News Benton County Supervisor Candidate Profile: Rick Primmer

I am Richard A (Rick) Primmer, born and raised in Vinton. I attended UNI and Kirkwood, obtaining a degree in retail marketing and management.

I have been married to Pamela Beth Travis for 40 years. We have three children: Tom, Jim and Julie. We are blessed to have seven grandchildren.

I have been self-employed for 39 years. In 1989, Pamela and I purchased my family's trucking business, a regional trucking company which we continue to own and operate today.

In 2001, Pamela and I started P.A.M.S. Inc., a mini-storage business. We started with 14 units, and now have 340 units in Vinton, Urbana and Center Point. We have a couple of rental houses and a 4-plex in Vinton. We also own and operate apartments, warehouse space and climate-controlled storage in Urbana and Center Point.

Besides my self-employment experience, I have served on the Vinton City Council. For 20 years I was on the advisor council for Hawkeye Community College. I was the night manager and an EMT for the North Benton Ambulance Service. I have been a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church for 37 years, and have served on the church Board of Trustees. I have been involved with ACT 1 of Benton County for the past seven years.

With the natural disasters in Vinton and the surrounding areas have experienced in the last few years, I have had to manage not only our own personal property damage, but our renters' losses, as well, caused by wind or flood. During these natural disasters, I also volunteered many hours and supplied equipment vital to the emergency operation of generators to restore and maintain electrical services for the local hospital, elderly care facilities, businesses and residences of Vinton.

I know how to budget and work with finances. I manage employees with an annual payroll of just under $500,000. I worked with the public on a daily basis, with the mini-storage and rental of our apartments and houses, with the trucking business; I work with people from all over the U.S.

Why do I wish to be a Benton County Supervisor?

I have been asked what it is that I want, or who it is that I want to get rid of. What is wrong with wanting to do my duty, to serve, to do my part? I have always had a strong interest in government. Serving on the city council has given me knowledge of how the government process works. I look forward to the challenges of the role of supervisor; I want to use the experiences I have in order to serve the residents of Benton County.

My many years on the Advisory Council for Hawkeye Community College, the Wesley United Methodist Church Board of Trustees, the ambulance service, fire department show my commitment and the ability to work with others, and that we all must work to be part of a greater good. Having Working for the Vinton Police Department enhanced my personal beliefs in the law, my personal commitment to knowing what is right and wrong, and a true respect for law enforcement personnel.

What has worked well over the past few years is the cooperation between local, county, state and federal agencies. The floods of 2008 and the storm of 2011 devastated all parts of our county. The effort of our current board is very apparent, with the renovation of many facilities as well as the new jail. I intend to continue with the open lines of communication between all of these agencies.

The landfill will be a big topic facing the supervisors: What to do with a landfill that will only have 1/3 of the proposed useful lifespan? Do we incinerate trash, continue to bury it, transport it elsewhere, and how do we finance whatever we decide to do?

Another area is the economic development of our county.

Over the past few years we have seen a decline in businesses within the county, not only industrial but on Main Street as well. How do we help our business community grow? Whether it is an existing business wishing to expand or a fresh start-up, how can the county help?

Of course, there is the ever-present concern of how we keep county-funded programs and services available and thriving without raising taxes; this will always be a challenge.

It is my intention to keep the lines of communication open between the residents of Benton County and the governing bodies of the local, county state and federal government. I intend to seek out whatever avenues possible to promote as well as preserve the quality of life that we have within our county.

I feel that my business background throughout the past 39 years will be a great asset as a Benton County supervisor. Being a supervisor will require many hours of meetings both for the county government as well as boards that I would be part of. I am truly ready to make such a commitment to the people of Benton County.