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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989 State of the City AddressJANUARY 24, 1989 STATE OF THE CITY OF CHUBBUCK ADDRESS ANOTHER YEAR HAS GONE. THE YEARS PASS MORE QUICKLY NOW IT SEEMS. NINETEEN YEARS HAVE GONE SINCE I BECAME YOUR MAYOR. MANY CHANGES HAVE OCCURED. MANY IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. COUNCIL PERSONS HAVE COME AND GONE. AND ALL HAVE BEEN OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS. SEVERAL OF OUR EARLY EMPLOYEES ARE GONE. THERE IS NOTHING SO CONSTANT AS CHANGE. I NOW LOOK BACK THROUGH MEMORY AND RECALL SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE AND EVll\TS. VERA ARMSTRONG -- "MRS. CHUBBUCK "- -WHAT WOULD WE THE CITY AND ESPECIALLY I THE MAYOR HAVE DONE WITHOUT VERA. VERA WAS THE ONE WHO NEVER ALLOWED ME TO GET INTO A PROBLEM. I NEVER HAD TO WORRY ABOUT A POINT OF LAW OR A CITY ORDINANCE IF VERA WAS SITTING BESIDE ME. ALWAYS KNOWLEDGEABLE AND FAITHFUL TO THE CITY. AND STILL A FRIENlli;r ADVISOR 4HOSE COUNSEL I CHERISH. JORDAN STUART - - "MR. OUTSIDE" IN THOSE EARLY DAYS I NEVER HAD A WORRY IF JORDAN WAS ON THE JOB. NEVER HAS OR WILL THE CITY EVER HAVE IN THE FUTURE ONE WHO WAS MORE CAPABLE IN DOING A JOB IN CITY MAINTENANCE OR CONSTRUCTION. LLOYD BROI%TR- -THE SANITATION ENGINEER - -LLOYD DID THE JOB ALONE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND HOW HE COULD COVER THE CITY. YES, HE WAS THE GREATEST "BULL PEDDLER" THE CITY EVER HAD BUT WHEN HE WENT TO WORK THE JOB WAS DONE. AND I CANNOT FAIL TO MENTION CHIEF STONE. IT WAS I BELIEVE A COUPLE OF YEARS INTO THE FIRST ADMINISTRATION THAT ARNOLD BECAME THE CHIEF OF POLICE. I DO NOT KNOW HOW I SURVIVED WITHOUT HIM IN THAT POSITION AND I HAVE OFTEN WONDERED IF I WOULD SURVIVE ANY LONGER WITH HIM THERE. ALL JOKING ASIDE WHEN I MENTION POLICE I ALSO MUST INCLUDE ROWLAND. ARNOLD AND JERRY HAVE BEEN MR's ONE -TWO IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR 18 YEARS. THEY HAVE WORKED HAND IN GLOVE TOGETHER. ONE ALWAYS SUPPORTIVE OF THE OTHER. AND THEN THAT ORGANIZATION THAT WE ALWAYS SEEMED TO LEAVE ON ITS OWN - - -THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT. AND HAT A SUPER JOB THEY HAVE PERFORMED FOR THE CITY AND OTHER AREAS WE PROTECT THROUGH ALL THE YEARS. FIRE CHIEFS DENNY JONES, BART PARRISH, ELDON MUIR EACH IN HIS OWN WAY CONTRIBUTED GREATLY AS VOLUNTEER CHIEFS. CARY CAMPBELL NOW CARRIES THE LOAD AS FULL TIME CHIEF AND MORE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT ARE OCCURING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS CONTINUED TO GROW IN EQUIPMENT, ABILITY AND RESPECT. WE ARE CONSIDERED BY MANY AS EFFICIENT AS A FULL TIME DEPARTMENT. 1 I PAY SPECIAL RESPECT AND HONOR TO THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED THE CITY AS COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES. WE HAVE NEVER HAD A BAD COUNCIL PERSON. ALL HAVE BEEN EMINITELY QUALIFIED AND FULFILLED THEIR ASSIGNMENTS WITH GREAT PROFICIENCY. MAY I MENTION A COUPLE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS- -EARL ROMRIELL WHO WORKED SO LONG AND HARD THAT LAST NIGHT PRIOR TO ELECTION DAY SO h'E COULD HAVE A COUPLE OF SIGNS THAT I WAS RUNNING FOR MAYOR. THERE ARE THOSE WHO TO THIS D'AY WILL NOT BELIEVE THAT THE FIRST THOUGHT I HAD OF RUNNING FOR MAYOR CAME ON MONDAY NIGHT BEFORE ELECTION ON TUESDAY THE NEXT DAY. HOW OFTEN I REMEMBER EARL COUNSELING THE AVERS OF THE COUNCIL ABOUT A CODE -- "HAVE YOU READ IT " -- HE WOULD ASK. "IF YOU HAVEN'T YOU BETTER DO SO BEFORE YOU ADOPT IT BECAUSE THERE ARE REGULATIONS IN THERE THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE WE WANT GOVERNING THE CITY." BECKY HOPKINS, ALWAYS PRESENTING THE OTHER SIDE OR VIEWPOINT OF THE ISSUE. ALWAYS STRIVING TO MAKE THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL "THINK ". BE INFORMED. BECKY, THE ONLY LADY TO SERVE ON THE CITY COUNCIL AND SHE WAS AN OUTSTANDING ADDITION TO OUR GROUP. KINGHORN - -WHO SERVED SO FAITHFULLY FOR 12 YEARS WITH AE. ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE AND HOW THEY WOULD BE AFFECTED. AND THEN AFTER BEING OFF THE COUNCIL FOR 5 YEARS, RETIRING FROM THE BOARD, ANSWERING THE MAYOR'S CALL TO ASSIST IN SOLVING A DILEMA WE WERE EXPERIENCING. HE HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB IN REORGANIZING AND REKINDLING PRIDE AMONG FIRE DEPART[ENT PERSONEL. EVERYONE LOVES THIS FELLOW AND WE GIVE OUR THANKS TO HIM FOR HIS WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. MARY HARKER AND DEBBIE ELLIS - -THESE TWO COULD BE TALKED OF ALL EVENING. THEY HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO AS "RABBLE ROUSERS" AND EVEN WORSE. TWO FAITHFUL VOLUN- TEERS TO CHUBBUCK PRIDE AND THEY TRULY HAVE BEEN "CHUBBUCK PRIDE." TONIGHT WE HONOR DEBBIE. THE ELLIS FAMILY IS MOVING TO UTAH AND I AM SURE THAT THIS WILL ONLY BE A NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR DEBBIE. WE SHALL MISS THIS YOUNG LADY AND HER FAITHFULNESS TO OUR CITY. AND WE EXTEND OUR THANKS TO YOU AGAIN. AND NARY WILL CAJZRY ON AND THAT IS ENUFF SAID. AND OF THE FUTURE,,.,AT THIS POINT IN TIME I DO NOT HAVE THE ANSWER. LET US ALLOW TIME TO DECIDE THE COURSE OF EVENTS. WE CONTINUE TO GROW AND IMPROVE OUR POSITION AS A CITY. WE DEPEND ON NO OTHER COMMUNITY ANY MORE THAN OTHER CO HUNITIES DEPEND ON US. EACH OF OUR CITY DEPARTMWFS CONTINUE TO IMPROVE IN THEIR SERVICE TO THE CU44JNITY. WE DO NOT INCREASE IN EMPLOYEES BUT WE GROW IN OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE SERVICE. TO REVIEW: OUR WATER SYSTEM IS ADEQUATE BUT BEING STRETCHED A BIT. WE ARE TAKING MF.ARTRES THIS CONSTRUCTION SEASON TO IMPROVE THIS SYSTEM AND FOR THE FOR SEEABLE FUTURE WE SHOULD HAVE ADEQUATE WATER FOR A GROWING CHUBBUCK. AT SOME POINT IN TIME I AM QUITE CERTAIN THAT ANOTHER STORAGE TANK WILL NEED BE CONSTRUCTED ON THE EAST BENCH, PROBABLY NORTH OF THE PRESENT LOCATION. OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IS IN NEED OF SEVERAL ADDITIONAL PIECES OF FIRE EQUIPMMENT -- PUMPER FIRE TRUCK AND A TANKER TRUCK. WE ARE PRESENTLY MOVING TO SATISFY THIS NEED. OUR POLICE NEED AN ADDITIONAL MAN TO ALLOW A MORE EFFICIENT ROTATION OF SHIFT WORK IN THE DEPARTMENT. THE WORK LOAD IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS HEAVY:- - -SO HEAVY. IT IS A LOAD THAT WE HAVE VERY LITTLE CONTROL OVER. AND BELIEVE ME WHEN I TELL YOU THAT WE DO A BETTER JOB THAN ANYONE ELSE COULD DO FOR US. ON THE COUNTY LEVEL WE NEED CITIZEN SUPPORT FOR A JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER. SO URGENTLY THIS FACILITY IS NEEDED. CRIME CO14ITTED BY YOUTH IS EVER INCREASING AND THE MEANS TO PROPERLY HOUSE AND HOLD THESE YOUNG PEOPLE IS NON EXISTANT IN OUR COUNTY. AND THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT EXISTS OVER THE ENTIRE STATE. WE MUST AS CITIZENS RISE TO THE OCCASION AND FIND A WAY TO FUND THIS FACILITY. OUR PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO IMPROVE EVEN UNDER THE CONSTRAINT OF A VERY LIMITED BUDGET. WE HAVE MANY VOLUNTEERS THAT PARTICIPATE AND GIVE OF THEIR TD E IN THE SLMIIER YOUTH PROGRAMS AND I THANK THEM FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SHARE. ATE NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS IN THIS AREA. WE COULD USE INDIVIDUALS TO GIVE OF THEIR TALENTS IN A TENNIS PROGRAM FOR ALL. WE NEED INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO GIVE OF THEIR TALENTS IN CONSTRUCTING A STORAGE BUILDING FOR THE BASEBALL PROGRAM. WE NEED THOSE WHO WOULD GIVE OF THEIR TIME TO BUILD PICNIC SHELTERS IN SEVERAL OF OUR PARKS. AND I SAY WE NEED VOLUNTEERS BECAUSE THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO DO ALL THESE PROTECTS. WE DO NOT HAVE THE PERSONEL TO ACCOMPLISH ALL THAT WE DESIRE. I AM EXTREMELY INTERESTED AS ALL OF YOU ARE IN HO!NT OUR TREES HAVE WINTERED. I FEEL CONFIDENT WE ARE ON A GOOD PROGRAM IN PLANTING TREES AND SHRUBS IN OUR CITY PARKS AND THE INVESTMENT IN THE TREE SPADE HAS ALREADY NEARLY PAYED FOR ITSELF. WE HAVE A NEW MAINTENANCE SUPERINTENDANT- -LARRY KOHNTOPP. LARRY STEPPED INTO THE VACANCY LEFT WHEN JORDAN STUART RETIRED LAST FALL. LARRY IS DOING A FINE JOB - -NOT FILLING THE SHOES OF ANOTHER BUT DOING A FINE JOB IN HIS OWN WAY. WE CONTINUE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF SNOW REMOVAL, STREET MAINTENANCE AND ALL OTHER TASKS THAT ARISE. SEWER MAINTENANCE IS AN EVER ON GOING TASK. WE HOWEVER HAVE THE EQUIMFNT AND ACCOMPLISH THE JOB. AGAIN WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO HAVE EMPLOYEES WHO GIVE OF n04SELVES ABOVE THE AVERAGE AND OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH THE CREW WE HAVE SPEAK TO THESE DEDICATED EMPLOYEES. 3 RON AND THE TWO LADIES, MYRNA AND COLLEEN, IN THE CITY OFFICE CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF A WORKLOAD THAT COULD CONSUME THE TIME OF FIVE INDIVIDUALS. I GIVE SPECIAL THANKS TO THEM. KAREN KEEPS THE POLICE OUT OF TROUBLE AND AGAIN I IMPLORE YOU OFFICERS TO LET KAREN TYPE ALL THAT YOU CAN DELEGATE TO HER AND YOU KNOW THE REASON. STEVE AND THOSE IN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, REX AS BUILDING INSPECTOR GIVE US ESPECIALLY QUALIFIED PEOPLE IN THESE ASSIGNMENTS. THE WORKLOAD ON STEVE CONTINUES TO GROW AND ONE DAY WILL HAVE TO BE EVALUATED AS TO A FULL TIME ASSISTANT. I WANT EACH OF YOU EMPLOYEES TO KNOW THAT WE WHO LIVE HERE IN CHUBBUCK APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO FOR US. VOLUNTEERS, FULL TIME YOU MAKE OUR CITY A BIT BETTER. 1ti1 NEED TO CO'N'TINUE ON AS WE HAVE PLANNED. INT NEED TO LOOK AS I HAVE SAID TO UTILIZING ALL THE VOLUNTEER ASSISTANCE WE CAN OBTAIN AND FROM ANY LEVEL. WE NEED TO PLAN FOR THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION... 100 YEARS OF STATEHOOD FOR IDAHO. OUR 0i%BBUCK DAYS CELEBRATION THIS S'tM\ER AND ESPECIALLY NEXT SHOULD BE DIREC.TED TOWARDS THIS Cat0vIORATION. WE NEED TO THANK THOSE WHO HAVE DONE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL JOB OF DECORATING THEIR HOMES AND BUSINESSES FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS I ESPECIALLY THANK THOSE WHO WENT THE EXTRA MILE IN DECORATIINTG AND THOSE ON SCOTT STREET, CHRISTMAS LANE, AND EVEN THOUGH THE MAYOR LIVES ON SCOTT I AM NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THOSE WHO REALLY DECORATE. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND WE RECEIVED COMPLIMENTS FROM ALL OVER THE AREA. WE NEED MORE PARTICIPATION FROM BUSI?NrESS PEOPLE. I WOULD ASK YOU TO LIGHT UP NEXT SEASON AND LETS MAKE YELLOWSTONE CHRISTMAS STREET OF IDAHO. WE NEED THE FEELING OF CHUBBUCK CITIZENS PERTAINING TO SNOW REMOVAL. DOES REMOVING CARS FROM THE STREET WORK IN YOUR ESTIMATION. IS THE HARDSHIP WORTH THE RESULT. AND OFTEN THE RESULT IS NOT WHAT THE CITY WOULD LIKE TO ATTAIN BUT NOT ALWAYS DOES WEATHER CO- OPERATE. FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE CITY WE CAN ACCOMPLISH A MORE EFFICIENT CLEANUP WITH LESS COST WITH THE CARS REMOVED. BUT ARE WE PLACING AN OBLIGATION ON YOU WHO LIVE IN THE CITY THAT IS OVERLY BURDEN- SOME. WE MADE MISTAKES. HOPEFULLY WE HAVE LEARNED. SEVERAL CARS WERE REMMTED THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AND I APPOLOGIZE TO YOU FOR THIS. ANOTHER SUBJECT. WE ALL HAVE CONCERN ABOUT MAILBOX LOCATION IN OUR SIDEWALKS. THERE IS A WAY TO CORRECT THIS. THE POST OFFICE WILL BEAR ALL THE COST OF THE CHANGE. THEIR WAY OF "GANGING" BOXES TOGETHER AND LOCATING =1 OFF THE SIDE- WALKS CONTRIBUTES TO A CLEANER AND SAFER NEIGHBORHOOD. THE INCONVENIENCE IS THAT SOME WILL HAVE TO WALK ACROSS THE STREET OR TO THE LOT NEXT DOOR TO PICK UP YOUR MAIL. WE WILL BE TALKING MORE ABOUT THIS AND WILL INVITE THE CITY TO A TOWN MEETING FOR DISCUSSION. 4 ri I HAVE SEEN SUBDIVISIONS THAT ARE DIFFERENT IN THERE APPROACH TO DESIGN THAN ANY WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN OUR CITY. STREETS THAT ARE 2S FT WIDE, WITH OR WITH- OUT SIDEWALKS. EACH LOT IS DESIGNED TO ACCOMODATE 6 CARS FOR OFF STREET PARKING. A DOUBLE GARAGE AND THE DRIVE THAT WILL ACCOMODATE 4 CARS. NO CAR PARKING IS ALLOWED ON THE STREET EXCEPT FOR GUESTS AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE 24 HOUR DAY. TRAFFIC IS SLOWED BY SPEED CONTROL AND KIDS DO PLAY IN THE STREETS. THIS TYPE OF SUBDIVISION COULD RESULT IN LOWER COST TO THE HOME PURCHASER, LESS STREET MAINTENANCE FOR THE CITY. IT CAN BE DONE. IN AREAS WHERE THIS TYPE ARE NOW LOCATED PEOPLE ARE QUITE SATISFIED. a-)N'T JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS....THINK ABOUT THIS. THERE MAY BE A BETTER WAY. WE NEED TO ADDRESS OUR UTILITY RATES. WHEREVER WE CAN ADJUST TO KEEP RATES DOWN WE MUST DO SO. ESPECIALLY THE PROBLEM, IT IS A PROBLEM, WITH LARGE WATER CONSUMERS. THESE BUSINESS PEOPLE MUST BE COMPETITIVE TO SURVIVE. WE NEED CONTINUE A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY OF POCATELLO AND BANNOCK COUNTY. OUR COMMIZiMENrTS TO EACH OTHER IN FIRE, POLICE AND ANY OTHER AREA NEED BE CONTINUED. OUR COMMON SUPPORT FOR EACH OTHER HAS PRODUCED MANY POSITIVE RESULTS. .OUR PAST YEAR 1988 HAS BEEN AN INTERESTING YEAR AND ONE OF POSITIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS. WE HAVE INCREASED THE LEVEL OF SERVICE TO CITIZENS OF CHUBBUCK. AND THAT IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT. THE SERVICE WE CAN PROVIDE FOR THE TAX DOLLAR RECEIVED. WE DO A GOOD JOB AND OUR PEOPLE HERE IN CHUBBUCK KNOW WE DO AND APPRECIATE OUR EFFORTS. 1989 CAN BE OUR BEST YEAR. WE CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE -- PROVIDE MORE THAN IhT DO EVEN UNDER THE LIMITATIONS OF A TIGHT BUDGET. I LOOK FORWARD TO C0"4ERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL HELP US WITH OUR TAX BASE. GR011rI7-i IS COMING AND THE CHALLENGE IS TO BE PREPARED TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES NECESSARY TO ACCOMODATE THIS DEVELOPMENT. I MUST ALSO COMMENT ABOUT THE SERVICE WE ARE RECEIVING FROM OUR LEGAL ADVISERS, MR. TOM HOLMES AND HOWARD BURNETT. NEVER BEFORE HAVE WE HAD SUCH EFFICIENT LEGAL SERVICE. EACH INVOLVED WITH THESE PEOPLE APPRECIATE THE DEDICATION THEY GIVE TO OUR CITY. I CME_NTED EARLIER IN THIS MESSAGE THAT THE FUTURE WILL BE DECIDED BY TIME AND EVENTS AS PERTAINS TO THE MAYORS FUTURE INTENT. THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES OUT THERE AT THIS TIME OVER WHICH I HAVE NO CONTROL THAT COULD INFLUENCE ANY DECISION I MIGHT MAKE. I HAVE ENJOYED EACH DAY OF THE 19 YEARS I HAVE BEEN THE MAYOR. I EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND ALSO TO THE PEOPLE OF CHUBBUCK WHO HAVE BEEN SO RESPECTFUL TO ME AND MY WIFE. I EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION THANKS, AND LOVE TO MY WIFE ALICE. ALICE HAS SPENT MANY DAYS AND EVENINGS AT HOME DURING THESE YEARS BUT HAS NEVER LOST THE DESIRE TO SERVE WITH ME AND SUPPORT OUR CITY. WE HAVE ENJOYED IT ALL TOGETHER. WITH YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE YEAR 1989 AND FEEL IT WILL BE THE BEST AND MOST INTERESTING YET. THANKS MAYOR I