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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995 State of the City AddressSTATE OF THE CITY JANUARY 24, 1995 WE HAVE EXPERIENCED MANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE CITY THIS PAST YEAR. CHANGES THAT MANY PEOPLE DO NOT NOTICE, ONLY THOSE OF US INVOLVED IN CITY GOVERNMENT ARE AWARE OF. WE CONTINUE OUR QUEST TO KEEP TAXES UNDER CONTROL, TO KEEP UTILITY RATES REASONABLE. WE ARE STILL A GOOD BARGAIN BUT WE CAN DO BETTER. CHUBBUCK HAS ALWAYS HAD THE REPUTATION OF RUNNING A "TIGHT "CITY AND WE NEED CONTINUE THAT POLICY. WE HAVE AUTOMATED OUR GARBAGE COLLECTION SYSTEM AND THE RESPONSE SO FAR HAS BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY IN THE POSITIVE. YES, THERE ARE PROBLEMS, THEY WILL BE OVERCOME. WE HAVE DRILLED THREE TEST WELLS IN OUR SEARCH FOR CLEAN WATER. TWO OF THESE WELLS HAVE TESTED EXCEPTIONALLY CLEAN. THE THIRD IS USABLE BUT NOT DESIRABLE. WE HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE ARMY CORP OF ENGINEERS CONCERNING THE NAVAL ORDNANCE PLANT BEING A PRIMARY SOURCE OF OUR WATER CONTAMINATION PROBLEM. WE ARE CONTINUING TO PURSUE THIS SOURCE TO OUR PROBLEM AND WILL KEEP THE CITIZENS INFORMED. IF, AND I SAY, IF THE NAVAL ORDNANCE PLANT IS FOUND TO BE A PRIMARY CAUSE OF OUR CONTAMIN- ATION WE COULD RECEIVE FUNDS TO ASSIST IN CLEANING UP THE CONTAMINATION. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM -- ALREADY APPROPRIATED BY CONGRESS HOWEVER THESE FUNDS COULD BE A TIME IN REACHING THE CITY. IF WE ARE SUCCESS- FUL IN THIS QUEST THESE GRANT FUNDS WILL BE USED TO OFFSET THE COST OF THE BOND WE PRESENTLY PROPOSE AND COULD REDUCE THE LENGTH OF TITS TO REPAY THE BOND DEBT. WE WILL PROCEED TO DRILL A NEW WELL ON HAWTHORNE ROAD. THIS IS THE LOCATION RECOMMENDED AS FIRST CHOICE BY THOSE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO KNOW. WE HAVE EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD WATER AT THIS SITE AND LOTS OF IT. WE ALSO ARE MOVING TO AIR STRIP THE WATER PRODUCED BY THE WELL ON WEST CHUBBUCK ROAD. THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE SURFACED WITH AIR STRIPPING APPEAR NOT TO BE OF SOUND RESEARCH. WE HAVE AL14AYS SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED CLEANING UP THIS WELL IF THE METHOD WOULD NOT INFRINGE UPON THE RESIDENTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT APPEARS FROM ALL INFORMATION WE CAN GATHER THAT AIR STRIPPING CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH VERY LITTLE OFFENSE TO THE NEIGHBORS. I AGAIN SUGGEST TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT WE CHA14GE -THE WATER SCHEDULE WE ARE NOW USING TO A RATE THAT WOULD RETURN THE NEEDED FUNDS TO FINANCE THE WATER SYSTEM AND THE BOND ISSUE WITH A LESS DRASTIC IMPACT TO THE INDIVID- UAL PROPERTY OWNER. THE SUGGESTION THAT WE HAVE HAD A HIGH BASE RATE DURING THE TIME OF LOW CONSUMPTION AND TO MAKE A CHANGE TO A DIFFERENT SCHEDULE WOULD AGAIN COST PROPERTY OWNERS MORE, IS NOT TOTALLY TRUE. WE HAVE BEEN ON THE PRESENT RATE BUT TWO MONTHS. WE HAVE FIVE MONTHS BEFORE WE COME INTO THE HIGH USAGE OF IRRIGATION WATER. IF I WERE CONVINCED THE RATE I SUGGEST WOULD NOT �nF GENERATE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO MEET OUR NEEDS I WOULD NOT PURSUE THIS CHANGE. DO NOT WORRY ABOUT CHANGING A RATE IN TWO MONTHS TIME. IF THE CHANGE IS RIGHT AND HELPS CITIZENS.CHANGE SHOULD BE MADE AT ANY TIME. I URGE YOU TO MAKE THIS CHANGE TONIGHT AND ALLOW JANUARY BILLING TO REFLECT THIS NEW RATE. THE REACTION FROM OUR PEOPLE WILL TELL US IF WE DID THE RIGHT CHANGE. I AGAIN SUGGEST THAT WE REVIEW A RATE FOR SEWAGE DISPOSAL THAT IS BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF WATER ACTUALLY GOING INTO THE SEWER FROM EACH PROPERTY. THIS COULD AGAIN DECREASE SIGNIFICANTLY THE COST OF SEWER TO THOSE WHO ARE ON LOW FIXED INCOMES. IT WOULD PLACE THE SEWER RATE ON A PAY AS YOU USE IT BASIS SIMILAR TO THE WATER RATE I AM SUGGESTING. WE HAVE MOVED TOWARD OUR OWN DISPATCH SYSTEM FOR POLICE, FIRE AND MAINTENANCE. THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED COMPLETELY IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, CONSIDERABLY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. THIS SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE A MUCH BETTER RESPONSE TO CITY NEEDS, NEEDS THAT NEED BE RESPONDED TO IMMEDIATELY. I WOULD SAY HERE THAT FOR ALL GOVERNING ENTITIES IN THE VALLEY TO HAVE SEPARATE DISPATCH IS NOT THE ECONOM- ICAL METHOD. WE SHOULD ALL BE DISPATCHED BY A PRIVATE SYSTEM AND A GREAT SAVING COULD BE EXPECTED. TO AGAIN INFORM EVERYONE - -THIS MOVE TO OUR OWN DISPATCH SYSTEM WAS NOT OF OUR CHOOSING. WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD DISPATCH THROUGH THE COUNTY SHERIFF. LAST SUMMER THE SHERIFF NOTIFIED THE CITY THEY WOULD NOT 2 BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM AS THEIR SYSTEM WAS FULL WITH THE COUNTY NEEDS. THIS CHANGE COST THE CITY OF CHUBBUCK $150,000 APPROXIMATELY. AND THE ONLY SOURCE FOR THESE FUNDS IS PROPERTY TAX. AGAIN TO THE CITIZENS OF CHUBBUCK, BEFORE YOU BECOME TO EXCITED OVER TAX INCREASE AND WATER RATE INCREASE REMEMBER THESE WERE MANDATED COSTS OVER WHICH WE HAD NO CONTROL. THE CITY COUNCIL IS CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROVIDING VARIOUS SERVICES AND THE ONLY WAY TO PROVIDE DISPATCH SERVICE AND CLEAN WATER WAS THROUGH THE INCREASES WE NOW HAVE. REMEMBER ALSO, THAT THE MEMBERS OF THIS CITY COUNCIL PAY THESE INCREASES ALONG WITH EACH OF YOU. THE CHUBBUCK "COPS" PROGRAM CONTINUES TO GROW IN SERVICE. THIS GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE A SERVICE THAT HAS CUT CRIME IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. WE NEED TO EXPAND THIS PROGRAM SO THAT EVENTUALLY THE ENTIRE CITY, RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL, ARE COVERED. AND THIS EXPANSION IS UNDERWAY AT THE PRESENT TIME. ALL AREAS OF THE CITY SHOULD BECOME INVOLVED AND PROVIDE THIS SERVICE TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE IN CHUBBUCK HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN GREAT PRIDE IN THAT WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO OUR CITY AT A LOW COST. WE HAVE DONE AN EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD JOB OF THIS AND ALL DEPARTMENTS ARE TO BE COMMENDED. PERHAPS AT TIMES THE "SHIP" HAS BEEN RUN TO TIGHTLY BUT IT SEEMS WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE THE NEEDED SERVICES. AT THE PRESENT TIME I SEE A TREND TOWARDS EXPANSION THAT THE CITY CANNOT AFFORD. OUR TAX BASE GROWTH IS NOT KEEPING PACE WITH THE GROWTH PROJECTED IN OUR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS. I HAVE RECENTLY NOTIFIED ALL DEPART- MENT HEADS THAT ALL PURCHASES ABOVE $500 WILL BE CLEARED THROUGH STAFF MEETING. THESE WILL BE WRITTEN IN THE MINUTES OF THAT MEETING AND IMMEDIATELY MAILED TO EACH COUNCIL MEMBER. I AM FURTHER REQUESTING ALL DEPARTMENTS TO BUDGET A 20% LOWER BUDGET FOR 1995 THAN 1994. THIS IS GOING TO HURT, I AND THE COUNCIL WILL BE MEETING WITH EACH DEPARTMENT IN THE COMING WEEKS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS REDUCTION. THIS IS GOING TO TAKE MAJOR RESTRUCTURING IN ALL 3 DEPARTMENTS. WE CAN DO IT. THE CITY IS GROWING IN PERSONEL FASTER THAN THE CITY TAX BASE CAN SUPPORT THAT GROWTH. I AM ASSIGNING THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER: ROY QUICK OVER POLICE. STEVE ENGLAND OVER CITY MAINTENANCE. DEAN WOOD TO CONTINUE WITH PARKS AND RECREATION. MARVIN GUNTER AGAIN WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT I WANT EACH COUNCIL MEMBER TO MEET AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH, AND MORE OFTEN IF NEEDED OR DESIRED, WITH FORMAN CONCERNED, LEARN OF THE PROGRAMS THE DEPARTMENT IS INVOLVED IN AND MAKE A REPORT TO THE FULL COUNCIL AT THE 2ND MEETING OF THE MONTH# THIS TO BEGIN IN FEBRUARY. ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS NEED MORE AND BETTER INFORMATION XNABOUT DEPARRTMENT WORK AND GENERALLY WHAT IS TAKING PLACE IN THE CITY. ALL EMPLOYEES WORK AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATION. IT MAY, ON OCCASION, BE NECESSARY TO REASSIGN AN EMPLOYEE TO A POSITION THE ADMINISTRATION FEELS WILL BETTER SERVE CITY NEEDS. WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF DECREASING THE NUMBER OF CITY EMPLOYEES BUT ALSO DO NOT ANTICIPATE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PERMANENT PERSONEL. WE HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT GROWTH THE PAST YEAR. THIS GROWING PATTERN IS BEGINNING TO SHOW SIGNS OF SLOWING. GROWTH WILL CONTINUE BUT NOT AT THE PACE OF THE PAST FEW YEARS. SO AGAIN, A REASON WE MUST LOOK TO STRINGENT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND BECOPE MORE EFFICIENT. WE CAN DO THIS. IF YOU ARE CONCERNED FOR YOUR EMPLOYMENT, THE CHANGES I SUGGEST IN UTILITY RATES AND PROPERTY TAXES, ARE A MUST. ALL ACROSS OUR NATION PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR BETTER UTILIZATION OF TAXPAYER FUNDS. THIS IS TRUE IN OUR CITY. WE MUST MEET THESE DEMANDS. WE FACE PROBLEMS IN AMERICA TODAY THAT HAVE NEVER BEFORE BEEN SO SEEMINGLY OVER- WHELMING AND INSURMONTABLE. BOTH OF OUR POLITICAL PARTIES ARE AWARE OF THIS CHANGE IN THE MOOD OF THE PEOPLE AND WE AT CITY HALL MUST ALSO BE AWARE. STATE FUNDING FOR CITIES ARE UNDER CLOSE SCRUTINY. CITY REVENUE SHARING FROM THE STATE, SALES TAX DISTRIBUTION, HIGHWAY DISTRIBUTION FORMULAS ARE ALL BEING I REVIEWED. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THESE FUNDS TO CITIES WILL BE CUT AND THAT WILL AGAIN RESULT IN "BELT TIGHTENING ". WE ARE AGAIN REVIEWING THE CITY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. HEARINGS ON THIS PLAN WILL BE HELD DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY. DATES WILL BE THE 2nd- -9th -- 16th and 23rd. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE DIRECTION THE CITY IS TO BE MOVING IN THE FUTURE THIS IS THE TIME FOR YOUR INPUT. THESE ARE APUBLIC MEETINGS AND WE ENCOURAGE ALL TO ATTEND. WE HAVE A PROPOSAL FOR AN INTERSTATE ENTRANCE AND EXIT AT CHUBBUCK ROAD. I PERSONALLY DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS THE RIGHT LOCATION FOR THIS CONNECTION. PERHAPS BETTER OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. EAST CHUBBUCK ROAD FROM THE INTERSTATE TO YELLOWSTONE IS SCHEDULED TO BE REBUILT IN 1998. I SUGGEST IT BE A THREE LAND STREET, NOT 5 LANES. A THREE LANE WILL ACCOMADATE THE TRAFFIC AND WILL NOT REQUIRE PRIVATE PROPERTY FOR THE WIDER STREET. IN DUE TIME AND WHEN NEEDED AN INTERCHANGE AT SYPHON ROAD MAKES MUCH MORE SENSE. THE CITIES AND COUNTY CAN CNTROL THE ACCESS TO THE INTERSTATE AND PROVIDE FOR A 5 LANE STREET WITHOUT DISTURBING PRIVATE HOMES. PUBLIC HEARINGS WILL BE HELD IN FEBRUARY ON THE PROPOSED CHUBBUCK PROJECT. THIS IS THE TIME FOR PUBLIC INPUT. WATCH THE PAPER FOR TIMES AND DATES FOR THESE HEARINGS. IN OUR AREA WE ARE IN NEED OF TWO NEW HIGH SCHOOLS. INFORM YOURSELVES OF THIS NEEDED ADDITION TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. DO NOT MAKE STATEMENTS THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW TO BE TRUE. TAKE AN HOUR AND GO THROUGH POCATELLO HIGH SCHOOL AND SEE FOR YOURSELF THE NEED THAT IS THERE. THEN MAKE YOUR DECISION. THIS BOND WILL IMPACT PROPERTY OWNERS IN EVERY WALK OF LIFE IN OUR AREA. WE ALL NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE NEEDS OF THE TOTAL COM11UNITY NOT JUST OUR PARTICULAR KINGDOM. AS I STATED BEFORE, IN CHUBBUCK WE MUST WAIT FOR GROWTH TO ASSIST IN FINANCING SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS WE FEEL ARE NEEDED. WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO GO TO THE TAXPAYER WHO HAS BEEN HERE FOR YEARS AND 3 CONTINUALLY RAISE THEIR TAXES. CHUBBUCK PEOPLE HAVE SUPPORTED OUR CITY. WE NEED TO CONTINUALLY BE AWARE OF THE COSTS THAT THESE PEOPLE MUST ABSORB IN ALL NEEDS OF LIFE. WE CAN DO IT. IN CLOSING I RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT COXUNCILMAN MARVIN GUNTER BE APPOINTED AND APPROVED TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL FOR 1995. THANK YOU