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Home My WebLink About1986 State of the City AddressI r k , -'? 0 STATE OF THE CITY MESSAGE JANUARY 14, 1986 CITY OF CHUBBUCK. IDAHO AS WE APPROACH THE NEW YEAR 1986 WE DO SO WITH A NEW CITY COUNCILMAN, OR ONE WHO HAS RETURNED TO US, ONE WHO HAS BEEN RE— ELECTED AND A MAYOR WHO HAS BEEN HERE A FEW YEARS. WE LOSE MR. TOM MELD, ONE (.OHO HAS SO BRILLIANTLY REPRESENTED OUR CITY. WE ARE GOING TO MISS YOU TOM. I WELCOME ROY AS HE CONTINUES TO SERVE -- DEDICATED AND INFORMED. MR. FULLMER, WE WELCOME YOU BACK. WE HAVE MISSED YOU AND YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF VARIOUS ASPECTS OF CITY GOVERNME�.7 AND ALSO YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE BUSINESS WORLD. OUR CITY CONTINUES TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION. WE HAVE PROBLEMS BUT WE CAN TOGETHER SURMOUNT THEM. WE ARE FINANCIALLY STRONG AND STABLE HOWEVER WE ARE APPROACHING THE TIME WVEN 9)E -MUST ALSO BE MORE AWARE OF OUR FINANCIAL LIMITATIONS ESPECIALLY IN THE PRESENT FEDERAL, STATE CITY RELATIONSHIP. WE HAVE OUTSTANDING PERSONEL. COMPETENT PEOPLE IN ALL ASSIGNMENTS AN) PEOPLE WHO RESPOND. NITHOUT THESE INDIVIDUALS OUR CITY WOULD NOT FUNCTION AS EFFICIENTLY AS IT DOES] OUR MAINTENANCE PEOPLE, THOSE IN CHARGE OF PARKS AND RECREATION, SANITATION, SHOP, OFFICE, POLICE, FIRE AND ALL THE VOLUNTEERS ARE TREMENDOUSLY DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS. AND THE SERVICE WE PROVIDE REFLECTS ALL WHO I HAVE MENTIONED. THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE CITY. YOU ALL MAKE THE MAYORS JOB EASY AND MAKE HIM LOOK GOOD. THANK YOU. THE YEAR 1986 COULD BE ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING IN OUR CITIES HISTORY. WE SEE CHANGES ON THE HORIZON IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND CONTINUED STRAINED RELATIONS (VITH STATE GOVERNMENT. I MOULD HOPE OUR RELATIONSHIP KITH STATE GOVERNMENT MOULD BE GREATLY IMPROVED IN THE PRESENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION. MANY FEEL THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS TURNED A DEAF EAR TO CITY PROBLEMS. AND TO A DEGREE THEY HAVE. HOWEVER THEY ARE TELLING US THAT WE MUST BE BETTER MANAGERS, SPEND MORE WISELY, BE MORE CONSERVATIVE OF OUR RESOURCES. AND THIS IS GOOD. HOWEVER WE NEED ONECONSIDERATION FROM THE LEGISLATURE AND THAT IS TO ALLOW CITY COUNCILS TO RUN THE CITY. 41D BY THAT I MEAN A TAX SYSTEM THAT WILL ALLOW THE CITY COUNCIL TODETER1dIN$`OUR FINANCIAL NEEDS AND SET THE LEVY. WE COUNCIL MEMBERS ALSO LIVE IN OUR CITY. WE ALSO ARE GOVERNED BY THE DECISIONS WE MAKE. CHUBBUCK HAS NEVER BEEN EXTRAVAGANT IN TAXING OUR CITIZENS. WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AMONG" THE LOWEST TAXING UNITS IN THE, STATE., PIE NEED THE AUTHORITY TO DETERA41NE OUR NEEDS AND THEN RESPONSIBLY LEVY AN AMOUNT WE CAN LIVE WITH TO MEET THOSE NEEDS. WE AS A COUNCIL MEET BEFORE OUR CONSTITUENTS AT LEAST TWICE A MONTH. WE ARE . CLOSELY AVAILBLE TO CRITICISM AND THE CONCERNS OF OUR CITIZENS. CERTAINLY WE OF ALL GOVERNING BODIES ARE GOING TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THOSE CONCERNS. I WOULD SUGGEST TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE THAT THEY MAKE TWO CHANGES IN STATE LAW: 1. RETURN TO THE MILL LEVY SYSTEM OF TAXING PROPERTY AND 2. PERHAPS CONSIDER GRANTING CITIES ONE QUARTER OF ONE CENT OF THE SALES TAX TO REPLACE A SMALL PORTION OF FEDERAL REVENUE SHARING. THESE TWO CHANGES WOULD ALLOW CITIES TO PERFORM RESPONSIBLY AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE NEEDED SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY. NOW, WHERE ARE WE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY OF CHUBBUCK. WHEN I BECAME MAYOR 16 YEARS AGO, CHUBBUCK WAS A VILLAGE OF SOME 1537 PEOPLE. WE HAD A (MATER SYSTEM ADEQUATE FOR THE TIME, NO SEWER COLLECTOR SYSTEM. GROWTH WAS IMMINENT. LIE ENJOYED THE SERVICE OF OmE PEP'SON WHO ACTED AS POLICE CHIEF, FIRE CHIEF AND CITY MAINTENANCE PERSON. (CIE HAD FEPI ORDINANCES IN PLACE TO CONTROL AND DIRECT ORDERLY GROWTH. TODAY WE APPROACH 8,000 IN POPULATION. (a1E HAVE A PROGRAM THAT CONTINUES TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE (MATER TO OUR CITY, NE HAVE I "l PLACE A SEWAGE COLLECTION SYSTEM TO ADEQUATELY PROVIDE SERVICE FOR 20,000 PEOPLE. OUR POLICE DEPART - MENT HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO 10 PEOPLE AND IS ONE OF THE MOST PROFESSIONAL DEPARTMENTS IN THE STAT1 OUR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO PROVIDEMORE AND ?SETTER SERVICE TO THE CITY AND SURROUNDING AREA. TODAY (JE HAVE CITY MAINTENANCE PERSONEL WHO A,?E CROSS TPAINFD 0 WORK IN ANY AREA OF CITY NEEDS. WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS SERVI .kIr, IN THE POLICE DEPAPTMEk /T, O "I OUR PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION AND IN OUR RECREATION PROGRAMS. NE HAVE EXPANDED OUR CITY PARKS SYSTEM AND TODAY ENJOY THE AVAILABILITY OF SEVERAL BEAUTIFUL AND (!TELL MAINTAINED PA".KS THAT PROVIDE MANY ACTIVITY SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED (,)7TH THE STATE OF IDAHO THE WIDENING OF YELLOWSTONE AVENUE THROUGH OUR CITY COMPLETE WITH CURBS AND SIDEWALKS. WE HAVE IN PLACE THE ,NECESSARY ORDINANCES TO PROVIDE ORDERLY GRONTH IN OUP RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND ALSO THE COMMERCIAL ZONES. WE NEED ALWAYS BE AWARE OF TOO HUCH COIITROL. LIE MUST ALWAYS CONSIDER THE INDIVIDUAL WHERE EVER POSSIBLE. ONE DAY OUR CITY COULD BE A MODEL FO'? OTHER COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE. FUTURE COUNCILS, IF THEY ARE AS DEDICATED AS THE PAST COUNCILS I HAVE SERVED WITH,WILL CONTINUE THE DEVELOPMENT WE HAVE STARTED. THE FUTURE LOOKS GOOD. WHERE NOW? (JE HAVE THIS PAST DECEMBER 4th HIRED MR. CARY CAMPBELL AS A FULL TIME FIRE CHIEF. WE FEEL THIS IS A POSITIVE MOVE. THE CITY INVESTMENT IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS SO gP,EAT THAT A FULL TIME INDIVIDUAL, ONE WHO CAN DEVOTE HIS TINE ENTIRELY TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, IS NEEDED. ALREADY CHANGES IN PROGRAMS AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT POINT TO TAAPROVEA4ENTS THAT ARE SORELY NEEDED. NOT THAT OUR VOLUNTEER GROUP HAS BEEN LACKING IN DESIRE AND ABILITY ONLY THAT WE HAVE A NEED IN MORE SOPHISTICATED AREAS AND ONLY A FULL TIME INDIVIDUAL CAN PROVIDF THAT DIRECTION AND LEADERSHIP. MR. NIELD, WHO IS LEAVING THE COUNCIL THIS YEAR, HAS BEEN THE COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. TOM HAS PROVIDED LEADERSHIP AND DIRECTION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FIRE CHIEF THAT HAS LED TO IMPROVEMENT IN THE DEPARTMENT. I AM ASSIGNING TO MRS. HOPKINS THIS RESPONSIBILITY FOR 1986. BECKY HAS PREVIOUSLY HAD THIS ASSIGNMENT AND KNOWS OF THE NEEDS IN THIS AREA:. WE NEED TO PROVIDE ADE')I!ATE HOUSIMG F(IR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THIS SHOULD BE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IN THE CITY THIS NEXT YEAR. WE ARE PRESENTLY STORING TWO FIRE VEHICLES IN THE CITY MAINTENANCE BUILDING, APIAY FROM IMMEDIATE AVAILABILITY TO FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONEL. AT WE NEED TO CLOSELY EXAMINE OUR POLICE PROTECTION. WE ARE/ PRESENT ONE PATROLMAN SHORT OF ONE YEAR AGO. WE ASSIGNED OFFICER SANDUSKY TO TAKE CARE OF A CITY SAFETY PROGRAM AND THIS HAS VIRTUALLY TAKEN HIM FULL TIME OR AT LEAST ITT' SHOULD BE A FULL TIME ASSIGNMENT. AS ALL OFFICERS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR PRIMARY ASSIGNMENT, OFFICER SANDUSKY DOES WORK AS A PATROLMA"! IN ADDITION TO HIS PRIMARY ASSIGNMENT. IN THIS ASSIGNMENT OFFICER SANDUSKY HAS IA4PLEA4EAJTETJ MANY PROGRA "4S PERTAINING TO SAFETY, HAS COMPLETELY REVIE(',IED THE CITY (�JARNI,IIG STGN SYSTEA4 AND IS WORKING ON VEHICLE DRIVER TRAINING AS TO SAFE OPERATION OF OUR VARIOUS UNITS. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY TALKED OF POLICE LIMITATIONS DURING THE NIGHT HOURS. T (tIISH (vE HAD THE LUXURY OF FIVE PATROL CARS ON DUTY DURING THE HOURS OF GREATEST EXPOSURE. !CIE NEED TO THOROUGHLY REVIEW THIS NEED IN OUR CITY. COUNCILA4A &I auzoK HAc RrF&i- ASSIGK!ED TO THE POLICE AND I AGAIN WISH HIM TO REMAIN IN THAT CAPACITY. ROY H65--M&DE HIS TIME AVAILABLE TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CONTINUALLY ,MEETS (VITH CHIEF STONE Ak�-) OTHEP OFFICERS CONCERNTNrl POLICE MATTERS. THIS PAST YEAR ASSISTANT CHIEF ROWLAND HAS REED! OCCUPIEl? "DEARLY 100° OF THE TIME IN THE EARL ELLIS INVESTIGATION. MANY HOURS OF TIME HAVE BEEN NEEDE') IN THIS ONE PROJECT. OUR EFFORTS HAVE PAYED OFF AND A BAD SITUATION HAS BEEN BROKE',) UP. ('JE NEE") TO CONTINUE THE CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM ALONG WITH NEIGHBOI?HODD NA.TCH UAIDER THE DIRECTIO, "•1 OF OFFICER DETECTIVE WEBB. WEBB IS AN OUTSTANDING OFFICER, HIGHLY TRAINEI) IN DETECTIVE WORK AS ('TELL AS CRIME PREVENTION. WE HAVE OUTSTANDING PERSONEL AT EVERY LEVEL IV THIS DEPARTMENT. PARKS AND RECREATION CONTINUE TO BE A FOCUS POINT ESPECIALLY IN THE .SL'A! "4En 140NTHS. OUP LITTLE LEAGUE PROGRAM FOR BOYS AND GIRLS IS GREAT. IN FACT ONE OF THE BETTER TN THE NATION. WE NEED TO GIVE THE GIRLS MORE CONSIDERATION AND OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY REFORE THE P(JRLIC AND AT COTANT PARK. THIS PAST S[ ^4A4ER WE HIRED PR. DAVE SHEPIMAN AS RECREATIONAL PT??FCTOR. I WOULD EXPECT THIS PROGRAM TO CONTINUE AND EXPAND INTO OTHER AREAS OF ACTIVITY TO TkIVOLUF MORE YOUNG, PEOPLE. WE HEED A CITY PARK IN EAST CHUBBUCK. ONE THAT COULD PROVI?'E AfORF PLAY AREA AND EQUIPMENT. MARY'S PARK IS IN THE DISTANT FUTURE. BTSTLTNE PARK IS LTA41TED. WE ALSO NEED CONTINUE THE PROGRAM TO DEVELOP THE T(10 PARKS IN HEIGHTS SUB- DIVISIOAI. NE WILL HAVE THE SECOND PARK IN GRASS THIS EARLY SUMMER. I SUGGEST THE PARK N' ") DEVELOPED BE NAMED AFTER MRS. VERA ARMSTRONG, ONE WHO GAVE DEDICATED LEADERSHIP Pm A4.Ak(Y HOURS ()F TIME TO OUR CITY. MRS ARMSTRONG WAS CITY CLERK FOR 13 YEARS AkID THROUGH ALL THOSE YEARS PERHAPS THE BEST ATTORNEY THE CITY HAD. HER KNOWLEDGE AND WORDS OF DIRECTTOV TO THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR WERE INVALUABLE. EVE ARE NOW ENGAGED IN A PROORA4 TO 'DEVELOP A SI,IIAIMTNr, POOL IN OUR CITY. I FIRMLY BELIEVE WE CAN PASS A BONI) FOR THIS AND .SHARE THE ENTHUSIASM OF THOSE WHO ARE SO INTERESTED IN THE CITY ATTAINING THIS FACILITY. WITH THE COLD NEATHER NF HAVE HAD THE PAST SEVERAL (VINTERS I WOULD HOPE WE MIGHT FIND A LOCATION TO PREPARE AN ICE SKATING RINK FOR WINTER ACTIVITY. COUNCILMAN ENGLAND HAS BEEN OVER PARKS AND RECREATION AND THE KNOWLEDGE HE HAS IN THIS AREA SHOULD BE UTILIZED BY THE CITY SO I AH AGAIN ASSTrPT,k(G STEVE.. TO PARKS AND RECREATION. AS WE ARE A�j AWARE WE AND ALL CITIES HAVE A PROBLEM OF WHERE LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE IS GOING TO ATTAINED IN THE FUTURE. (11E .NEED To KEEP ABREAST OF THE ASSOCIATIO -k( 4F IDAHO CITIES IN THE PROGRAM THEY ARE ENDEAVORING TO PUT TOGETHER Akrd ALSO THE STATE OF IDAHO HAS LEGISLATION READY TO GO ON A MANDATORY INSURANCE PROGRAM SIAITLAR TO WORKU4ANS COA4PENSATT(lN. I PERSONALLY AM AGAINST ANY MANDATORY INSURANCE PROGRAM BUT THIS MAY BE THE `mY OF THE FUTURE. WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE THROUGH THE YEARS TO HAVE INDIVIDUALS ON OUR CITY COUNCIL WHO HAVE EXPERTISE IN THE INSURANCE FIELD. MR. FULLMER, MR. NIELD AND NOP1 AGAIN MR. FULLMER. AS TOM NIELD HAS DONE THE PAST 4 YEARS I AM ASSIGNING TO MR. FULL!�ER THE TASK OF KEEPING ON TOP OF THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF THE CITY. THERE IS NO GREATER RESPONSIBILITY THAN IN THIS AREA. WE NEED BE WATCHFUL OF THE YMCA SWIMMING POOL IN POCATELLO. MANY MAVE SUGGESTED THIS IS THE ECONOMICAL APPROACH TO A SWIMMING FACILITY. I HAVE ONE CONCERN - -NOT THAT IT IS LOCATED NECESSARILY IN POCATELLO BUT THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE TRANSPORTING YOUNG, PEOPLE. THAT INVOLVFS PARENTS AND TAKES TIME. I PERSONALLY FEEL WE SHOULD LOOK STRONGLY AT THIS BUT ALSO OUR FIRST PRIORITY SHOULD BE A POOL IN OUR CITY. OUR UTILITY FEES, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SEWER., ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. FOR THE PRESENT (11E HAVE ONLY THE ONE AREA TO LOOK TO FOR ADDITIONAL REVENUE. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS NEED IN PAST COUNCIL MEETINGS. I BEGIN MY 17th YEAR AS YOUR MAYOR. THIS IS MY LAST TERM. ALL THOSE WHO WERE ")ITH ME 16 YEARS AGO ARE GONE FROM THE COUNCIL. IN FOUR YEARS ONE OF YOU PERHAPS (MILL BECOME THE MAYOR. ANY ONE OF YOU WOULD BE GREAT IN THIS ASSIGNMENT. I WANT YOU TO KNOW I HAVE ENJOYED MY TlAfE WITH YOU. WE HAVE HAD A GOOD RELATIONSHIP AND EXPERIENCE. I HAVE ENJOYED WORKING ff)ITH OUP CITY EMPLOYEES. ALWAYS BE AWARE AND CONCERNED FOR THEM. OUR CITY HAS PROGRESSED BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE, COUNCIL, MAYOR, EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS AND MANY OTHER INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN WILLING TO GIVE OF THEIR TIME. BEING MAYOR IS A PARTNERSHIP (!JITH MY (f)IFE ALICE. NE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER. ALICE HAS GIVEN MUCH TIME TO OTHER. ACTIVITIES THROUGH THE YEARS TO ENABLE ME TO HAVE MORE TIME FOR THE CITY. SHE IS AS CONCERNED ABOUT OUR CO.ViUNITY AS YOU AND I. I TRUST WE SHALL CONTINUE TO SERVE TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES AND WITH AN EYE TO CHUBBUCK BECOMING ONE OF THE MORE DESIRABLE CITIES TO LIVE 1N. THANK YOU. MAYOR JOHN