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Gary Jackson. (Crystal Burnezky-Robertson)
Marshall County resident Gary Jackson put in his bid for County Commissioner District 2.
Tell us about your background and experience
A: I was in the dairy business 30 years and I was in Idaho for six years running a dozer, opening up old logging roads to where we could get core drilling rigs in doing core drilling for gold in the mountains. I was supervisor for two core drilling rigs. I had been in the dairy business 30 years. Moved back to Madill in (19)’83 I think and I build a dairy out on Archard Road. I ran that until the government run me out of business for dropping the milk price lower than what the feed and hay cost. I can operate all the equipment and I can teach young hands how to operate it. I can get the roads where there is not rub boards in it.
Why do you think you are the most qualified for the position of County Commissioner for District #2?
A: I can teach the young hands how to operate the equipment, which it is hard to get anybody qualified anymore, to do it and do it right. I have been here several years and I have not ever seen the roads where they are not like a rub board. That is because evidently don’t anybody know how to do it or have the initiative to do it right.
What experience do you have in writing grants and preparing budgets?
A: I was in the diary business for 30 years and there was a lot of grant writing and I have a big book that is about writing grants I can refer to. It is available if you have the initiate to dig it out and apply for it."
If new resources were available what is one area of district #2 do you think would most benefit from additional resources?
A: “Having qualified people to operate the machinery and I would also start a program of checking the equipment before you get on it; check the oil, check the water, and go around to make sure everything is in working order before you take off every morning."
Do you think it is better to have more county employees at a modest wage or few employees at a wage high enough to attract quality applicants?
A: “Have a wage high enough where you can attract more qualified people"
What do you think about the proposed sand mine off of highway 70 at Simpson Road? Is this a concern or something beneficial?
A: “Well I haven’t looked into that. I don’t know what the county can do about it. If it is a private situation it might not be any of the county’s business. One thing I want to look into is the gravel and the sand that is taken out of the county, see if there is a tax that can be put on that. For taking our resources out of the county, because it eats our roads up. Those big trucks hauling stuff out and see if we can get a tax or something on that to help pay for our roads."