Friends of Kim Stone

I believe it’s important to respond directly to the inaccurate accusations made against me by a member of the public at this week’s City Council meeting and on social media. After many years of active community involvement, I chose to run for City Council to prioritize environmental protection, make our streets safer for everyone, and apply my experience in nonprofit management to benefit our community.
 
City Council’s role is to establish policy. Professional staff manage day-to-day operations under the City Manager’s supervision. City staff prioritize infrastructure improvements, including road maintenance, using objective data on road and bridge conditions.
 
The City has successfully repaved all of the gravel alleys and some parking lots with permeable pavers. These porous surfaces effectively capture stormwater, significantly reducing flooding in basements and yards. The alleys south of Central Avenue (east of downtown) were the first to benefit from this approach several years ago. In 2023, the City completed the final two alleys using permeable paving; notably, one of these alleys is adjacent to 12 homes, including mine.

The alley repaving project went through a competitive public bidding process as standard practice.  The contract approved unanimously by the City Council included repaving for two separate alleys. I have no ownership stake, employment relationship, or financial investment in the company awarded the contract, and no work was done on my private property.

I always act with the highest ethical standards. The unfounded accusations made at the recent City Council meeting illustrate why qualified individuals often hesitate to pursue public office. My advocacy for residents and proven record of accomplishments demonstrate my commitment to Highland Park.