Profile: Marvin McMillan, Cape Girardeau County 1st District Commissioner (D)

Name: Marvin McMillan

Date of birth: Oct. 6, 1949

Place of birth: Cape Girardeau

Spouse: Sharon

Children's names, ages: Amelia, 34; Jessica, 31; Jon, 20

Occupation: Truck driver; maintenance equipment operator

Employer: Ready Mix Concrete, Perryville, Mo.

Businesses owned, all or in part: McMillan Farms, sold in 2002

Public offices held (elective or appointive): None

Past political campaigns including year and office sought: None

1. Evaluate the progress of the county road improvement program. Has it met the expectations of voters who approved the sales tax in August 2006? If not, why not?

Answer: The program is starting to progress. The chip-and-seal program is not what we voted for. Many voters have voiced anger over this. I hope it will work better than in Perry County. Unpaved county roads are in disrepair. They need a new program. Frustration over the poor quality of county unpaved roads where I live prompted me to start grading my own road, almost three miles worth, with my own equipment, potholes and other rough areas. I found a way to do the job. The county could improve the conditions of our roads.

I was told the District 1 commissioner set policy, so nothing changed. The easements for paving were supposed to be secured and notarized and they would use the dates these were notarized in numerical order to select roads for paving. This is still being done by random selection.

2. Should the county commission enact the storm-water control ordinance that has been under consideration for the past several years? If yes, how should it be enforced? If no, are you opposed because of particular provisions in the ordinance or because of a philosophical opposition?

Answer: How can the commission enact any ordinance without planning and zoning? Enforcement would be impossible. DNR may be an alternative.

3. Should county commission meetings be broadcast on the Web or on public access cable TV? Explain.

Answer: Put the issue, along with the cost, to a public vote.

4: How do you feel about the city of Cape Girardeau's discussions of peripheral zoning?

Answer: I am against this move.

5. What makes you the best candidate for the position?

Answer: About five years ago, I read a story in the Citizens Electric magazine we get as a patron. The story stated the possibility of deregulation of electric companies producing power. I realized the negative impact this would have on all rural Missouri. I called Gerald Jones at his home one night. We talked about my concerns. I suggested he and the other commissioners check into the possibility of attracting a power plant to our area.

Mr. Jones told me he would take it up with the other commissioners. I never heard anything more.

Areas around the country that secured licenses and constructed power plants during this time realized matching funds of up to three-quarters of construction costs from the federal government. That funding is no longer available at this time.

We need a more aggressive approach to industrial recruitment. I want to form a committee the put together a complete resume for the county. This can be used to target areas of the country (world) that are looking for a new location.

My time spent in the county as a volunteer fireman for North Cape County VFD started in 1977. I spent 23 years working fires, auto extrication assists, as a weather spotter, looking for lost persons, etc. For more than 20 years of this time I served as assistant chief and training officer for my department.

I accumulated more than 300 University of Missouri Fire Science and Practical Training hours. During this time I achieved instructor (apprentice) status. The teaching was very gratifying. These teaching activities have given me a special insight into human nature and how to deal with people.

I retired from the fire department 10 years ago. I am still a member of the county emergency preparedness agency.

These duties I have mentioned have brought me in direct contact with the Cape County Sheriff's Department under three different sheriffs. All of the top officers in the department, I have worked side-by-side with, even shared a few laughs and a lot of concerns.

For 31 years now I have worked for the betterment of my community, my county, for no pay. This should indicate to the county voters of my caring and compassion for my county. As the new District 1 commissioner, I will continue my long county service for the people.