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Taxes and the prospects for teamwork with Iowa Central Community College were discussed Wednesday evening by the people running for Fort Dodge mayor and City Council.

Richard Higgins, who's running for council in the 3rd Ward, declared early in a lengthy forum that the city's taxes are ''way out of line.''

Later in the session, Andy Fritz, who's running for an at-large seat on the council, said he would like to see more retail businesses in the area around Iowa Central Community College.

They were among 11 candidates who offered their views during a forum sponsored by the Fort Dodge Area Landlords Association that began at 7 p.m. and continued past 9 p.m. About 20 people attended the event in The Cellar Restaurant and Lounge at the intersection of Kenyon Road and Fifth Avenue South.

The candidates on hand included Councilman Matt Bemrich and Councilwoman Cindy Litwiller, who are running for mayor; and council candidates Fritz; Eugene Newsome (at-large); Dennis O'Farrell (at-large), Robert ''Barney'' Patterson (at-large), Councilman Don Wilson (2nd Ward), Rita Carlson (2nd Ward), Higgins (3rd Ward), Tom Hemann (4th Ward) and Kelly Hindman (4th Ward).

Margy Halverson-Collins, who is seeking the 3rd Ward seat, wasn't there.

Councilman Curt Olson, who's unopposed for re-election in the 1st Ward, also was absent.

Late in the session, Mayor Terry Lutz, who isn't seeking re-election, asked the candidates for a yes or no answer to three questions.

His three questions were:

- Will you continue funding economic development?

- Will you continue to push hard for downtown redevelopment?

- Will you continue to push hard on the corridor improvement project?

Higgins answered no to all three questions. He was the only candidate to do so.

Wilson said he would continue economic development funding. He said he wasn't sure what he would do regarding downtown, and said he would not continue to push hard on the corridor project.

All of the other candidates said yes to all three, although Patterson said those issues can't really be covered in simple yes or no answers.

With regard to taxation, Bemrich said that decisions on that have already been made on major projects like the aquatic center now under construction will cause taxes to go up.

''We will be adding taxes to it,'' he said.

O'Farrell said he would like leaders of the city, Webster County and Iowa Central Community College to meet quarterly to ''talk about mutual perceived issues.''

Other candidates also had ideas on how the city and the college can work together.

Hindman suggested that some college classes be relocated downtown. he added that Iowa central would have a ''vast interest'' in any future recreation center in the community.

Wilson said he's interested in the possibility of building college dormitories downtown.

Creating recreational activities for young people has been a theme of Newsome's campaign. He said Wednesday he'd like to see a roller rink established in Fort Dodge.

Litwiller said if she's elected mayor, she'll pursue the creation of a ''visioning board'' to work with agencies like the Fort Dodge Convention and Visitors Bureau, various economic development agencies and the Fort Dodge Community Foundation and United Way to prevent duplication of services.

Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net