Susan Miller
Occupation: Retired banking professional
Email: millersum90@gmail.com
Office Seeking: Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors
Susan is a small-town girl who values community service, supporting rural towns, and volunteerism. She has been married to her husband, Randy, for 45 years. They have 2 sons and 3 grandchildren. Susan commuted from Carson to Omaha for 42 years to the First National Bank of Omaha before accepting an early retirement offer. Being too young to retire, Susan ran for, and was elected to, the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors in 2022.
High property taxes is the most important issue. I've heard from small business owners who bought a commercial property 5 years ago, and the taxes on that property today make it cost prohibitive to maintain that property. That's just wrong. I've heard from friends that have lived in their homes for 50 years and can't maintain their homes on a fixed income. I hear them. On the flip side, we have County government with valued employees and services we must provide pursuant to Iowa Code. Right-sizing the cost for these services would be one approach, but it takes buy-in from State leadership. The second most important issue is maintaining our roads for safe transportation. This means the road surface must be consistent and top-level regardless of whether it is gravel, asphalt, or concrete. Signage and clear intersections play an important part, but only if the commuters obey the instructions provided. |
I shop local. I support local small businesses. I pay a little more for products and services to generate local sales tax. What would the County look like if everything we needed we could buy locally? We’ve become a community of convenience, and that comes at a different cost. Iowa Western Community College is continually updating curriculum to target in-demand jobs. Our high schools have programming in place to motivate students to earn an Associate's Degree or Certificate in conjunction with a High School Diploma. We need a business climate with a variety of job opportunities and good benefits to put these graduates to work the day after graduation. We need to market the County as a whole. The assets of one community should become an asset for an adjoining community |
Working with our State legislators to provide clear examples of "cause and effect" to property tax reform policy is the responsibility of the County Supervisors. In Iowa, Farm Bureau is a force. What if we had “Business Bureau” or “City Bureau” that would help policymakers write policy that would benefit the businesses and the cities, collectively. |
My job as a County Supervisor is more than a part-time position. I’m present at the Courthouse and in the community. I have embedded myself into the organizations I am assigned to and have provided governance and fiscal responsibility at all levels, participating in more than just board meetings. I value the employees that choose to work for Pottawattamie County, and I am always looking for ways to add value to their job commitment. |