has been delayed for years. Do you believe the city should approve redevelopment plans for Green Park Road this year?

Hoehn said, “Green Park Road needs improvement. However, the city may not be able to afford the Cadillac the ‘experts’ have designed. The city may have to settle for a Chevy. The outdated 80/20 cost agreement will not work. The long period of time caused by unfocused stops and starts has created a looming fiscal downside. The downside is simply any overruns are totally city responsibility. If the 80/20 agreement can’t be renegotiated on a total final cost basis, it should be a no-go. This will also have the same effect on the bridge project.”

Konopka said, “Yes. The city should approve the redevelopment plans for Green Park Road this year.”

Do you believe city officials should study expanding the city through the annexation of nearby areas?

Hoehn said, “Yes. The city should study expanding. This would be a great benefit to both the city and the area which would become part of the city. If elected, I will work toward this goal.”

Konopka said, “While annexation is a possibility, city officials need to concentrate on the projects that are going on now. I don’t believe that annexation is a priority at this time.”

What is your “vision” for the city?

Hoehn said, “My vision has not changed: Preserve our residential area and the core values that bind us together as a community.”

Konopka said, “My vision was and still is to maintain an excellent residential community that is a safe and desirable place to live and work while at the same time keeping a strong commercial base. Accomplishing this will protect the residents’ home investments by maintaining strong property values.”

More to Discover