Village of Four Seasons Board of Trustees Candidate Tony Baldridge

Retired partner of Edward Jones was responsible for delivering significant business strategy leveraging technology and business knowledge to enhance relationships for clients and Financial Advisors.  Served on several Edward Jones’ committees including Firm Associate Compensation, Internal/External Audit, Firm Legal and Compliance, Client Service, and the Disaster Recovery Committee.  Executive MBA from Washington University St. Louis. Volunteer and on the Executive board for the Hope House serving the underprivileged in Miller County, Missouri. My wife, Ginny and I have been married for 45 years, have 5 children and 9 grandchildren.

2. What is your vision for the Village of Four Seasons?

Transparent communication with residents of the Village of Four Seasons is high on my list of to-dos. I strongly encourage improved communication with the residents and enhanced relationships with the County, the Village Property Owners Association, and the Horseshoe Bend Road District. Currently we send out two mailings a year.  This information becomes stale, not relevant and outdated.  I propose to use social media as well as asking our residents to opt into email communication in order to have immediate communication with the Board of Trustees.

We do not have the funds or people to support all the needs of the Village.  We cannot deliver the needs of the residents without the support of our community partners.  By strengthening relations with the County, the Village property Owners Association, and the Horseshoe Bend Road District, we can develop a program to support the life of the hiking and bike paths and ensure we maintain the excellent shape of our roads in the Village.

3. There are four candidates for two positions on the Village Board of trustees. Why should voters vote for you?

I am not a politician and have a business minded approach and experience.  At our meetings, I try to ensure all information is shared with the public, even if it is a difficult conversation.  I learned a long time ago bad news does not age well.  My professional background in technology and as a leader in business strategy makes me the most qualified candidate to put the tools in place that ensure open communication.

I currently have a positive working relationship with our community partners; the County, the Horseshoe Bend Road District, and the Village POA.  I attend many of the County and Road District meetings to address the needs of the Village.  I have a commitment from the community partners to immediately move forward with solutions on the hiking and biking path.

4. What is your position on obtaining easements from Camden County for the hiking and biking trail maintenance since those easements would allow the VFS to apply for a $400,000 grant?

The grant has very specific requirements such as an Americans Disability Act (ADA) approved path.  To meet ADA requirements, the hiking and biking path would require major reconstruction at great expense which would have to be funded either by the County or the Village.  There is a large section of the path not within the Village boundaries that would need to be considered for maintenance and does not qualify for a Village grant. I am very confident the County, Horseshoe Bend Road District, the POA and the Village can find a solution on how to maintain the life of the paths in short order and at a reasonable expense.

5. What is your plan to maintain the hiking and biking paths if the grant money is not approved?  

My first action is to build cooperative relationships with the Horseshoe Bend Road District, Camden County, and POA. I already have a commitment from these entities to join the committee as soon as I am re-elected. The first item to address is to develop a group solution to maintain the life expectancy of the paths.  

6. What is your position on CART funds? Should the Village keep those funds or turn them over to the Horseshoe Bend Special Road District?

It is a very high priority to ensure the county CART funds are 100% passed to the road district.  I have had several conversations with the Village residents, and they are shocked that the Village would even consider holding one cent of the funds.  These funds have a history of always been 100% passed through to the Horseshoe Bend Road District.

7. Do you support holding work sessions on Mondays before the board’s regularly scheduled meetings on the second Wednesday? Why?

I support having productive open meetings. I do propose an overhaul of our meeting agendas to share activities and information from our surrounding areas that is important to the residents.  I also encourage community leaders to be present at our meetings and meet our residents and be available for questions.  

8. Add anything else you’d like.

We have experienced growth in the last couple of years related to new homes and condo construction.  The Village is responsible for issuing building permits and performing building inspections.  Preparing for future growth, we hired a second licensed building inspector.  The Village works with the Four Seasons Property Owners Association to ensure we optimize the process for applying for building permits and inspections.   I support not placing any restrictive ordinances to make it difficult to live or build in the Village.