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.
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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.
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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.
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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