Meppelink Wants To Use Experience For Mahaska County

Alven Meppelink

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The one open seat for Mahaska County Supervisor has drawn 5 candidates for the June 5th Primary, 3 Republicans and 2 Democrats. Meppelink is running for the Republican nomination.

Alven Meppelink worked at Pella Corp early in life, but left there to go to school. Having left school early, he found his home at Mahaska Bottling. Meppelink has worked for Mahaska Bottling for the past 34 years doing different jobs for the company while employed for them.

Meppelink was married in 1969, and he and his wife have called the area home these past 43 years after having met while he was in the Air Force.

Meppelink wants to be a ‘Full-Time Supervisor’ by being available to the public. “On county issues, that’s where the buck stops.” “If I’m elected, when I’m elected, I’m going to retire from Pepsi and I won’t have anything else on my table to take up my time.”

He also believes that being more involved with personal issues is also important. “They make all the decisions on hiring and firing.”

I posed the same question to Meppelink about the possibility of going to 5 supervisors in the future. “I think I’d probably be in favor of it,” but says that one issue might be the cost increase that would be incurred. “I think that getting more people involved in making decisions, the harder it is to really come to a consensus. I guess there’s pro’s to con’s to 5 over 3 overall, but I guess there’s a lot of counties that have 5.”

Expenditures and Secondary Roads are two areas that Meppelink thinks Mahaska County can improve upon. “I have an idea of having an incentive. County maintenance people who do a good job while their out there maintaining the roads.” His thoughts are that those employees who do the best job in their area could possibly be given a bonus for their work, “For doing a good job.”

Posing the question of the regional airport, Meppelink said, “I guess initially I was kind of against it, you know, how long ago was it they had a vote and the people voted against it. I went to a board of supervisor meeting, there was no opposition to it there. I went to a city council meeting and there was only one. So I don’t know whether people changed their mind about it, that or they didn’t know there was going to be discussion about it. My feeling is… I think they’re really putting a lot of emphasis on an airport. I think it’s a good idea to do a regional airport and share the cost. Where the Oskaloosa Airport is now isn’t exactly the greatest location.”

Meppelink did say he likes that the current airport “pays for it’s self”, and worries that down the road the county taxpayer might be stuck with the bills maintaining the new regional airport.

Meppelink sees the spirit of cooperation between the county and City of Oskaloosa as a positive and would be receptive to seeing if the city and county could consolidate more services in the future for the benefit of the taxpayer.

I asked Meppelink how you would help promote Mahaska County and try to bring people to live and build businesses here. “I guess I just focus on Oskaloosa on that,” saying that doing something about the streets “would be helpful.” “I see some of the things that are happening here in Oskaloosa, the bike trail, that’s helpful in getting people to move here and the recreation facilities we have here.”

Meppelink says that tax incentives would be something to look at in order to help draw new business to the area. “You know all the other communities do the same thing. You’ve got to bring out your good points, and Oskaloosa’s kind of a hub.”

“It would be great if we could get businesses to use farm products that are grown right here.”

Meppelink is also a strong supporter of recycling. “I would think maybe the next step, especially in Oskaloosa, maybe doing a curbside [recycling].”

Volunteerism is an important aspect in Meppelink’s life. “That’s really something impressive about Oskaloosa I thought, especially with the TJ Goemaat fundraiser and the way that was put together. That was a great fundraiser. That’s what community is all about.”

Meppelink has also helped in the construction of five Habitat for Humanity homes and was also involved with the Lions Club and the previous chapter they had in Oskaloosa.

The primary will be held June 5th, 2012.