This statement was supplied to WRN
My name is Merle "Mike" Dibble and I am seeking
re-election for Andover village trustee.
I will be finishing my elected one year term at the end of
the month. I was born and raised in Andover and chose to put down roots and
start my family here. I bought a house in the village in 1980, where I still
reside with my wife Deb. I have two daughters that are my pride and joy, along
with my grandchildren. I also still own my childhood home in the village. Up
until the last five years, my job required a lot of travel. When my position changed and I was able to be
home on a more permanent basis, I started taking notice of the state of the
village. After much research and finding discrepancies in village policies, I
decided these issues needed to be addressed. So, in 2015 I decided to head a
committee of concerned citizens, who also wanted to make positive changes
within the village. When we began attending board meetings and asking
questions, we were met with resistance. I made several requests for information
from the village, that were public record, and only received part of the
request. This was when I decided to run for a trustee’s position. Since being elected to office, another new
board member and I, have continually asked questions and have been met with
much animosity. After reviewing records, we discovered that the village was
spending money that we didn't have.
During my first few months, we filled the vacant
superintendent position. After a. unanimous decision, we hired John Martin who
is a certified engineer, and is licensed for waste water treatment. He has
served our country for numerous years in combat. Since being appointed to the
position, John has been praised by many village residents for his hard work and
knowledge, and he has also saved the village thousands of dollars. In addition
to all of this, John has also renewed a long-time employee’s enthusiasm,
confidence, and pride for his work.
As a trustee I want to make sure that taxpayer’s money is
being spent efficiently. So, sometimes my opinions aren't popular because I
want to hold people accountable for doing their jobs.
I believe we are heading in the right direction for the
community and have made many positive changes in a short time. I encourage many
residents to attend meetings, so we can get your input and make the village
what it used to be.
I hope every village resident uses their right to vote on
Tuesday March 20th, so we can help you make your voices be heard. I am also
endorsing Robert Joyce, he would be a tremendous asset to the village board.
