The candidates vying to be Trinity’s next mayor faced questions about municipal services, the future of sewer and the possibility of curbside trash and recycling collection.

The candidates’ forum was held Oct. 15 at Trinity City Hall.

Attending mayoral candidates were incumbent Fran Andrews and former councilman Carlton Boyles, who served 1998-2004.

Also attending was Councilman Kelly Grooms, who launched a write-in campaign early last week and formed his campaign committee Oct. 16. According to Patsy Foscue, director of elections for Randolph County, write-in candidates have to form a campaign committee, but are only required to file campaign reports if they spend more than $3,000.

The candidates were asked about the city’s sewer debt and the possibility of future municipal services. In particular, they were asked if they supported continuing sewer expansion and how they would balance services and growth.

Moderator Diane Davis, of the League of Women Voters of the Piedmont Triad, drew names to see who would go first. Boyles was the first name drawn.

“We need to make decisions based on what our needs are and what our wants are,” Boyles responded. “Our needs are associated with services that make the community safe like the police department and sewer.”

He added that the city should be frugal, but still address the needs of its citizens.

That included, Boyles continued, finding land in Trinity for Randolph County to build a convenience site instead of instituting curbside trash and recycling pickup. A convenience site is a site where trash and recyclables are dropped off, then transported to a landfill or recycling complex.

Andrews’ opinion was somewhat different.

“From day one the word has been controlled growth for the city,” Andrews said. “At the first council, I heard that quite often. The more sewer customers we have, the more we can put in the ground and that helps pay for it. The citizens did vote for that $15 million bond, and that’s what is putting the sewer in the ground.”

Yes, that will have to be paid off, she continued, but the city is planning well to make smart decisions about growth. Development is needed because it keeps property tax rates low and helps pay the bills.

With regard to curbside trash and recycling, Andrews noted that, “We’ve just got to bite the bullet and do it. It’s inevitable that we’re going to have to have it.”

The state recently mandated that plastic bottles could no longer be placed into landfills, she pointed out. The state will check the landfills and the cost for violations will eventually be passed on to the garbage haulers, who will pass them on to their customers.

Grooms did not disagree with Andrews, but stressed the need for a strategic plan and controlled growth.

“We need to be proactive and build a strategic plan now,” Grooms said. “To keep the tax rates low, we’re going to have to creep along. Everyone wants a Home Depot, but that’s not coming until we’ve got the rooftops.”

Controlled growth with affordable housing is necessary before that can happen, he added. “People need to be realistic about where we’re at. We need a plan that will control growth and give you the services with low tax rates, and not everybody’s going to like it.”

Grooms told the audience that he disliked the new mandates Andrews had described as much as anyone else, but that they had to deal with them.

“We’ve got to do the recycling that we need to do,” he concluded. “Realistically, most people, if they have to pick it up and take it somewhere, normally won’t. We have to find a way to pay for (curbside pickup) and keep our taxes low, so it’s a convenience.”

The candidates also answered questions about their vision for the future of Trinity. Those responses will be included in the Oct. 29 edition of the NEWS.