“We need continuity in leadership in the city to maintain our momentum and I am the best candidate to make that happen,” said Buena Vista Mayor Tyson Cooper, making the case for his reelection.
“Frankly, the results of the last two years tell you why you should vote for me – new businesses big and small, infrastructure improvements, securing millions in federal funding for our city, our industries growing, investments in community assets like Glen Maury Park, our pool and Magnolia Square.”
He continued: “Amazing things are happening right now. Our industries are growing and expanding, we’ve welcomed Dollar Tree and are excited to welcome Tractor Supply, we’re seeing more tourists visiting the city and spending money in our stores and restaurants, improvements are continuing in properties downtown … dozens of new houses have been built with many more currently under construction, and we have been able to address significant infrastructure needs in the city – paving over 10 percent of our streets – and have much more planned in the coming year.”
He wants to continue to play a role in these successes, particularly in seeing a couple of major capital projects come to fruition. “We need to do something to address the infrastructure needs in our schools – first and foremost with the current middle school building. Earlier this year a group of consultants recommended that we construct a new $60 million facility to house all our elementary and middle school grades. If money weren’t an issue, that would be a great plan.
“However, it simply isn’t feasible. We have several million dollars in infrastructure investments that need to be made at Kling and the high school, and we need to carefully consider our options for how to better serve the middle school students and teachers. I think as the School Board and City Council continue working closely together, we’ll find a creative and cost-effective solution. I’m hopeful, and there are a few very early ideas [on how] we might be able to accomplish this with little to no impact on the current property tax rate. I’m working hard with my colleagues at the city and the schools to explore these ideas.”
The other major capital project that’s looming is an upgrade to the wastewater treatment plant. He said Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine have helped secure $2.3 million in federal funding for the project. “There are several other avenues of funding we’re pursuing, and we expect that we’ll be able to secure over 75 percent of the funding through federal and state grant funds. That’s important because it means we won’t need to raise water and sewer rates like we would if we didn’t have these funding sources. I’m optimistic that by this time next year we’ll have started the upgrades at the wastewater treatment plant.”
Cooper emphasizes the importance of the city working closely with Southern Virginia University to the benefit of the community. “I’m proud to say that leaders from the city and the university meet together monthly and interact almost weekly on various projects and initiatives as varied as the university’s growth plans, internships and workforce development, and how to be better neighbors. … I’m excited by the university’s plans to build more student housing. It will create multiple opportunities for the city, the most significant being opening up houses in neighborhoods and moving student cars from being parked on city streets to being located at the university.”
Cooper, vice president of finance and operations at SVU, has been a member of City Council for six years and mayor the past two. He and his wife Cami, the parents of six children who attend the city schools, both attended SVU and decided to make Buena Vista their home following graduation.
“I love Buena Vista,” he remarked. “I think it is the ideal town to live in and to raise a family in. The people are absolutely wonderful, and it is an honor and privilege to serve them each day as the mayor.”
TYSON COOPER
