Harrison council candidates outline priorities on zoning, roads and public safety ahead of Nov. 4 election

Harrison City Council candidates and appointed members used a public forum to set out competing visions for the city ahead of the Nov. 4 election, focusing on zoning changes, major road projects and public-safety concerns.

Tanner Dole, who said he was appointed to the council by the Republican Party Central Committee and is running to keep his seat, said his first priority was to "personally meet with each of our directors to get a better understanding of how the city operates on a day to day basis." He urged that Harrison’s updated comprehensive plan and zoning code be used to steer future growth toward "much larger lots with better building materials," and said, "Harrison is no longer a place where high density residential developers will thrive." Dole also cited infrastructure work tied to the Dry Fork Overpass, noting widening projects "going north to the school and portions of Harrison Avenue toward Kilby."

Brad Nose, a challenger, framed the election as a choice between "competency versus complacency" and called for new leadership. He criticized current and former officials over past decisions that he said had harmed families and claimed he had to challenge the city's legal advice in court: "I had to prove in the court of law that the city law director is misinterpreting our zoning laws." Nose also alleged the "illegal authorization of 20 ton dump trucks driving through our school zones," and said such issues indicate the need for different decision-makers. Those allegations were made during his remarks and were not rebutted at the forum.

Kathy Reager, who identified herself as a lawyer and said she is running as an independent, emphasized constituent service and local economic measures. "My office will have a system for residents to send in requests," she said, and proposed requiring a percentage of local companies or materials be used on new construction projects. Reager said she is researching federal and state funding for sidewalks from the junior and senior high to students' homes and is "investigating the possibility of bringing back bus service to the senior high."

Patty Van Cleave, an appointed council member since July 2024 who chairs several local committees, described the council’s work with consultant American Structure Point on a new comprehensive plan, a two-year moratorium on new housing except single-family dwellings, and planned infrastructure projects tied to the Dry Fork Overpass reconstruction scheduled for 2026. Van Cleave said council is evaluating locations and budgeting for a new firehouse and planning community-center upgrades including a splash pad and updated restrooms.

Why it matters: The candidates’ positions will shape local zoning and development policy, spending priorities and public-safety enforcement. The comprehensive-plan update and the moratorium on most new housing could steer what kinds of residential projects are permitted; major road projects tied to the Dry Fork Overpass will affect traffic patterns and school access. Allegations about zoning enforcement and heavy truck traffic, if accurate, would bear on enforcement and legal oversight of city permitting.

The forum did not include any formal votes or staff responses to the allegations raised. Candidates encouraged residents to study their records and vote in the Nov. 4 election; contact details given at the forum included Tanner Dole’s campaign email (tannerd19@gmail.com) and social pages referenced by several candidates.

The council’s next procedural step is the city election on Nov. 4; any formal council actions to implement or change zoning, moratoriums or infrastructure funding would follow the election and standard public-notice processes.