Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994 State of the City AddressCity of Chubbuck 5160 Yellowstone Avenue CHUBBUCK, IDAHO 83202 (208) 237 -2400 CuUBBUCK CITY PRIDE Office of the mayor Janua,ty 11, 1994 STATE OF THE CITY I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING AS MAYOR. THERE ARE MANY CONCERNS THAT THE CITY NEEDS ADDRESS IN THE NEAR FUTURE. WE SHALL TALK OF THESE TONIGHT. THIS BEING MAYOR HAS BEEN A GREAT AND REWARDING EXPERIENCE. I RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE INTERESTED AND ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO SEEM TO HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS, ALL THE SOLUTIONS, AND YET WHEN THESE PROBLEMS AND PROJECTS ARE BEING DISCUSSED THEY ARE NEVER PRESENT TO GIVE OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE. UN *tFUNDED MANDATES STILL PLAGUE THE CITIES OF IDAHO AND THE NATION. THERE IS A GREAT MOVEMENT NATIONALLY TO PASS NATIONAL LEGISLATION THAT REQUIRES FUNDING TO ACCOMPANY ANY TYPE OF MANDATE. OUR SENATOR, DIRK KEMPTHORNE, IS ONE OF THREE INDIVIDUALS LEADING THIS FIGHT IN CONGRESS. AND IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THEY MAY BE SUCCESSFUL. ALSO THIS PAST YEAR HAS SEEN THE CITY TURN TO PRIVATE BUSINESS TO PERFORM SOME OF THE TASKS THE CITY HAS IN THE PAST NORMALLY ACCOMPLISHED IN OUR WORK SCHEDULE. WE HAVE LEARNED BY FARMING OUT A PART OF AUTO MAINTENANCE THAT A SAVINGS HAS BEEN EFFECTED. WE ARE INVESTIGATING HOW FAR WE CAN CONTINUE TO GO IN THIS AREA. WE HAVE ENTERED A'T, CONTRACT OUT COMMERCIAL GARBAGE COLLECTION. IT WILL BE PERFORMED BY SNAKE RIVER SANITATION AND WILL BE AUTOMATED. WE ARE AT THE TIME IN OUR SCHEDULE THAT WE NEED REPLACE A GARBAGE TRUCK SO THE DECISION MUST BE MADE - -ARE WE GOING TO AUTOMATE THE ENTIRE CITY AND IF WE DO SO DO WE PURCHASE THE EQUIPMENT AND DO THE JOB OURSELVES OR DO WE CONTRACT THIS WORK. THIS DECISION MUST BE MADE IN THE NEXT VERY FEW WEEKS. I HAVE NOT BEEN FOR AUTOMATION, ONLY BECAUSE IT WOULD COST EMPLOYEES ONE OR TWO JOBS. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO DEBATE TO THIS, IF WE WANT TO BE MORE COST EFFECTIVE AND PROVIDE PROBABLY AS GOOD A COLLECTING JOB AUTOMATION IS THE WAY. 11 Januany 1994 WATER WE HAVE TWO WELLS THAT HAVE BEEN DECLARED AS PRODUCING WATER THAT IS UNSAFE TO DRINK. ONE OF THESE WELLS IS THE LARGEST PRODUCING WELL THE CITY HAS AND ITS LOSS IS KEENLY FELT. DURING THE FALL AND WINTER MONTHS THESE TWO WELLS ARE NOT IN PRODUCTION. THERE IS NO COMMON SENSE IN THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS. THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE THE JOB TO ENFORCE THE LAW ARE FINE PEOPLE - -DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB, THE FEDERAL CONGRESS IS THE CULPRIT. I WILL NOT DISCUSS MY REASONS FOR MAKING THIS STATEMENT BUT WILL GLADLY DO SO TO ANYONE INTERESTED. At WE OF THE CITY STAFF HAVE REVIEWED OUR SITUATION Ix ARE RECOMMENDING TO THE COUNCIL THAT WE IMMEDIATELY SELECT A WELL SIGHT AND MOVE FORWARD THROUGH ALL THE REGULATIONS AND DRILL A WELL AND PERHAPS TWO WELLS. THE AREAS WHERE THE WATER SEEMS TO BE FREE FROM CONTAMINATION ARE TRADITIONALLY NOT THE HIGH WATER PRODUCU NG AREAS OF THE CITY. THEREFOR, A POSSIBLE NEED,'FOR A SECOND WELL ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. IF WE DECIDE TO DRILL WELLS ONE MUST BE ON LINE BY JUNE 94. IN EVERY AREA OF CITY SERVICE WE DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB. OUR PERSONEL ARE DEDICATED TO THE CITY. T WILL ONLY SAY THAT WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT OUR EMPLOYEES DO AND WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE GOOD COMPLIMENTS OF THEIR SERVICE. A COUPLE OF PROBLEM AREAS -- POLICE - -WE HAVE ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAMS IN PLACE. WE HAVE THE CITIZENS ON PATROL ALSO PROVIDING COVERAGE DURING THE NIGHT. A COMMENT ON THESE COP PEOPLE. DEDICATED TO MAKE THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE. THEY ARE LED BY RANDY BROADHEAD. A LETTER TO THE EDITOR BY MRS. ANN STALDER EXPLAINED THEIR PURPOSE AND THEIR NEEDS. WOULD YOU CITIZENS CONSIDER AN EXTRA $1 ON YOUR UTILITY BILL FOR THE COP'S PROGRAM. THEY ARE NOT FUNDED BY THE CITY. THEY ARE NOT CITY EMPLOYEES. THEY WORK ON THEIR OWN UNDER SOME ADVICE FROM THE POLICE. WE NEED THIS PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM COULD BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE METHOD OF NOT ALLOWING A CHILD OR ADULT TO BE TAKEN AGAINST THEIR WILL. AND WE HAVE THE SAME POTENTIAL PROBLEM AS EVERY CITY IN THIS NATION. IT CAN HAPPEN HERE. PINERIDGE SHOPPING CENTER. WE ARE EXPERIENCING JUVENILE PROBLEMS. MOTHER AND DAD - -YOU ARE GOING TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR MINOR CHILDREN ACTS. THE CITY HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ASS IST IN PROTECTING LOCAL BUSINESS AND SHOPPING CUSTOMERS. WE WILL WORK WITH PINERIDGE TO EFFECTIVELY RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS THAT APPEAR ON OCCASION AT THIS LOCATION. WE ARE PRESENTLY WORKING ON A NEW COMPREHENSIVE 4W PLAN FOR THE CITY. THIS IS THE PLAN TO BE FORMULATED TO DIRECT THE GROWTH PATTE9,VF THE CITY. WE HAVE HAD MANY MEETINGS, WELL ADVERTISED MEETINGS. PROBABLY FIFTY PEOPLE HAVE ATTENDED AND WE HAVE RECEIVED GOOD INPUT. HOWEVER, AGAIN, THOSE WHO SEEM TO KNOW ALL THE ANSWERS NEVER ARE AMONG THOSE IN ATTENDANCE WHERE WE NEED THEIR INPUT. I WANT TO SPEAK OF ANOTHER NATIONWIDE PROBLEM AND A PROBLEM IN CHUBBUCK AND POCATELLO. JUVENILE CRIME. THE NEW JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER ACCOMODATES 12 INDIVIDUALS. IT IS FULL. IT COST NEARLY A MILLION DOLLARS TO BUILD THIS FACILITY AND ONLY 12 BEDS. AGAIN GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS REQUIRING NON NEEDED FACILITIES RUN THE COST SO HIGH IT IS RIDICULOUS. WE NEED THE ACLU DEFENDING THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THEY SEEM TO DO THE JOB DEFENDING THE OTHER SIDE. THE ACLU HAS A PLACE BUT SO DOES COMMON SENSE. THE ARTICLE IN THE JOURNAL A FEW DAYS AGO BY MR. KIRK BYBEE WAS DIRECT AND TO THE POINT OF A PROBLEM IN OUR AREA. WE NEED SCHOOLS NOT JAILS. WE NEED TO KEEP YOUTH BUSY, INVOLVED AND WITH THE NUMBER OF JR. HIGH SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS THE OPPORTUNITY IS LIMITED. WE NEED TWO NEW HIGH SCHOOLS. DO YOU REALIZE OUR NEW HIGHLAND HIGH SCHOOL APPROACHES 30 YEARS OF AGE. POCATELLO HIGH SCHOOL IS OVER 100 YEARS OLD AND SHOWS THE WEAR AND TEAR OF ALL THOSE YEARS. POKY HIGH IS AN ANTIQUE. I HAVE LEARNED THAT DOCTORS LOOKING TO LOCATE IN OUR AREA VISIT OUR EDUCATION FACILITIES AND WHEN TAKEN TO POCATELLO HIGH SCHOOL CANNOT BELIEVE WHAT THEY SEE. IT TURNS THEM OFF. AND WE NEED THESE DOCTORS IN OUR AREA. AND I AM CERTAIN THAT BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY HAVE THE SAME VIEW OF OUR EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES. YES, OUR TEACHERS DO A SUPERB JOB WITH THE PRESENT FACILITIES BUT THEY COULD SERVE YOUR CHILDREN SO MUCH BETTER IF THEY HAD THE MODERN, NEEDED BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT. AS THE MAYOR OF CHUBBUCK, I REALIZE THERE WAS AN UNDERCURRENT IN THE LAST SCHOOL BOND ELECTION, THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO PASS A BOND FOR A NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN CHUBBUCK. TO EVERYONE CONCERNED I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS MAYOR AND I BELIEVE I CAN SPEAK FOR A LARGE NUMBER OF CHUBBUCK CITIZENS, WE DO NOT CARE WHERE, BUT LETS GET GOING AND BUILD THE SCHOOLS WE NEED. YOU CAN LOCATE THEM ON THE WEST BENCH, SOUTH MAIN OR NEAR FRANKLIN. YES, WE WOULD BE EXCITED IF ONE OF THE SCHOOLS SHOULD BE LOCATED IN OUR CITY BUT THE MAIN CONCERN IS TO GET WITH THE PROGRAM. AND YOU AND I AS TAXPAYERS ARE THE ONES WHO WILL PAY THE BILL. WE PAY IT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. EITHER WE SUFFER FROM JUVENILE DELINQUINCY AND CRIME, MORE JAILS ( AND WE MAY NEED MORE DETENTION FACILITIES ALSO) OR WE CAN BUILD SCHOOLS AND ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE YOUTH WITH MORE OPPORTUNITY. COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS: 1--RECOMMEND THE COUNCIL APPROVE THE FOLLOWING: DEAN WOOD - -- COUNCIL PRESIDENT PARKS AND RECREATION ROY QUICK - -- POLICE MARVIN GUNTER -- FIRE DEPARTMENT STEVE ENGLAND -- NOBAMPO PLANNING ORGANIZATION FOR STREET AND TRANSPORTATION (PUBLIC) TO IMPROVE EXISTING TRAFFIC MOVEMENT AND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA SEICOG -- SOUTHEAST IDAHO COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS AND MARV GUNTER NEEDS ANOTHER GREAT AND REWARDING EXPERIENCE-- CHUBBUCK DAYS. MICHELLE MILLER, CITY EMPLOYEE, WILL BE YOUR RIGHT ARM IN THIS. WORKING TOGETHER WE CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR CITY AND PARTICIPATE WITH THE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF POCATELLO TO MAKE THIS VALLEY A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. THANK YOU.