After serving for nearly 20 years on Tyrone Borough Council, Jim Beckwith is seeking one more term of elected office.
“I have been on council almost 20 years and I enjoy trying to solve the problems of Tyrone,” said Beckwith. “I want to try to serve one more term. The work it takes to be on council takes a lot of time and if I am elected, this will probably be my last term.”
The five-term Republican believes that the tax incentives for business that Tyrone Borough has granted (KOEZ) and is looking to pass (LERTA) will benefit business in Tyrone.
“These tax breaks definitely lure business to Tyrone,” said Beckwith. “Take a look at the Westvaco situation. The KOEZ was a shot in the arm for them. I am not sure the deal would have gone through if the KOEZ wasn’t approved. There are several businesses that are looking to locate to Tyrone and every business that comes here asks about tax breaks. Instead of losing businesses to other communities, sometimes tax breaks for businesses need to be passed on to taxpayers. If we can create jobs, in the long run it will benefit the community and the jobs will override any tax increases.”
The economic development of Tyrone is the biggest need for the borough according to Beckwith.
“We need to get businesses into the downtown,” said Beckwith. “We need to create jobs for local people. We have a problem of being landlocked. We are surrounded by Snyder Township. We need to utilize the properties that are available. We have to work to get jobs. Team Ten, with the reopening of the paper mill, is providing a shot in the arm for the community. Granted some of the jobs will be going to people out of town because of the skilled labor that is necessary. Tyrone has a great work force. We need to strive to get business to locate here and get our people to work here.”
Beckwith doesn’t see tax relief for the residents of Tyrone in the relatively near future.
“I have never been in favor of raising taxes,” said Beckwith. “Sometimes the hands of council are tied. The water filtration plant at the reservoir is one project that we didn’t really want to spend the money on, but DEP forced us into it. There are many services that Tyrone Borough provides and the costs of materials and manual labor has continued to rise and it is outgrowing the tax base. My record on taxes speaks for itself.”
The candidate says that if there is to be a tax or sewer increase it is not because there have been tax breaks for businesses.
“If there is a tax or sewer hike it is because funding that we had counted on from the state has been taken away,” said Beckwith. “The Act 339 money was counted on for the sewer budget. That money has to be made up somewhere.”
Beckwith says he will continue to serve as he has for 20 years if re-elected.
“I will do what I have done since I got on council,” said Beckwith. “I will weigh everything and vote on what I think is best for the borough. There are some things that council’s hands are tied on.”
Beckwith also addressed some issues brought by his challengers.
“There are people who accuse us of not listening to the people of Tyrone,” said Beckwith. “Once we are made aware of the problem, we do what we can to take care of it. We don’t shut the public out. There are no secret meetings where decisions are made. There are only two ways in which there can be executive sessions, they are for personnel and legal matters. One of the candidates (Dan Meckes) said he would let the people know what happens in executive sessions. If that happens he opens himself and the borough to law suits. There are things that are discussed in executive sessions that are for the protection of the borough and its workers.
“The motel project will provide a boost to Tyrone,” Beckwith said. “Tyrone is a sports town. When the District wrestling tournament or basketball playoffs are here, the people who fill the school have to go somewhere to sleep. Right now they are going to Altoona. If we had a hotel, the money would stay here. It would probably provide about 50 jobs. The people who sleep here would eat here and shop here. The industry that is located in the Tyrone area have to send their vendors to Altoona for lodging. A hotel would benefit Albemarle, the paper mill, PPG and other businesses.
“One candidate talked about the Big Yank building that we are supposedly letting sit there,” said Beckwith. “Dan DeVorris owns that building. He is not just going to let it sit there and not make money. He is one of the most successful people in the region and isn’t just going to avoid making money.”
Beckwith will be on the Republican ballot in the November election.
