1 00:00:01,420 --> 00:00:02,350 Starting now. 2 00:00:03,050 --> 00:00:07,270 Commonalities where guests find common ground through uncommon 3 00:00:07,290 --> 00:00:10,910 conversations, politics, religion, finances, 4 00:00:11,010 --> 00:00:14,590 all the topics your grandmother told you not to discuss with friends. 5 00:00:14,930 --> 00:00:17,550 And now your host, Matthew Dowling, 6 00:00:17,770 --> 00:00:21,110 and today's guests on commonalities. Well. 7 00:00:21,110 --> 00:00:24,630 Thanks for joining us again on commonalities. I'm Matt Dollinger host, 8 00:00:24,630 --> 00:00:28,310 and my guest today is Robert Jean Grim. 9 00:00:28,310 --> 00:00:30,270 He's currently a township supervisor, 10 00:00:30,610 --> 00:00:34,230 but has recently thrown his hat in the ring, um, 11 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:38,710 as a candidate for Fayette County Commissioner. And, uh, 12 00:00:38,710 --> 00:00:42,830 I thought that it would be good to not only meet him, but meet, uh, 13 00:00:42,830 --> 00:00:45,110 some other candidates through the upcoming weeks. 14 00:00:45,480 --> 00:00:50,470 So hopefully you will join us for those episodes as well. Um, gene, 15 00:00:50,470 --> 00:00:52,430 I want to thank you for being on the program here. 16 00:00:52,430 --> 00:00:54,670 Today. Yeah, thanks Matt. Thanks for having me. It's real, 17 00:00:54,670 --> 00:00:55,670 real pleasure being here. 18 00:00:55,810 --> 00:00:58,390 Now, you're a kind of a hometown boy, uh, 19 00:00:58,390 --> 00:01:02,870 from what I understand about your background, you played, uh, sports and, 20 00:01:02,870 --> 00:01:06,030 and kind of with the, the environment we're in, 21 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:10,910 in Fayette County right now with some amazing student athletes. Um, 22 00:01:10,910 --> 00:01:12,430 you know, I didn't want to get us off track, 23 00:01:12,430 --> 00:01:17,190 but I wanted to talk a little bit about kind of your sporting background and 24 00:01:17,190 --> 00:01:20,670 the, the, uh, the coaches you played for and, uh, 25 00:01:20,670 --> 00:01:22,270 and the schools you attended. 26 00:01:22,300 --> 00:01:26,350 Yeah, no, uh, we, we can start off playing football. I, uh, I, um, 27 00:01:27,220 --> 00:01:30,790 really enjoyed playing sports growing up. Um, grew, grew up on a, 28 00:01:30,790 --> 00:01:32,750 on a small dairy farm, uh, 29 00:01:32,750 --> 00:01:37,630 in Southern Faye County at actually Nicholson Township. Um, but, but I argue, 30 00:01:37,630 --> 00:01:42,630 uh, my farm life and, and, uh, milk and cows and chasing calves, um, 31 00:01:42,950 --> 00:01:46,910 actually, uh, opened some opportunities for me playing football and, uh, not, 32 00:01:46,970 --> 00:01:51,710 not toot my own horn, but, uh, I, I, um, could run like the wind blue, um, went, 33 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:56,030 uh, attended, uh, some Merle Hodge football camps. Uh, Merle Hodge was at, uh, 34 00:01:56,030 --> 00:02:00,230 running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But, um, I, I could, at a young age, 35 00:02:00,230 --> 00:02:04,670 I could run, uh, uh, 40 yards and, um, about 4.6 seconds. 36 00:02:05,170 --> 00:02:07,230 But, um, had had some opportunities. 37 00:02:07,230 --> 00:02:10,390 I actually played for three different high schools. I played, uh, 38 00:02:10,390 --> 00:02:15,390 for Albert Island, excuse me, one year. Played for, uh, um, Gobel. 39 00:02:15,390 --> 00:02:19,910 I was a Gobel Gator, uh, had, you know, still have a, uh, soft spot spot for, 40 00:02:19,910 --> 00:02:24,110 uh, watching, uh, gobel, uh, events. Um, but I played under, uh, 41 00:02:24,110 --> 00:02:27,430 Jack Beaner, bill Beaner through Laurel Highlands, uh, 42 00:02:27,430 --> 00:02:31,670 Tom Sandal and Kirk soho down at Gebel. Um, and, uh, when, 43 00:02:31,670 --> 00:02:33,630 when at a young age, I played under, um, 44 00:02:33,900 --> 00:02:37,990 Joanne Embar crowd at outta Albert Allen. And so, um, still, um, 45 00:02:38,020 --> 00:02:42,390 keep in touch with a lot of my friends that I met along the way, um, 46 00:02:42,390 --> 00:02:47,030 playing sports. So it's, um, again, you know, um, I tell everybody, 47 00:02:47,130 --> 00:02:49,070 any, any young kid, um, 48 00:02:49,070 --> 00:02:52,790 that's even thinking about going out for sports e even if you're a junior in 49 00:02:52,790 --> 00:02:55,510 high school, and that's something that you, that, um, you, 50 00:02:55,510 --> 00:02:58,510 you kind of feel like, well, I'm, you know, I'm pushing, I'm almost a senior, 51 00:02:58,510 --> 00:03:02,640 you know, go out, go out for sports, you know, I, uh, encourage, encourage, uh, 52 00:03:02,640 --> 00:03:06,800 people to play sports and, um, lot, lot of good memories there, especially, 53 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:09,680 like I said, Don Donette, Gobel, um, 54 00:03:10,460 --> 00:03:13,320 lot of good memories down there playing sports as, as a Gobel Gator. 55 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:14,320 So go Gobel. 56 00:03:14,930 --> 00:03:18,600 So, um, you know, before we get to the big question, 57 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:23,400 which is what made you decide to run for county commissioner, 58 00:03:23,550 --> 00:03:26,360 I want to talk a little bit about your, uh, 59 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:31,320 your current background and the fact that you are a township supervisor in what 60 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:36,160 I think is a unique township in Fayette County, SpringHill Township. 61 00:03:36,570 --> 00:03:41,120 Uh, and you guys are in the very far corner of the county. 62 00:03:41,730 --> 00:03:43,760 Um, I had the pleasure of, uh, 63 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:48,440 when I was in the State House representing that township. Um, but, you know, 64 00:03:48,670 --> 00:03:53,480 life's a little bit different there. You are a very agrarian society, uh, 65 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:58,280 but with ACLU conclusion of Route 43 or that section of 66 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:01,320 the southern section of Route 43, um, 67 00:04:01,390 --> 00:04:06,320 I know that some of that agrarian lifestyle has 68 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:11,280 kind of been in jeopardy because of the development of some of 69 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:11,970 that property. 70 00:04:11,970 --> 00:04:16,880 So why don't we talk a little bit about the challenges that, uh, 71 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:21,160 that you see in your township as you're currently a township supervisor? 72 00:04:21,350 --> 00:04:23,720 Yeah, so, so currently, as you just said, I'm, 73 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:28,640 I'm a township supervisor for Spring Hill Township. SpringHill Township is, 74 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:32,640 is, uh, uh, the Southernmost Township in Faye County. Um, we're, 75 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:36,440 we're roughly right smack d in the middle between Uniontown and, and Morgantown. 76 00:04:36,810 --> 00:04:40,880 Uh, lot of our residents, uh, do their shopping, you know, Morgantown, 77 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:45,480 you can be there in 15 minutes or, or Uniontown. Um, most people, um, 78 00:04:46,110 --> 00:04:49,520 have not been down in a township. Uh, um, you mentioned, um, 79 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:53,480 43 coming through the Mon Monte Fayette Expressway. Um, I, you know, 80 00:04:54,150 --> 00:04:57,110 prior to the expressway coming through, um, 81 00:04:57,110 --> 00:05:00,750 there was no need for for people to come down into the area unless, um, 82 00:05:00,750 --> 00:05:04,630 we have some great historic sites down there. Uh, friendship Hill Mansion, uh, 83 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:05,750 is, uh, one of 'em. 84 00:05:05,750 --> 00:05:08,270 So a lot of people attend to Fall Fest down there in the fall, 85 00:05:08,270 --> 00:05:10,230 which is a really good event. Um, 86 00:05:11,970 --> 00:05:16,790 our our township is made up with, um, mostly small farms, rural, 87 00:05:16,790 --> 00:05:20,070 rural communities, and that's why people have, 88 00:05:20,070 --> 00:05:23,150 have chose to live in SpringHill Township. Um, 89 00:05:23,570 --> 00:05:26,520 current issues going on in the township right now, right now, 90 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:30,560 which a lot of you know about or, or have heard, um, out in Gans, pa, 91 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:35,440 which is, um, just, just a mile or so off the, um, expressway there. 92 00:05:35,970 --> 00:05:36,803 Um, 93 00:05:36,830 --> 00:05:41,040 Faye Penn has some property out there that they're planning on doing an 94 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:45,520 industrial park. Um, now this, uh, prior to a few weeks ago, 95 00:05:45,630 --> 00:05:49,000 this land was zoned a, a one, or there was a, 96 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:52,440 there was approximately a hundred and some acres that was still zoned a one. 97 00:05:52,900 --> 00:05:56,760 And I argue it's, uh, some of the most beautiful land in our township. Um, this, 98 00:05:56,760 --> 00:06:01,480 this land's been in corn and soybeans for the last 30 or 40 years. So, um, 99 00:06:01,490 --> 00:06:04,320 my, my constituents residents out in a township are, 100 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:08,120 are basically just upset that we have, uh, 101 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:11,800 some of the most beautiful farmland in a township. And I argue in a, 102 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:16,640 in a county that, uh, that's basically gonna be destroyed. 103 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:21,520 And, and, uh, and factories and concrete is, is is what's gonna be, um, 104 00:06:22,380 --> 00:06:26,380 currently what we've been looking at in corn and soybeans. So, uh, 105 00:06:26,380 --> 00:06:30,260 and every time, and I drive through there on a daily basis and, you know, 106 00:06:30,260 --> 00:06:33,540 through work with a township, but each day when I drive past, 107 00:06:34,070 --> 00:06:37,060 there's corn fields. I mean, it just saddens me. And, and, 108 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:38,660 and I get frustrated that 109 00:06:40,190 --> 00:06:42,720 I just feel that as a supervisor in our residents, 110 00:06:43,170 --> 00:06:46,440 we didn't have a say in what was coming to our community. 111 00:06:46,580 --> 00:06:48,800 And as a township supervisor, you know, 112 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:52,920 my number one job is to represent the community as a whole. Um, 113 00:06:53,350 --> 00:06:57,800 I can't even go back to our residence and say, Hey, I, I got this for us. 114 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:02,560 I never had an opportunity to negotiate something better for the community. Um, 115 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:05,080 the, you know, a big issue with this, though, 116 00:07:05,980 --> 00:07:09,600 not only are they destroying the farmland out in, out in SpringHill Township, 117 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:13,200 which, which again, that's why residents live out there. We, we, 118 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:17,370 we really enjoy our wide open spaces and, uh, in our farmland, 119 00:07:17,370 --> 00:07:19,970 we're near and dear to our, to our land. Um, 120 00:07:19,970 --> 00:07:23,730 but this is gonna create some other issues in, in a township, uh, water being, 121 00:07:24,210 --> 00:07:27,730 water issues being front and center. Um, this is actually, 122 00:07:27,730 --> 00:07:32,370 if this project goes through, it's gonna put us in a, uh, in a water crisis. Um, 123 00:07:32,490 --> 00:07:37,250 there, there's three water, um, authorities in a township. We have a Gallatin, 124 00:07:37,500 --> 00:07:40,930 uh, mountain Water Association, and then state line Authority. 125 00:07:41,350 --> 00:07:46,330 All three of these water, um, authorities are in dire need of, uh, 126 00:07:46,330 --> 00:07:50,970 waterline upgrades. Um, Albert Gallon's water plant needs rebuilt. 127 00:07:51,590 --> 00:07:54,610 And, um, basically what Faye Penn and, and, um, 128 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:59,850 Slater Engineering is requested up to 3 million gallons of water a day if this 129 00:07:59,850 --> 00:08:03,650 factory goes in. Um, and again, we, our, 130 00:08:04,350 --> 00:08:07,090 our water plant, excuse me, is at max capacity, 131 00:08:08,510 --> 00:08:11,920 unless we get some large grants or, 132 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:15,960 or some investment in our water system, um, we, we, 133 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:18,680 we can't provide the water. My biggest fear is the, 134 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:22,680 the burden is gonna go on the back of my residence, um, which a lot in, 135 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:24,880 in Spring Hill Township, we have a lot of elderly that, 136 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:28,960 that depend on social security. And we have, we have, um, a, 137 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:32,520 a fairly large percentage that, that are on assistance, um, 138 00:08:33,580 --> 00:08:36,680 for, you know, for whatever reason. Um, but, um, 139 00:08:36,730 --> 00:08:41,690 if their water rates go up, because Fay Penn wants this water, I mean, I, I'm, 140 00:08:41,690 --> 00:08:45,690 I'm against that. I, I feel that there has to be another way and, and we, 141 00:08:45,690 --> 00:08:48,570 we really need to set down, roll our sleeves up and, 142 00:08:48,950 --> 00:08:52,730 and try to hatch us out and, and, uh, come up with something. And again, that, 143 00:08:52,730 --> 00:08:56,160 that's basically why I've thrown my hat in the ring for, uh, county. 144 00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:57,400 Commissioner. Well, 145 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:02,040 and and it sounds like what you're talking about is the kind of the preservation 146 00:09:02,210 --> 00:09:06,760 of a way of life. And, uh, I know you're a conservative, uh, 147 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:11,400 you're a registered Republican, correct? Correct. Um, and you, uh, 148 00:09:11,540 --> 00:09:16,040 you, you want the, to preserve not just traditional family values, 149 00:09:16,180 --> 00:09:19,240 but also to preserve, uh, that, 150 00:09:19,590 --> 00:09:24,400 that way of life on the farm. And, uh, and trust me, I'm no, 151 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:28,600 uh, I'm no farmer. Uh, we, uh, I grew up on, 152 00:09:29,210 --> 00:09:33,360 um, the east end of Union town on a small city lot. Uh, 153 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:36,080 in my teen years, we moved out to Pinnell in township, 154 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:40,520 had a little bit more property, um, about 11 to 12 acres. 155 00:09:40,700 --> 00:09:45,280 And, uh, and I once, uh, plowed down the swing set with, uh, 156 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:48,720 with the tractor that we had. So, uh, you know, I'm not a farmer, 157 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:52,800 but I have a huge appreciation for the farms that we have. 158 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:56,520 And I wanna circle the wagons back around because we were talking about 159 00:09:57,020 --> 00:10:01,520 development and the loss of farmland. Uh, 160 00:10:01,620 --> 00:10:05,600 and, you know, really when we look at farming, I, 161 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:08,440 I don't know that everyone, um, 162 00:10:08,950 --> 00:10:12,200 realizes or appreciates the fact that, um, 163 00:10:13,020 --> 00:10:16,880 the lacking number, the declining number, rather, 164 00:10:17,050 --> 00:10:22,000 of farms throughout the United States is creating what could become 165 00:10:22,390 --> 00:10:24,200 a real national security issue. 166 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:28,200 Because as we're forced to import more and more, uh, 167 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:31,000 goods of produce, um, you know, 168 00:10:31,210 --> 00:10:35,520 we become dependent on other countries. And before the show, 169 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:39,920 I know you and I were talking in the newsroom for a couple minutes about, uh, 170 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:44,760 how the war in Ukraine, no matter where you sit on that issue, uh, and I, 171 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:49,240 and I know a lot of our conservative listeners are getting frustrated with the 172 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:53,640 amount that the Biden in, uh, administration has spent on that war. 173 00:10:54,090 --> 00:10:56,880 Um, but really that's a, a bread basket of the world, 174 00:10:56,880 --> 00:11:00,680 and we're seeing a direct reflection of, uh, 175 00:11:00,680 --> 00:11:04,800 the cost of things like wheat and flour, uh, 176 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:09,360 in our grocery stores because of that war in Ukraine. And, uh, you know, I, 177 00:11:09,390 --> 00:11:13,960 I am gonna turn it over to you in a second, to, to talk a little bit about, uh, 178 00:11:14,030 --> 00:11:18,480 preserving those, those farmlands. But, you know, I pulled up, uh, 179 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:21,520 just as we came into the studio, uh, 180 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:26,320 an article on the USDA's, uh, government website, and it says, 181 00:11:26,330 --> 00:11:30,320 uh, after peaking at 6.8 million farms in 1935, 182 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:35,160 the number of US farms fell sharply until the early 1970s, 183 00:11:35,370 --> 00:11:39,920 rapidly following farm numbers during the earlier period 184 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:44,360 reflected growing production in agriculture and 185 00:11:44,750 --> 00:11:48,560 increasing non-farm employment opportunities. 186 00:11:49,020 --> 00:11:51,320 Now since then, the, uh, 187 00:11:51,320 --> 00:11:55,400 number of US farms has continued to decline, uh, 188 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:58,520 kind of at a slower rate, but, uh, the, 189 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:01,640 the numbers as we're looking at them went from 190 00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:05,600 2.01 million US farms, uh, 191 00:12:05,610 --> 00:12:10,600 in 2021, back to just 2007 when we had 2.2 million, 192 00:12:11,170 --> 00:12:14,000 uh, US farms. So, you know, 193 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:18,520 you're seeing in your township a microcosm of what's happening at a national 194 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:22,920 level, but it is very concerning, even for a non-farm like myself, 195 00:12:23,450 --> 00:12:28,040 uh, that we are going to be forced to rely on importing, uh, 196 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:32,840 farm goods. So I, I know you were talking a little bit about subsidies and, 197 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:34,240 uh, and things like that. 198 00:12:34,270 --> 00:12:38,200 I don't know if you have any comments to make about how important it is to 199 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:39,920 preserve, preserve that farmland. 200 00:12:39,940 --> 00:12:44,610 And, and, and you, you touch on so many, um, points there, and you're, 201 00:12:44,610 --> 00:12:48,290 and you're exactly right, but, um, basically over 2000 acres a day, 202 00:12:48,690 --> 00:12:50,180 this country's losing. 203 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:54,140 And if you just think about that 2000 acres a day, 204 00:12:54,680 --> 00:12:58,580 and we're on track o over the next 20 years, or, or less than 20 years, by, 205 00:12:58,580 --> 00:13:02,660 by by 2040, we w will have lost over 20 Phil, 206 00:13:02,660 --> 00:13:07,140 24 million acres of farmland. And, and this is prime farmland. This is, 207 00:13:07,140 --> 00:13:10,860 this is land that, um, it, it again, 208 00:13:10,860 --> 00:13:14,740 is some of the most productive farmland in the world that were destroyed. And, 209 00:13:14,740 --> 00:13:19,550 and you mentioned in SpringHill Township, this is a micro of what's going on, 210 00:13:19,770 --> 00:13:24,550 and that's why it's so upset and frustrating. Um, you know, you, you want to, 211 00:13:24,730 --> 00:13:28,230 and I say this to the commissioners in Faye, Penn, you know, you, you, 212 00:13:28,230 --> 00:13:31,190 you want to build a factory and, and create jobs. I'm all for that, 213 00:13:31,450 --> 00:13:36,350 but I'm against taking some of the most productive farmland in the county and 214 00:13:36,350 --> 00:13:40,790 put in your factory. Um, and, and again, that's where I draw the line. But, um, 215 00:13:41,050 --> 00:13:43,590 you, you mentioned, uh, uh, the war in Ukraine, 216 00:13:44,330 --> 00:13:47,780 look at what a loaf of bread is in a store that's a direct result. 217 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:51,020 And how we're affected here on, on a, on a home homeland. 218 00:13:51,250 --> 00:13:55,900 This war in U Ukraine in the last two years on a global market, 219 00:13:55,900 --> 00:13:58,540 wheat's doubled. I I, and I don't have the exact figures, 220 00:13:58,540 --> 00:14:02,580 but I wanna say somewhere around wheat was 230, 200 $40 a ton. 221 00:14:02,650 --> 00:14:07,420 It's now pushing $600 a ton because of what's going on in Ukraine. And I, 222 00:14:07,420 --> 00:14:10,700 and I argue that Russia's there, um, because they want their, 223 00:14:10,700 --> 00:14:15,460 their farmland and, and, and they want that bread basket of, of, of, of Europe, 224 00:14:15,670 --> 00:14:20,540 so to speak. Um, so again, um, it, it sands me. And, 225 00:14:20,540 --> 00:14:24,570 and the main reason I'm throwing my head in again, is due to, 226 00:14:24,570 --> 00:14:27,850 to what's going on with the, with the farmland. Um, and I think, uh, 227 00:14:27,850 --> 00:14:32,130 going back to Mr. Becker, I mean, I, I think, um, and, and Mr. 228 00:14:32,130 --> 00:14:34,970 Becker's doing a great job, um, but I, but he, 229 00:14:34,970 --> 00:14:37,530 he needs more help that, you know, 230 00:14:37,530 --> 00:14:40,970 and I think basically it just boils down to he needs more funding to, 231 00:14:40,970 --> 00:14:43,930 to go out and preserve these farms. Um, 232 00:14:43,930 --> 00:14:48,560 I've had several Mr or several conversations with Mr. Becker, uh, 233 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:49,920 roughly what, 234 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:54,920 what the county is offering to preserve farmland is about $1,500 an acre. 235 00:14:54,980 --> 00:14:55,400 And, 236 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:59,880 and basically what happens is they buy your development rights to where you can 237 00:14:59,880 --> 00:15:04,280 no longer subdivide that build houses or, or develop. But if, 238 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:07,600 but if you think about they're offering $1,500 an acre, 239 00:15:08,140 --> 00:15:12,640 and from a developer, you know, on the other hand, 240 00:15:12,650 --> 00:15:17,520 they're willing to pay 10 or $20,000 an acre to take this same land and develop 241 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:20,480 it. We, we, we gotta get that $1,500 an acre. 242 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:24,440 And I argue these farmers should be offered a, a minimum of $5,000 an acre. 243 00:15:24,810 --> 00:15:28,480 So if, uh, on day one, if, if, if the good people put me in office, 244 00:15:28,700 --> 00:15:32,360 I'm gonna sit down with Mr. Becker and say, Hey, what can we do? 245 00:15:32,710 --> 00:15:36,960 What can I do? And, or, you know, who can, who do I need to go meet with? Or, 246 00:15:37,410 --> 00:15:41,240 um, to get you what you need to preserve more forms in Fayette County. 247 00:15:41,540 --> 00:15:45,960 Now, you know, I, I know that we've touched on this already, uh, about the, 248 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:50,560 in the importance, but I'm sitting here listening to you talked, and, uh, 249 00:15:51,020 --> 00:15:54,720 and you know, in, in my service, uh, as a state representative, 250 00:15:54,750 --> 00:15:59,520 I met very frequently with the Farm Bureau from Fayette County, as well as the, 251 00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:03,680 uh, the State Farm Bureau. And I was, uh, constantly, uh, 252 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:07,720 endorsed by them in my elections. Um, but that being said, 253 00:16:08,190 --> 00:16:12,520 you're a farmer. You come from a farming family, a farming background. 254 00:16:12,730 --> 00:16:17,320 So of course you are worried about, uh, about these issues. 255 00:16:18,020 --> 00:16:21,120 But really it comes down to the everyday person. 256 00:16:21,180 --> 00:16:24,720 And when I look at the population of Fayette County, uh, 257 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:29,600 being an aging population, we have a lot of senior citizens in this area. Uh, 258 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:32,360 Pennsylvania as a whole has a lot of senior citizens. 259 00:16:32,940 --> 00:16:36,120 And those senior citizens are on fixed incomes. 260 00:16:36,650 --> 00:16:39,160 So when we talk about, uh, 261 00:16:39,830 --> 00:16:44,640 issues that directly involve farming and the cost of good sold going up, 262 00:16:45,050 --> 00:16:46,600 uh, that means that that dollar, 263 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:51,240 that those senior citizens on that fixed income have goes a little bit, uh, 264 00:16:51,430 --> 00:16:53,480 less than it it used to. 265 00:16:55,090 --> 00:16:57,940 Yeah. And, and, um, you know, what's interesting about, you just mentioned that, 266 00:16:57,940 --> 00:17:00,900 you know, with, with inflation and, and, um, the price, uh, uh, 267 00:17:00,900 --> 00:17:03,260 groceries and your basic goods in a store, uh, 268 00:17:03,290 --> 00:17:06,500 this also creates some opportunities for small farms. Uh, 269 00:17:06,500 --> 00:17:09,580 we were talking about eggs. Uh, you, you got the, uh, proggy, uh, 270 00:17:09,580 --> 00:17:11,980 Cookoff coming up, and you were talking about the, you know, 271 00:17:11,980 --> 00:17:16,820 just the price eggs in a store. Well, you know, um, um, my job when, 272 00:17:16,820 --> 00:17:19,660 when, uh, growing up, and this is all through elementary school, 273 00:17:19,660 --> 00:17:22,700 we had about a hundred lane hens. And my job every evening when, 274 00:17:22,700 --> 00:17:26,460 when I got home, was to water 'em, gather the eggs. And I'll never forget, uh, 275 00:17:26,460 --> 00:17:30,380 um, on Saturday mornings, my, uh, mother and father would be cooking breakfast, 276 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:34,300 you know, you know, frying eggs. Well, I was the one that gathered those eggs, 277 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:37,900 and, and I, and, uh, I was putting bacon or sausage on toast. 278 00:17:37,900 --> 00:17:40,420 I couldn't eat 'em cuz I was the one up in the chickening coop getting, 279 00:17:40,420 --> 00:17:44,260 getting eggs. But, um, there's, there's actually opportunities for, 280 00:17:44,260 --> 00:17:48,020 for small farms. Um, and again, going back to, um, 281 00:17:49,430 --> 00:17:53,960 just recently my wife was, uh, up in Morgantown running errands, and she, uh, 282 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:57,320 got a couple gallon of milk. She got a gallon of whole milk in, 283 00:17:57,320 --> 00:17:59,160 in West Virginia for $3 a gallon. 284 00:17:59,470 --> 00:18:02,920 A a farmer cannot create that gallon of milk for $3. 285 00:18:03,300 --> 00:18:06,320 And what happens is the government, through, through subsidies and, and, 286 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:09,080 and different programs, which are good programs, they keep the, 287 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:12,920 the price of milk low. So your, your average family are, 288 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:16,840 are getting basically the nutrients and, and, and things they need. Um, 289 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:21,160 and we just talked about everything going up from wheat eggs. Do you know, 290 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:23,840 something that hasn't went up is a price of milk. And, uh, 291 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:28,280 I still get a Lancaster farmer and a farm and dairy. But what's upsetting, um, 292 00:18:29,460 --> 00:18:32,940 milks, milks still right around 20, $22 a hundred weight. Now, 293 00:18:32,940 --> 00:18:36,060 these forms are getting some subsidies from, from the government, um, 294 00:18:36,060 --> 00:18:40,780 but there's a negative side on the, with the subsidies, um, for one. And, um, 295 00:18:40,780 --> 00:18:42,580 let me tell you about my personal experience. 296 00:18:42,670 --> 00:18:47,550 My wife and I milk counts for about 15 years. Um, at the, at the height of the, 297 00:18:47,550 --> 00:18:48,990 of or dairy operation, 298 00:18:48,990 --> 00:18:53,550 we were milking about 65 head of Holstein and some Jersey crosses, a couple zis. 299 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:56,110 Um, but when Covid hit milk, 300 00:18:56,110 --> 00:18:59,150 prices dropped all the way down to $13 a hundred weight. Um, 301 00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:01,430 my neighbors at Milk Cows back in the seventies, 302 00:19:01,430 --> 00:19:06,070 that's what they were getting for milk. And, and in the 1970s, we were, 303 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:09,550 we were dependent upon the subsidies each month 304 00:19:11,170 --> 00:19:14,800 to determine whether we were profitable or not, and just, um, um, 305 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:18,080 and I mentioned to you about, um, you know, the, the, the, 306 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:22,880 the pride of being independent was taken away from us. And, um, it, it, um, 307 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:25,600 I went through some hard times, but I come out, you know, 308 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:29,160 stronger and more educated on other end. But my biggest fear with the subsidies, 309 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:31,160 and let, let me, let me end with this point. 310 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:35,010 When our farmers are dependent on them, the subsidies, 311 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:38,770 what happens one day in the future when, when no subsidies aren't there. 312 00:19:38,910 --> 00:19:40,730 And I just think that we're, we're, we're, 313 00:19:40,730 --> 00:19:44,130 we're propping our farmers up for disaster on the other end. Um, I, 314 00:19:44,130 --> 00:19:48,370 I think we need to, um, get our, get our farms profitable and sustainable, 315 00:19:48,370 --> 00:19:51,610 however we do that. But I think, um, you know, I think there's some, 316 00:19:51,610 --> 00:19:54,210 there's some good area leaders. Um, I know ri uh, 317 00:19:54,210 --> 00:19:57,090 when it's shout out to Richard Bird that was on a, um, 318 00:19:57,090 --> 00:20:00,690 radio station here a few weeks ago. Um, and Richard's somebody that, 319 00:20:00,690 --> 00:20:03,730 that understands, uh, I, I would argue more than anybody, 320 00:20:03,830 --> 00:20:08,130 the bigger picture and, and issues that are going on. Um, you know, one thing, 321 00:20:08,140 --> 00:20:12,170 uh, rich stated was, um, first time in American history, 322 00:20:12,410 --> 00:20:16,290 south America's exporting more, more soybeans than the United States is. And, 323 00:20:16,290 --> 00:20:19,930 and if you think about that, these other countries are surpassing us, it's, 324 00:20:19,930 --> 00:20:21,730 it's alarming. And, and, um, the, 325 00:20:21,730 --> 00:20:26,130 there's no reason why the United States shouldn't be number one in ag in, in, 326 00:20:26,130 --> 00:20:28,210 at, at the global market. And I just, um, 327 00:20:28,210 --> 00:20:33,010 but we can't do that if we continue destroy over 2000 acres of, 328 00:20:33,010 --> 00:20:36,650 of prime farmland each day. And I'm, and I'm, um, again, 329 00:20:36,650 --> 00:20:41,500 I drew drew a line in the sand and that, 330 00:20:41,500 --> 00:20:45,750 that land in SpringHill Township, we need to preserve that. Um, 331 00:20:45,750 --> 00:20:48,400 and I even have people that are, are willing to, to, uh, 332 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:52,920 purchase that property back from Fay Penn and to preserve that farm land. And, 333 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:56,800 and, um, you know, God only made that land one time so. 334 00:20:57,390 --> 00:20:59,320 Well, and, and we were talking milk. 335 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:02,600 And that is so important for our entire population. The, uh, 336 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:07,360 most recent census data says that 69% of US adults 337 00:21:07,360 --> 00:21:11,240 drink, uh, milk most frequently, um, 338 00:21:11,370 --> 00:21:16,360 15% of Americans drink alternative kind of milks. 339 00:21:16,360 --> 00:21:21,120 And, uh, we will save this topic for another point in time. But, uh, you know, 340 00:21:21,120 --> 00:21:25,680 when I was in the legislature, I always thought that it was important for, um, 341 00:21:25,820 --> 00:21:29,640 our actual milk that comes from cows to be called milk. 342 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:34,240 And I would really like to see a reclassification of things like, uh, 343 00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:37,920 almond milk or soy milk, um, because in my book, 344 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:41,800 those aren't really milk products. Um, but, uh, 345 00:21:41,820 --> 00:21:45,560 but that's a discussion for another day. We have to get our first break in to, 346 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:46,340 uh, today. 347 00:21:46,340 --> 00:21:50,640 But I did wanna make the announcement that if you are a candidate for any public 348 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:54,000 office, whether you be a Democrat or a Republican, 349 00:21:54,430 --> 00:21:58,680 I invite you to email me at info coordinated three 350 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:00,440 sixty.com. 351 00:22:00,580 --> 00:22:05,360 You can also find that information by visiting my website@matthewddowling.com, 352 00:22:05,740 --> 00:22:09,840 and let me know you'd like to come on the program because in the next, uh, 353 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:13,640 month or so, we wanna share as many of our candidates, uh, 354 00:22:13,710 --> 00:22:18,480 opinions and background with the voters at large throughout Fayette County. So, 355 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:22,880 again, shoot me an email or let me know you'd like to come on the program and, 356 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:23,920 uh, and we'll get you on. 357 00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:27,400 But we are onto our first break here today on commonalities. 358 00:22:30,460 --> 00:22:35,040 You are listening to commonalities where guests find common ground through 359 00:22:35,360 --> 00:22:36,600 uncommon conversations. 360 00:22:37,120 --> 00:22:40,560 We'll be back after this brief break to recognize our sponsors. 361 00:22:47,220 --> 00:22:48,400 Hey, Fayette County, 362 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:51,600 ready to give a helping hand and have a lot of fun in the process. 363 00:22:51,870 --> 00:22:55,280 Then come out to the Uniontown Senior Center on Saturday, 364 00:22:55,280 --> 00:23:00,280 March 25th from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM for a Pirogi making party, 365 00:23:00,510 --> 00:23:03,720 hosted by me, Matt Dowling, and my wife Rebecca. 366 00:23:04,010 --> 00:23:07,200 As we make enough to feed 200 of our local seniors, 367 00:23:07,420 --> 00:23:12,400 get all the details at www.matthewddowling.com. 368 00:23:13,910 --> 00:23:16,770 I'm Melinda de LaRose. As an Assistant District attorney, 369 00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:20,810 I've protected Fayette County families and fought to uphold our constitutional 370 00:23:20,810 --> 00:23:23,610 rights. As a prosecutor and trusted local attorney, 371 00:23:23,610 --> 00:23:27,450 I've provided victims of crime with a strong voice and put criminals behind 372 00:23:27,450 --> 00:23:31,050 bars. My pledge to you as Judge is to follow the law, 373 00:23:31,050 --> 00:23:33,370 always maintain the highest ethical standards, 374 00:23:33,370 --> 00:23:37,730 and to run a courtroom that's respectful of your time and tax dollars. 375 00:23:38,030 --> 00:23:41,570 I'm Melinda de LaRose asking for your vote for Judge paid. 376 00:23:41,570 --> 00:23:43,210 For by Friends of Melinda de LaRose. 377 00:23:43,620 --> 00:23:43,970 Is. 378 00:23:43,970 --> 00:23:48,960 Your business using analog strategies in a digital marketing world? If so, 379 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:53,720 then contact Matthew or Rebecca Dowling at Coordinated 360 for a 380 00:23:53,720 --> 00:23:57,720 professional consultation where we bring in-depth knowledge and functional 381 00:23:57,720 --> 00:23:59,600 expertise with a holistic perspective. 382 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:05,200 Coordinated 360 provides digital marketing, paid ad and media buying services, 383 00:24:05,260 --> 00:24:10,160 web design, social media management, video production, and more for businesses, 384 00:24:10,180 --> 00:24:14,680 organizations, and political campaigns with decades of experience. 385 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:19,320 Matt and Becky at Coordinated 360 can help you craft your unique message 386 00:24:19,500 --> 00:24:20,880 and share it with the world. 387 00:24:21,060 --> 00:24:24,600 For a no risk media evaluation and recommendations, 388 00:24:24,870 --> 00:24:28,880 call 7 2 4 3 2 0 22 12, 389 00:24:29,170 --> 00:24:31,200 or visit us online at 390 00:24:31,820 --> 00:24:36,680 www.coordinatedthreesixty.com. 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Again, 397 00:24:58,960 --> 00:25:02,880 that is donate.commonalities.online on the worldwide web. 398 00:25:03,140 --> 00:25:07,920 Buy our host a cup of coffee or help pay for airtime at donate dot commonalities 399 00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:08,753 online. 400 00:25:12,190 --> 00:25:14,160 When it comes to buying a home, 401 00:25:14,550 --> 00:25:17,600 what you see isn't exactly what you get. 402 00:25:17,990 --> 00:25:22,280 That's why home buyers should call Dave Dowling at Grandview 403 00:25:22,280 --> 00:25:23,480 Inspections at 404 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:27,360 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 405 00:25:27,710 --> 00:25:30,920 You'll see colorful flowers, freshly painted walls, 406 00:25:31,210 --> 00:25:35,480 granite countertops, gleaming hardwood floors, and other touches. 407 00:25:35,830 --> 00:25:39,720 What you can't see is the cracks, ancient plumbing, 408 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:41,240 dangerous wiring, 409 00:25:41,570 --> 00:25:46,520 or broken appliances that might be revealed when you hire a 410 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:50,200 home inspector. And when it comes to home inspectors, 411 00:25:50,330 --> 00:25:54,520 knowing yours has the qualifications and experience needed, 412 00:25:54,630 --> 00:25:56,760 should be your number one concern. 413 00:25:57,190 --> 00:26:01,840 Dave Dowling with Grandview Inspections is an architectural engineer 414 00:26:01,910 --> 00:26:06,560 with over 30 years of commercial construction experience and hundreds 415 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:08,520 of inspections under his belt. 416 00:26:09,390 --> 00:26:14,280 A home inspection is an opportunity for you to hire an expert to walk 417 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:19,240 through the home and prepare a report outlining the home's major components. 418 00:26:19,430 --> 00:26:24,360 What needs immediate attention and what will require maintenance after you move 419 00:26:24,360 --> 00:26:27,840 in your home is one of your biggest investments. 420 00:26:28,050 --> 00:26:32,040 So make sure your investment is everything you hoped it to be. 421 00:26:32,310 --> 00:26:35,920 Call Dave Dowling at Grandview Inspections at 422 00:26:35,920 --> 00:26:39,600 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 423 00:26:48,820 --> 00:26:53,360 You are listening to commonalities where guests find common ground through 424 00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:54,920 uncommon conversations. 425 00:26:57,390 --> 00:27:01,040 Well, thanks for sticking with us on commonalities. I'm your host Matt Dowling, 426 00:27:01,040 --> 00:27:05,480 and my guest today is, uh, Robert Jean Grimmy goes by Jean, uh, 427 00:27:05,720 --> 00:27:10,680 township supervisor down in the southernmost corner of Fayette 428 00:27:10,680 --> 00:27:15,480 County currently, but he's recently thrown his name in the ring, uh, 429 00:27:15,730 --> 00:27:19,800 to run for township supervisor. And we, uh, 430 00:27:19,800 --> 00:27:23,320 talked a little bit about his background as well as the background of Spring 431 00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:27,720 Hill Township. Uh, the fact that that's a, an agrarian, uh, 432 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:31,720 kind of community down there, and the fact that he is, uh, 433 00:27:31,830 --> 00:27:36,120 very interested in preserving their current way of life, their, uh, 434 00:27:36,120 --> 00:27:40,800 conservative values, as well as, uh, preserving the farmland there. Gene, 435 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:43,080 I'm gonna ask you a question that, uh, 436 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:47,800 is based in solution focused therapy. Uh, 437 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:51,600 and, and it may sound like a strange question, but you know, 438 00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:56,440 sometimes when we set goals for ourselves, it can be very challenging to, 439 00:27:56,440 --> 00:28:01,120 uh, envision a world that's completely without problems. Uh, 440 00:28:01,170 --> 00:28:05,840 so my question to you is, uh, is what they refer to as the magic wand question, 441 00:28:06,140 --> 00:28:09,920 and that is, uh, if you went to sleep tonight and, uh, 442 00:28:09,920 --> 00:28:12,960 all of your problems were solved when you woke up tomorrow, 443 00:28:13,390 --> 00:28:17,920 what would the world look like? And and I ask that because, uh, 444 00:28:18,290 --> 00:28:22,600 as a county commissioner, you will have to be that magic wand to, uh, 445 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:26,880 to a good night, uh, a good number of people. So what would the world look like, 446 00:28:27,010 --> 00:28:29,840 uh, if all the problems of Fayette County were solved? 447 00:28:31,230 --> 00:28:32,800 What? Well, I'll tell you what, um, 448 00:28:35,720 --> 00:28:38,540 you know, and that's hard to envision. I, I've, uh, um, 449 00:28:38,570 --> 00:28:42,140 just over the last few years, and especially through through farming, I, um, 450 00:28:42,240 --> 00:28:45,700 you know, I, i, uh, faced many challenges and, uh, and, 451 00:28:45,700 --> 00:28:48,220 and when I talk about challenges, um, these, these were, 452 00:28:48,420 --> 00:28:52,900 these were challenges just to pay the bills each month. So, uh, I, 453 00:28:52,900 --> 00:28:57,160 I would start right there and say, you know, it, it, um, it would be nice for, 454 00:28:57,160 --> 00:29:00,080 for all residents in Fay County, um, 455 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:03,800 not to have to stretch those paychecks to be able to go to the grocery store 456 00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:08,600 and, and, and not have to pick a, a product up and say, well, maybe next time, 457 00:29:08,610 --> 00:29:13,280 or, or, or have your young kids want a bag of candy and say, uh, 458 00:29:13,410 --> 00:29:18,080 no, uh, we're gonna get a cheeseburger on the way home. So, um, um, 459 00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:20,840 I would start right there and say, you know, it'd be nice if, if, uh, 460 00:29:21,210 --> 00:29:24,720 if people had the, the paychecks to provide for their family, like, 461 00:29:24,720 --> 00:29:29,220 like they should have, um, you know, and, and jobs. Um, 462 00:29:30,320 --> 00:29:34,620 you know, I know, I know people that wake up early every day and, and they, 463 00:29:34,620 --> 00:29:39,140 they put in their eight hours, 10 hours, a lot of folks work a second job. And, 464 00:29:39,140 --> 00:29:41,720 um, and again, at the end of the month, they, they, 465 00:29:41,720 --> 00:29:44,640 there's still always one bill that they can't pay, whether it's a, 466 00:29:44,750 --> 00:29:49,320 a water electric. Um, so, uh, I would start there with just, just jobs, 467 00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:53,680 you know, uh, creating good decent jobs for folks that, 468 00:29:53,680 --> 00:29:56,560 that they can raise their family and, and provide their, their family. 469 00:29:56,590 --> 00:30:01,400 Like they should be able to, um, wanna talk about, 470 00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:06,100 um, our tech schools and opportunities at our tech schools. When, when, 471 00:30:06,100 --> 00:30:10,260 um, I graduated, um, early 2000, um, 472 00:30:10,260 --> 00:30:13,180 2001 actually. Um, and, and I, and I wanted to, 473 00:30:13,180 --> 00:30:17,420 to go to a tech school and take diesel mechanics or welding, and, but back then, 474 00:30:17,420 --> 00:30:21,180 I, I had teachers that kind of said, well, uh, you know, this is gonna, 475 00:30:21,180 --> 00:30:25,860 this is gonna, um, cut off avenues and roads if you want to go on a school. 476 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:30,740 And, and looking back now, that wasn't true. Um, I, I regret taking, uh, 477 00:30:30,740 --> 00:30:34,020 advantage of the opportunities that our tech schools provide. So I, 478 00:30:34,020 --> 00:30:37,380 I think that, um, we need to do more, uh, for, 479 00:30:37,380 --> 00:30:40,900 for tech schools and that there's great opportunities out there for young 480 00:30:41,180 --> 00:30:44,020 individuals that, that want to go for autobody and, 481 00:30:44,020 --> 00:30:47,300 and welding or diesel mechanics. And, and, and I would tell her, 482 00:30:47,300 --> 00:30:50,750 use this just because you go to a tech school and you attend that, 483 00:30:50,860 --> 00:30:54,030 that you're not, you're not thrown in your hand and saying, okay, 484 00:30:54,170 --> 00:30:57,390 I'm gonna be a diesel mechanic or a welder for the rest of my life. But, 485 00:30:57,390 --> 00:30:58,830 but I'll tell you this, you, you're, 486 00:30:58,830 --> 00:31:02,860 you're gonna get taught a trade that you'll have for the rest of your life. And, 487 00:31:02,860 --> 00:31:07,500 you know, may maybe, um, maybe down the road you get laid off from a job or, or, 488 00:31:07,510 --> 00:31:12,340 or you have an opportunity to do some side work or something. So, um, um, 489 00:31:12,370 --> 00:31:16,420 I didn't attend tech school, but right after high school, I went to a, um, 490 00:31:16,420 --> 00:31:19,260 three month, three month horseshoeing school. I'm a certified farrier. 491 00:31:19,610 --> 00:31:24,140 I have used, uh, shoe and horses throughout my whole life and many a times, um, 492 00:31:24,140 --> 00:31:28,460 between paychecks or if I got a low milk check, I, I always kept a, a list of, 493 00:31:28,460 --> 00:31:32,540 of people that had horses. And I, and I fell back on that, um, 494 00:31:33,540 --> 00:31:35,340 training that I, that I, that I got that, 495 00:31:35,340 --> 00:31:38,100 that I found out later in life that was so valuable. Um, 496 00:31:38,100 --> 00:31:40,340 and I used that I could, I could at the spur of a, 497 00:31:40,340 --> 00:31:44,020 the moment I could call a half a dozen people and I could go make a couple 498 00:31:44,020 --> 00:31:48,620 hundred dollars. So I, um, um, our tech schools, I think there needs to be, 499 00:31:48,790 --> 00:31:53,140 um, again, through, through tools and thinking outside the box, 500 00:31:53,590 --> 00:31:55,620 um, we need to give our tech schools and our, 501 00:31:55,620 --> 00:31:58,340 our leaders that are running these tech schools, all, all the, 502 00:31:58,340 --> 00:32:03,300 everything they need, whether it's funding or, um, even bringing in, 503 00:32:03,640 --> 00:32:07,620 you know, you know, some outside to, to think outside of the box and, 504 00:32:07,620 --> 00:32:09,060 and do that sort of thing. 505 00:32:09,060 --> 00:32:09,820 You know, and I, 506 00:32:09,820 --> 00:32:14,380 and I think a big piece of that is just de-stigmatizing what a tech school is. 507 00:32:14,380 --> 00:32:16,860 And, and you mentioned the fact that, you know, 508 00:32:16,860 --> 00:32:19,700 you were kind of steered away from that. Um, you know, 509 00:32:19,700 --> 00:32:23,300 we say this partially in jest, but my wife and I talk all the time and say that, 510 00:32:23,300 --> 00:32:24,500 uh, our boys, 511 00:32:24,740 --> 00:32:28,540 I have a nine year old and a 10 year old can do anything they want to do as long 512 00:32:28,540 --> 00:32:29,460 as it is, uh, 513 00:32:29,700 --> 00:32:34,340 becoming a plumber or an electrician because we just don't have enough of, uh, 514 00:32:34,430 --> 00:32:36,380 of those people in the skilled trades. 515 00:32:36,380 --> 00:32:40,520 And that tech school is a great place to start. And, uh, as a, 516 00:32:40,520 --> 00:32:42,960 as a conservative like yourself, uh, 517 00:32:42,960 --> 00:32:47,840 I was never a big fan of the public sector unions, uh, that exist out there, 518 00:32:47,840 --> 00:32:52,040 but some of those private sector trade unions are a great way that someone 519 00:32:52,040 --> 00:32:54,120 coming out of the tech school can get a, 520 00:32:54,470 --> 00:32:58,800 a trade job with a union and then get up trained from that point in time 521 00:32:59,170 --> 00:33:02,080 to learn even more in their background. So I, you know, 522 00:33:02,080 --> 00:33:04,360 I completely agree with you that, uh, 523 00:33:04,360 --> 00:33:09,120 that our tech schools are a resource that we should be steering even more of 524 00:33:09,120 --> 00:33:13,800 our, our students, uh, to, because, uh, really they can, 525 00:33:13,800 --> 00:33:17,240 they can build a life and a career, uh, directly from there. 526 00:33:17,500 --> 00:33:21,560 And Matt, these are, these are, these are jobs that are paying 30, 527 00:33:21,560 --> 00:33:25,320 $35 an hour, and I mean, there's, there's a need and, and, uh, you, um, 528 00:33:25,320 --> 00:33:29,760 and I see it even at a township level that, um, um, we upgraded our, uh, 529 00:33:30,040 --> 00:33:33,360 electrical system, um, at the, at the township building. 530 00:33:33,730 --> 00:33:36,760 We couldn't get somebody. Now we called around and then, and then, um, 531 00:33:36,760 --> 00:33:41,240 finally we had, uh, a local company here, all, all American Electric, Kurt, um, 532 00:33:41,240 --> 00:33:43,040 they come in, but, um, they, and, and, 533 00:33:43,040 --> 00:33:46,800 and Kurt even told me he can't get enough guys, and, and, 534 00:33:46,800 --> 00:33:49,920 and he's turning down jobs. So there's, there's a, 535 00:33:49,920 --> 00:33:54,640 there's a need for these jobs. Um, and you just said, you know, plumbing, 536 00:33:55,120 --> 00:33:59,400 electrical, um, and again, these are good paying jobs where, um, and you know, 537 00:33:59,400 --> 00:34:02,080 in nursing, we, we could get into the nursing programs. 538 00:34:02,080 --> 00:34:05,360 There's a shortage of nurses. My mother, uh, is a lifelong nurse, 539 00:34:05,360 --> 00:34:09,720 still still a nurse to this day. She runs a care facility in, uh, West Virginia. 540 00:34:09,720 --> 00:34:13,800 But, um, you know, my mother worked two jobs. She was a traveling nurse when I, 541 00:34:13,800 --> 00:34:15,640 when I was young growing up. Um, 542 00:34:15,640 --> 00:34:19,520 and then she wor she was a trauma floor nurse at Ruby Memorial, but she, uh, 543 00:34:19,520 --> 00:34:23,040 basically put my father through law school. But, uh, we, we never seen my mom. 544 00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:24,840 She was always working, and then when she was home, 545 00:34:24,980 --> 00:34:29,320 she was resting to get ready to, to, uh, do her, you know, do her other shift. 546 00:34:29,320 --> 00:34:34,000 But, um, so lot of opportunity's already here. Um, it's just, um, 547 00:34:34,360 --> 00:34:38,600 again, uh, we have to do more though. There's a, there's a, and, 548 00:34:38,600 --> 00:34:42,560 and I think that going back to the transparency and just, um, 549 00:34:42,860 --> 00:34:47,320 communication on all levels between the, between the, the county and, 550 00:34:47,320 --> 00:34:50,720 and our schools and our townships. So as a, as a county commissioner, 551 00:34:50,750 --> 00:34:54,640 that's the big thing I would do is just the communication and the transparency. 552 00:34:55,170 --> 00:34:58,800 Uh, but I tell you in SpringHill Township, what we experienced, the, 553 00:34:58,800 --> 00:35:00,480 the lack of transparency in the, 554 00:35:00,640 --> 00:35:04,680 in the backroom deals and finding out about a major project coming into your 555 00:35:04,680 --> 00:35:08,760 township when it, when it, when a deal was already brokered and made, 556 00:35:08,760 --> 00:35:12,960 and not having an opportunity to negotiate something better for my residents, 557 00:35:12,960 --> 00:35:16,600 that tho those days need to end. And I understand, you know, 558 00:35:16,600 --> 00:35:18,680 and a lot of people say, well, well, gene, this is Faye County. 559 00:35:18,710 --> 00:35:21,560 This has been going on. This is how it is. Well, it, 560 00:35:21,650 --> 00:35:24,880 it doesn't have to continue that way. And listen, we got, um, 561 00:35:25,090 --> 00:35:28,400 we got three good commissioners. I'm, I'm not here, uh, to, 562 00:35:28,400 --> 00:35:32,840 to say any ne anything negative about Vince Vati or Scott Dunn or Dave Lure. Uh, 563 00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:35,960 do I think I could do better in some areas? Yes, sir. I wouldn't be running. 564 00:35:37,280 --> 00:35:40,890 Well, uh, we have to get our second break in here, and, uh, 565 00:35:40,890 --> 00:35:44,650 and so we'll go to that, and then we will come back for final thoughts. 566 00:35:47,630 --> 00:35:52,130 You are listening to commonalities where guests find common ground through 567 00:35:52,450 --> 00:35:53,610 uncommon conversations. 568 00:35:54,130 --> 00:35:57,770 We'll be back after this brief break to recognize our sponsors. 569 00:36:04,550 --> 00:36:05,530 Hey, Fayette County, 570 00:36:05,530 --> 00:36:08,730 ready to give a helping hand and have a lot of fun in the process. 571 00:36:09,040 --> 00:36:12,410 Then come out to the Uniontown Senior Center on Saturday, 572 00:36:12,410 --> 00:36:16,810 March 25th from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM for a Pirogi making 573 00:36:17,050 --> 00:36:20,930 party, hosted by me, Matt Dowling, and my wife Rebecca, 574 00:36:21,300 --> 00:36:24,570 as we make enough to feed 200 of our local seniors, 575 00:36:24,790 --> 00:36:29,530 get all the details at www.matthewddowling.com. 576 00:36:31,040 --> 00:36:33,820 I'm Melinda de LaRose. As an Assistant District attorney, 577 00:36:33,850 --> 00:36:37,780 I've protected Fayette County families and fought to uphold our constitutional 578 00:36:38,020 --> 00:36:40,820 rights. As a prosecutor and trusted local attorney, 579 00:36:40,820 --> 00:36:44,820 I've provided victims of crime with a strong voice and put criminals behind 580 00:36:44,820 --> 00:36:48,220 bars. My pledge to you as Judge is to follow the law, 581 00:36:48,220 --> 00:36:50,500 always maintain the highest ethical standards, 582 00:36:50,500 --> 00:36:54,740 and to run a courtroom that's respectful of your time and tax dollars. 583 00:36:55,000 --> 00:36:58,020 I'm Melinda de LaRose asking for your vote for Judge. 584 00:36:58,260 --> 00:37:00,420 Paid for by Friends of Melinda Delrose. 585 00:37:00,870 --> 00:37:05,060 Is your business using analog strategies in a digital marketing world? 586 00:37:05,470 --> 00:37:06,140 If so, 587 00:37:06,140 --> 00:37:10,860 then contact Matthew or Rebecca Dowling at Coordinated 360 for a 588 00:37:10,860 --> 00:37:14,780 professional consultation where we bring in-depth knowledge and functional 589 00:37:14,780 --> 00:37:16,660 expertise with a holistic perspective. 590 00:37:17,540 --> 00:37:22,380 Coordinated 360 provides digital marketing, paid ad and media buying services, 591 00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:27,300 web design, social media management, video production, and more for businesses, 592 00:37:27,320 --> 00:37:31,820 organizations, and political campaigns with decades of experience. 593 00:37:31,820 --> 00:37:36,420 Matt and Becky at Coordinated 360 can help you craft your unique message 594 00:37:36,560 --> 00:37:37,940 and share it with the world. 595 00:37:38,160 --> 00:37:41,780 For a no risk media evaluation and recommendations, 596 00:37:42,010 --> 00:37:46,060 call 7 2 4 3 2 0 22 12, 597 00:37:46,350 --> 00:37:48,340 or visit us online at 598 00:37:48,960 --> 00:37:53,820 www.coordinatedthreesixty.com. Find us also on Facebook, 599 00:37:53,820 --> 00:37:55,140 Instagram, and Twitter, 600 00:37:55,430 --> 00:37:59,260 or email info coordinated three sixty.com. 601 00:38:01,840 --> 00:38:03,100 Are you enjoying the program? 602 00:38:03,100 --> 00:38:07,300 You're listening to support commonalities and help keep us on the air by making 603 00:38:07,300 --> 00:38:10,140 a donation of five, 10, or $25, 604 00:38:10,390 --> 00:38:15,380 or any amount you feel comfortable sharing online@donate.commonalities.online. 605 00:38:15,460 --> 00:38:20,020 Again, that is donate.commonalities.online on the worldwide web. 606 00:38:20,480 --> 00:38:25,020 Buy our host a cup of coffee or help pay for airtime at donate dot commonalities 607 00:38:25,020 --> 00:38:25,853 online. 608 00:38:29,330 --> 00:38:31,340 When it comes to buying a home, 609 00:38:31,690 --> 00:38:34,620 what you see isn't exactly what you get. 610 00:38:35,150 --> 00:38:39,560 That's why home buyers should call Dave Dowling at Grandview 611 00:38:39,560 --> 00:38:44,480 Inspections at 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 612 00:38:44,870 --> 00:38:49,800 You'll see colorful flowers, freshly painted walls, granite countertops, 613 00:38:49,990 --> 00:38:52,360 gleaming hardwood floors, and other touches. 614 00:38:52,710 --> 00:38:56,880 What you can't see is the cracks, ancient plumbing, 615 00:38:57,200 --> 00:38:58,440 dangerous wiring, 616 00:38:58,810 --> 00:39:03,640 or broken appliances that might be revealed when you hire a 617 00:39:03,640 --> 00:39:07,320 home inspector. And when it comes to home inspectors, 618 00:39:07,450 --> 00:39:11,520 knowing yours has the qualifications and experience needed, 619 00:39:11,550 --> 00:39:13,640 should be your number one concern. 620 00:39:14,390 --> 00:39:19,080 Dave Dowling with Grand View Inspections is an architectural engineer 621 00:39:19,150 --> 00:39:23,960 with over 30 years of commercial construction experience and hundreds 622 00:39:23,960 --> 00:39:25,680 of inspections under his belt. 623 00:39:26,550 --> 00:39:31,480 A home inspection is an opportunity for you to hire an expert to walk through 624 00:39:31,480 --> 00:39:36,400 the home and prepare a report outlining the home's major components. 625 00:39:36,590 --> 00:39:41,480 What needs immediate attention and what will require maintenance after you 626 00:39:41,480 --> 00:39:44,960 move in your home is one of your biggest investments. 627 00:39:45,210 --> 00:39:49,160 So make sure your investment is everything you hoped it to be. 628 00:39:49,430 --> 00:39:52,840 Call Dave Dowling at Grandview Inspections at 629 00:39:52,840 --> 00:39:56,840 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 630 00:40:05,420 --> 00:40:10,070 You're listening to commonalities where guests find common ground through 631 00:40:10,430 --> 00:40:11,630 uncommon Conversations. 632 00:40:13,760 --> 00:40:18,070 Hi, I am your host, Matt Dowling. And I'm aci, uh, beside our guest for today, 633 00:40:18,460 --> 00:40:21,750 Jean Grim. And Jean, uh, back in January, 634 00:40:22,020 --> 00:40:26,310 I wrote a letter to the editor that was, uh, published, and, uh, 635 00:40:26,310 --> 00:40:28,710 one of the things that touched on was, uh, 636 00:40:28,710 --> 00:40:32,550 a fact from the Pew Institute that said, uh, 637 00:40:32,620 --> 00:40:35,030 that Americans, uh, 638 00:40:35,410 --> 00:40:40,110 say political leaders expressed their faith too little by 639 00:40:40,110 --> 00:40:44,750 37% rather than too much by 29%, 640 00:40:44,790 --> 00:40:46,230 which means that, uh, 641 00:40:46,230 --> 00:40:50,510 the average voter out there wants to know about your, uh, 642 00:40:50,860 --> 00:40:55,630 your faith background. So I wanted to close out the program and, uh, 643 00:40:55,630 --> 00:40:58,190 and let you talk a little bit about, uh, 644 00:40:58,190 --> 00:41:02,430 your faith and maybe what church you belong to and things of that nature. 645 00:41:02,780 --> 00:41:06,510 Yeah, that, um, um, the, the church, my, uh, 646 00:41:06,510 --> 00:41:10,710 family's currently going to is the Point, Marian Church of Christ, pastor, uh, 647 00:41:10,710 --> 00:41:14,910 Rick Semanski. And, um, I, uh, I'm, now, I'll be honest, um, 648 00:41:14,910 --> 00:41:18,570 I wasn't always a, a church goer. Um, um, 649 00:41:18,570 --> 00:41:22,250 especially when my wife and I, we milk cows for about 15 years, uh, 650 00:41:22,490 --> 00:41:25,930 Sunday mornings. Uh, and, and Matt, you know, when, when you milk cows, 651 00:41:25,930 --> 00:41:30,930 it's 365 days a year, twice a day. So, um, um, especially when, um, 652 00:41:30,960 --> 00:41:34,040 seem, it just seemed like we were always trying to catch up or always behind. 653 00:41:34,490 --> 00:41:38,560 Um, it, it wasn't until after we decided to sell the cows that, uh, 654 00:41:38,560 --> 00:41:42,600 we started going to church. Um, it, but I can tell you this, it's, it's, um, I, 655 00:41:42,600 --> 00:41:45,800 I wouldn't be who I am today and where I'm, where I'm at, 656 00:41:45,800 --> 00:41:50,480 if it wasn't for my church family and Pastor Rich. Um, um, I have, I have, 657 00:41:51,500 --> 00:41:56,440 let me step back for a minute. Um, my wife's name's Amy. Um, 658 00:41:56,600 --> 00:42:00,640 she's been beside me, you know, since we were married. And, um, she, 659 00:42:00,640 --> 00:42:03,720 she gave me a little bit of heck when I decided to throw my hat in the ring for 660 00:42:03,720 --> 00:42:06,480 county commissioner, but she's, she's behind me now. I wouldn't, 661 00:42:06,480 --> 00:42:11,000 wouldn't have decided to run, but, uh, three kids, Ethan, Katie, and Eli, 662 00:42:11,250 --> 00:42:16,120 um, my daughter, Katie, every Sunday morning is up bright and early, uh, 663 00:42:16,120 --> 00:42:19,960 sound, sound an alarm that everybody get up and go to church. Um, 664 00:42:20,890 --> 00:42:22,600 through the rough times of my life, 665 00:42:22,600 --> 00:42:26,400 and especially when we threw the town with the, um, with the cows, one of the, 666 00:42:26,400 --> 00:42:29,920 one of the hardest things I've ever went to, you know, went through a, 667 00:42:29,920 --> 00:42:32,800 as a father and, and, um, even, you know, 668 00:42:32,800 --> 00:42:35,800 closing a business that we were so near and dear, um, 669 00:42:35,800 --> 00:42:39,920 the church family was there for me, um, through those hard times. So, uh, 670 00:42:39,920 --> 00:42:44,000 give a shout out to, again, point Marin Church of Christ, and, um, 671 00:42:45,310 --> 00:42:49,280 very, very well, you know, we look forward to going to church every Sunday. Um, 672 00:42:50,190 --> 00:42:52,010 and, and with that there, so. 673 00:42:52,200 --> 00:42:54,690 Well, uh, the last thing I wanna ask you, Jean, 674 00:42:54,700 --> 00:42:59,650 is if someone wants to get involved with your campaign, how can they do so? 675 00:42:59,650 --> 00:43:02,730 How can they get ahold of you? Um, things of that nature. 676 00:43:02,790 --> 00:43:06,330 Yep. Um, I, there's a, um, there's a webpage right now, uh, 677 00:43:06,330 --> 00:43:08,970 Robert Jean Grim for County Commissioner. Uh, there's, 678 00:43:08,970 --> 00:43:11,810 there's gonna be some more activity on that page. So aside, uh, 679 00:43:11,810 --> 00:43:16,450 people that are on, uh, social media, you know, look up my page. Um, 680 00:43:17,350 --> 00:43:21,810 I'm gonna be running a grassroots campaign, um, and, and you'll probably see me, 681 00:43:21,810 --> 00:43:25,970 I, I, um, I got a great big, beautiful buckskin horse, a Tennessee walker. 682 00:43:26,230 --> 00:43:28,090 I'm gonna be out campaigning on my horse, 683 00:43:28,420 --> 00:43:32,050 so if you see a guy with a cowboy hat on and, and you're town, uh, 684 00:43:32,050 --> 00:43:34,970 gimme a shout out or come up and introduce you. You know, I, 685 00:43:34,970 --> 00:43:38,930 I'll let you meet my horse. Um, um, also, um, 686 00:43:40,300 --> 00:43:43,360 you know, through events, if, um, we're gonna be throwing an event probably, uh, 687 00:43:43,360 --> 00:43:46,560 next month sometime, uh, probably at a fire hall. Uh, 688 00:43:46,710 --> 00:43:50,920 love to meet as many people as I can and, and, um, um, you know, 689 00:43:50,920 --> 00:43:52,600 and even call me, you know, call me on the phone. 690 00:43:52,600 --> 00:43:55,960 I don't wanna give my my personal cell phone out this early, but, uh, my, 691 00:43:56,160 --> 00:43:59,840 my phone is always open, uh, you know, for folks that wanna call. 692 00:44:00,390 --> 00:44:03,920 Well, gene, we wanna thank you so much for being on the program here today. 693 00:44:03,920 --> 00:44:04,690 Again, 694 00:44:04,690 --> 00:44:08,880 if you're running for public office in Fayette County or within the Commonwealth 695 00:44:08,880 --> 00:44:12,600 of Pennsylvania, uh, and you would like a chance to, uh, 696 00:44:12,690 --> 00:44:17,080 to come on my program where we can share your thoughts and opinions with the 697 00:44:17,080 --> 00:44:20,640 voters, uh, please reach out. Visit my website, 698 00:44:20,640 --> 00:44:22,560 matthew d dowling.com, 699 00:44:22,900 --> 00:44:27,840 and shoot me an email at info coordinated three sixty.com and we'll 700 00:44:27,840 --> 00:44:29,080 get you lined up to be on the program. 701 00:44:29,080 --> 00:44:32,120 1, 1, 1 Last thing, Matt. What, uh, when, when are, are we making these PGIs? 702 00:44:32,120 --> 00:44:33,560 We're excited about these pierogis. 703 00:44:33,560 --> 00:44:37,960 So March 25th, I know you've heard a couple pro mos during this episode, but, 704 00:44:37,960 --> 00:44:41,400 uh, come out and, uh, and help us at the Uniontown Sea Center. 705 00:44:41,710 --> 00:44:44,640 This is all for today's episode of Common Analysis. 706 00:44:45,430 --> 00:44:47,400 This has been commonalities, 707 00:44:47,670 --> 00:44:52,120 a show where guests find common ground through uncommon conversations. 708 00:44:52,200 --> 00:44:54,960 Copyright 2022 Coordinated 360. 709 00:44:55,180 --> 00:44:58,720 All public rebroadcast should be done with prior written approval from Matthew 710 00:44:58,720 --> 00:45:03,600 Dowling. All requests should be sent to info@coordinatedthreesixty.com. 711 00:45:03,600 --> 00:45:05,920 Thank you for listening to commonalities.
14Mar, 2023
