haburton@cfl.rr.com

Alan Burton lives in Ormond Beach with his wife, Lynn. They have one daughter and one son.

Burton works with his son for Allegro Appraisal Group LLC. He has worked in local and special-service districts for more than 25 years, including positions with the City of Orlando as a recreation-bureau chief, and for the City of Ormond Beach as leisure-services director. He also worked for two special park-and-recreation districts in Illinois.

Burton received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Western Illinois University, and attended the University of Illinois Chicago Circle's Master of Administrative Science graduate program.

In addition, he has lectured at Western Illinois University as an executive in residence, and has studied real-estate appraisal for land and wetland valuation.

Burton has served with many Central Florida organizations, including the Eckerd Youth Academy, the Orlando Community and Youth Foundation, the Ormond Beach Art Museum, the Florida Recreation and Park Association, and the Kiwanis Club of Ormond Beach.

He also was elected to serve as the a southern region representative with the National Recreation and Park Association, and participated in developing the Volusia County Natural Resource Master Plan.

Choose whether you agree or disagree on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being "Strongly Agree" and 1 being "Strongly Disagree." Add a 1 sentence comment to clarify your stance with the readers.

Keeping Volusia County farmers profitable is an excellent growth-management tool.

5 — Comment: Conservation is the best kept secret to keep taxes low. More than a 100 studies across the US has proven that conservation in agriculture, parks and open space reduces property taxes and urban sprawl. The best way to a competitive edge is to reduce and/or eliminate taxes on agriculture.

A top priority for the Soil and Water Conservation District should be getting county funding restored.

1 — Comment: The County Council has made a determination. Why waste valuable time to revisit an old issue when other issues can better shape future goals. Time to move forward and think more about individual freedom and liberty and less for the funding of a government agency(s).

More tax credits and less regulation are the best way to help local farmers.

4 — Comment: Tax credits can be good. However, all Volusia County Property Owners including but not limited to agriculture should be able to receive a PROPERTY TAX COLLATERIZATION, a PTC for a 10 year period. PTC's would allow any property owner to collateralize a loan on 10 years of taxes for any Conservation project. Less regulation and more research & development on good economic principles.

The Soil and Water Conservation District can do more to educate people about conservation.

5 — Comment: Why not have demonstration projects for solar-generated power that can produce water from the humidity in the air? Conservation education is very important and it includes farms, parks, wetlands, marshes, forests, rivers, beaches and lakes as well as the people, livestock and wildlife.

Accomplishment of which you are most proud of: Planned, organized, and implemented the first paramedic service in western Cook County, Illinois.

Public-service goal you have yet to achieve: Establish a Conservation, Park and Recreation Foundation that has an effective endowment.

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