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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000 State of the City AddressJohn 0. Colant, Mayor 77iomas J. Holmes, City Attorney Ron C. Conlin, City Clerk/Treasurer Steven M. Smart, Public Works Director JANUARY 11, 2000 STATE OF THE CITY City of Chubbuck CzzD P.O. Box 5604 5160 Yellowstone Ave. Chubbuck, ED 83202-0006 Phone (208) 237-2400 LeRoy S. Quick, Councilman Steven M. EngLand, Councilman W. Dean Wood, Councilman Mary C. Gunter, Councilman WE FACE A NEW CENTURY. THE CHALLENGES FOR THE CITY OF CHUBBUCK WILL BE GREAT AS THIS NEW CENTURY BEGINS AND THE YEARS ROLL BY. CHANGES THAT WE CANNOT ENVISION WILL HAPPEN AND CHALLENGE THE VERY EXISTENSE OF THIS CITY. OUR JOB TODAY IS TO CONTINUE TO PREPARE OUR COMMUNITY FOR ANY AND ALL CHALLENGES THAT SHALL OCCUR. FUNDING WILL BE ONE OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES. CITIZENS OF TODAY AND ALSO OF TOMORROW WILL INSIST THAT GOVERNMENT BE MORE FRUGAL AND RESPONSIBLE TO THE ELECTORATE., GOVERNMENT WILL NEED TO RESPOND WITH MORE INOVATIVE IDEAS AND DECISIONS TO THE PROBLEMS THAT WILL BE FACED. TODAY, I BELIEVE, WE HAVE GIVEN THIS CITY A GOOD RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT. WE BEGIN THE SECOND FIFTY YEARS OF THIS CITIES EXISTENSE. WE STAND ON THE HORIZON OF BEING ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH GOALS THAT WE HAVE HERETOFOR THOUGHT UNATTAINABLE. IN THE NEXT 15 YEARS OR SO OUR INCREMENTAL FINANCE DISTRICT WILL SUPPLY THE CITY WITH FUNDS TO ATTAIN GOALS THAT WE TODAY AND BEFORE TODAY THOUGHT OF AS "DREAMS". THIS PAST YEAR THESE FUNDS HAVE MADE IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR PARKS THAT WE DID NOT THINK POSSIBLE A FEW YEARS AGO. IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS WE WILL IMPROVE OUR STREET SYSTEM, CREATE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CITY PARKS, IMPROVE THE WATER SYSTEM IN THE INCRE14ENTAL DISTRICT. WE AT THE PRESENT STAND ON THE THRESH— HOLD OF DEVELOPMENT COMING INTO THE CITY THAT COULD EQUAL,IN SIZE, PINE RIDGE SHOPPING CENTER. IF NOT THIS YEAR, NEXT. THIS WILL HAPPEN. WE ARE PREPARED TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES NEEDED FOR THESE BUSINESS'S TO LOCATE IN John 0. Catant, Mayor nOmas J. Holmes, City Attorney Ron C. Conlin, City ClerklTreasurer Steven M. Smart, Public Works Director City of Chubbuck cz=> P.O. Box 5604 5160 Yellowstone Ave. Chubbuck, ED 83202-0006 Phone (208) 237-2400 N-_01 LeRoy S. Quick, Councilman Steven M.'England, Councilman W. Dean Wood, Councilman Mary C Gunter, Councilman OUR COMMUNITY. AS I LOOK TO THE FUTURE LET US REVIEW THIS PAST YEAR OF 1999 FOR A FEW MINUTES. CHUBBUCK CELEBRATED ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY AS A VILLAGE—CITY. THOSE WHO FOUNDED OUR COMMUNITY IN 1949 HAD NO IDEA WE WOULD HAVE PROGRESSED TO THE SIZE OF CITY WE ARE TODAY. THEY WOULD BE AMAZED AT THE GROWTH OF THIS COMMUNITY, THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE OUR CITIZENS AND THE EXPANSION THAT LIES AHEAD. WE HAD A GREAT 50TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY. OUR PARADE AND THE CELEBRATION AT THE CITY PARK WAS OUT— STANDING. WE HAD NEARLY FINISHED THE GAZEBO THAT SO MANY WORKED SO HARD TO HAVE READY FOR OUR CELEBRATION, FINISHED IT ENOUGH THAT WE COULD CENTER OUR CELEBRATION AROUND THIS EDIFICE. WE OWE A "THANK YOU" TO ALICE COTANT WHO WORKED TO GENERATE FUNDS TO NEARLY FINANCE THIS SHELTER, TO THOSE WHO WORKED SO HARD, EXTRA HOURS AND THE CARE THEY GAVE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS EDIFICE. THIS GAZEBO SHOULD STAND AS A TRIBUTE TO OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY FOR MANY YEARS IN THE FUTURE. IT WILL BE UTILIZED AND ENJOYED IN SO MANY WAYS. I EXPRESS MY THANKS AGAIN TO ALL WHO WORKED SO DILIGENTLY TO BRING THIS DREAM INTO REALITY. THE VETERANS MEMORIAL THAT WE DEDICATED THE MORNING OF OUR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION WILL STAND FOR MANY YEARS AND REMIND THOSE WHO COME TO VISIT OF THOSE WHO LONG AGO GAVE THEIR ALL THAT WE MIGHT HAVE FREEDOM IN THE WORLD WE LIVE IN TODAY. THIS DEDICATION PROGRAM WAS A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS. AND ABOVE ALL WE HAD FUN THAT DAY. WHERE DO WE GO NOW AND WHAT ARE SOM E OF THE CHALLENGES WE FACE. OUR POLICE CONTINUE TO BE ONE OF THE FINEST POLICE GROUPS IN THE STATE. THEY ARE CONTINUALLY FACED WITH A WORK LOAD THAT OVERWHELMS THEM. IT SEEMS THAT NO MATTER HOW MANY WE HAVE INVOLVED IN POLICE WORK THE TASK NEVER DIMINISHES. THE METH LAB PROBLEM WE FACE IN OUR STATE AND NATION, AS ALL DRUG PROBLEMS WE FACE, WILL NEVER BE SOLVED UNTIL OWA John 0. Colant. Mayor 7710mas J. Holmes, City Attorney Ron C Conlin. City Clerk/Treasurer Steven M. Smart, Public Works Director City of Chubbuck C:ZD P.O. Box 5604 5160 YeHowstone Ave. Chubbuck, ED 832024)006 Phone (208) 237-2400 LeRoy S. Quick. Councilman Steven M England� Councilman W. Dean Wood, Councibnan Mary C Gunter, Councilman OUR ELECTED LEGISLATIVE BODIES, STATE AND FEDERAL, HAVE THE COURAGE TO PUNISH THOSE INVOLVED IN THIS DRUG BUSINESS. PUNISHMENT FOR DEALING IN ILLEGAL DRUGS SHOULD BE SWIFT AND SEVERE. AS I HAVE STATED BEFORE, ANYONE WHO SELLS DRUGS IS FAR WORSE TO OUR SOCIETY THAN ONE WHO COMMITS A MURDER. A DRUG PUSHER AFFECTS THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS, EVEN THOUSANDS FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. ONE WHO COMMITS MURDER AFFECTS THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY, EVEN THOUGH TREMENDOUSLY, BUT IT IS OVER AND LIVES SOMEHOW BEGIN TO RETURN TO NORMAL. NOT SO WITH THOSE AFFECTED BY DRUGS. THEIR PROBLEMS AND BROKEN HEARTS CONTINUE FOR YEARS. AGAIN, UNTIL WE HAVE THE FORTITUDE TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM WITH IMN[EDIATE INCARCERATION WE WILL NEVER BRING IT UNDER CONTROL. OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS, CONTINUE TO IMPROVE IN THEIR CAPACITY TO PERFORM IN PROTECTING OUR CITY AND SURROUNDING REGIONS. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH THE FIRE DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE FUNDING EQUAL TO THE GROWTH IN THOSE DISTRICTS. WE WILL CONSTRUCT AN ADDITIONAL BUILDING AT THE FIRE STATION TO ENABLE BETTER MAINTENANCE ON THE FIRE VEHICLES. CHIEF ERIC KING, CHARLIE DICKMAN, ASSISTANT CHIEF AND MERLIN MILLER TRAINING OFFICER ARE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB IN THEIR RESPECTIVE POSITIONS. WE NEED ANOTHER FULL TIME PERSON IN THE DEPARTMENT TO ENABLE FURTHER IMPROVEMENT IN THE PROTECTION THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES. OUR PARKS SYSTEM CONTINUES TO GROW. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WALK—JOG—BICYCLE— ROLLER BLADES—BABY CARRIAGE PUSHING MOTHERS—PATHWAYS WE CONSTRUCTED IN COTANT, LIBERTY, BI—CENTENNIAL AND STUART PARKS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED INTO THE AREAS WITH THE HIGHEST OF APPROVAL OF THE CITIZENS. WE HAVE CREATED A PATHWAY WHERE THE SMALL CAN PLAY WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT TRAFFIC AS WELL AS THE ADULTS CAN WALK AND JOG WITHOUT ANY WORRY OF AUTO TRAFFIC. WE WON ONE IN THIS IMPROVEMENT. John 0. Colant, Mayor 77zomas J. Holmes, City Attorney Ron C. Conlin, City ClerklTreasurer Steven M. Smart, Public Works Director City of Chubbuck GZZD P.O. Box 5604 5160 Yellowstone Ave. Chubbuck, ED 83202-M6 Phone (208) 237-2400 on LeRoy S. Quick. Councilman Steven M. England, Councilman W. Dean Wood, Councilman Mary C Gunter, Councilman WE HAVE JUST GONE THROUGH THE THANKSGIVING—CHRISTMAS—NEW YEARS HOLIDAY SEASON AND IT HAS BEEN THE BEST I BELIEVE WE HAVE HAD IN MY LIFETIME. THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS IN CHUBBUCK WERE OUTSTANDING. I CANNOT BELIEVE THE PRIDE THAT SO MANY TAKE IN THIS DECORATING THEIR HOMES AND YARDS. SCOTT STREET IS CATCHING ON ALL OVER THE CITY AND PERHAPS IS HAVING A HARD TIME BEING DESIGNATED THE BEST DECORATED STREET IN THE CITY. SEE WHAT GUNTER STARTED WHEN HE FINALLY GOT WITH THE PROGRAM. A GREAT CHRISTMAS FOR OUR CITY. WE OWE A "BIG" THANK YOU TO MARY HARKER AND THE CHUBBUCK PRIDE COMMIT ' TEE. THIS COMMITTEE HAS WORKED VIRTUALLY AROUND THE CLOCK ON ONE PROJECT OR ANOTHER. IT IS A TREMENDOUS JOB TO PICK THE WINNERS IN CHRISTMAS DECORATION, YARDS AND GARDENS AND THE OTHER INVOLVEMENTS THEY HAVE. AGAIN A SPECIAL "THANKS" TO THOSE WHO BELONG TO THE CHUBBUCK PRIDE COMMITTEE. THIS COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING: ROBERT & MARY HARKER & FAMILY, TERRY WOOD AND FAMILY, KEN & TRUDIE LYNN AND FAMILY, ROB AND SUSAN SPARROW & FAMILY AND KEN AND MARIE KEARNS. WE CONTINUE TO MOVE AHEAD WITH THE EAST CHUBBUCK ROAD PROJECT AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE IN CONSTRUCTION THIS NEXT SMMR. BEING INVOLVED WITH THE STATE AND THE FED ONE NEVER KNOWS. WE ALSO WILL BE DOING WEST CHUBBUCK ROAD AND WILL PROBABLY BE IN 2001 BEFORE WE CAN DO HAWTHORNE. WE SHALL SEE. WE HAVE THE STRIPPING TOWER PROBLEM ON WEST CHUBBUCK TO BE ADDRESSED. WE NEED TO CONSTRUCT A SCREENING BUILDING AROUND THE METAL STRUCTURE AND ALSO DIFFUSE THE NOISE EMITTED BY THE FANS TO ELIMINATE THE NOISE THAT IS OBJECTIONABLE TO THE NEIGHBORS. WE WILL BE ON THIS IN THE SPRING AND EARLY SUMMER. WE NEED ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF WATER PRESSURE ON OUR EAST BENCH, SPECIFICALLY THE HART PROPERTY THAT AT THIS TIME IS UNDEVELOPED. A BOOSTER PUMP IS PROBABLY THE MOST EFFICIENT METHOD TO PROVIDE THE WATER PRESSURE THAT WILL BE NEEDED IN THIS AREA AND IT WILL ALSO INCREASE N%_101 N....01 City of Chubbuck John 0. Colant; Mayor 77wmas J. HObnes, City Anorney LeRoy S. Quick. Councibnan Ron C Conlin, City Clerk/Treasurer G:ZD Steven M. Englw&, Councibnan Steven M- Smart, Public Works Director W. Dean Wood� Councibnan P.O. Box 5604 Mary C Gunter, Councilman 5160 Yeflowstone Ave. Cbubbuck, ED 83202-0006 Phone (208) 237-2400 THE PRESSURE TO THE BUNCE SUB—DIVISION. WE HAVE SEVERAL PARKS TO DEVELOP. MARY'S PARK, AN ADDITION TO BISTLINE PARK THAT WILL MAKE THIS PARK MORE ACCESSABLE TO THOSE WHO LIVE IN THAT AREA. WE NEED To TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THE PROPERTY MAR. SCALF OWNS IN VISTA PARK SUB—DIVISION. THIS LOCATION WOULD PROVIDE ABOUT AN ACRE AND ONE THIRD, NOT AS LARGE AS WE WOULD LIKE BUT THE ONLY LOCATION THAT IS AVAILABLE TODAY. THE PROPERTY OWNERS IN THIS AREA WERE PROMISED A PARK AND I KNOW OF NO OTHER LOCATION AT THE PRESENT—THE FERGUSON PROPERTY IS "PIE IN THE SKY" I BELIEVE. WE NEED TO BEGIN DEVELOPING LEON CAPELL PARK ADJACENT TO CITY HALL. I WOULD HOPE THAT WE CAN BEGIN A STREET AND PERHAPS PROVIDE A SKATE PARK,, EVEN IF CONSTRUCTED OFWOOD, AT THE PRESENT TIME. AS I HAVE PREVIOUSLY STATED -- IT ONLY TAKES MONEY. THE MAYOR HAS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS PROVIDED THE COUNCIL WITH INFORMATION AS To CITY PROCEEDINGS AND GOINGS ON. I ONLY RECEIVE THIS INFORMATION FROM THE TIME I AM IN CITY HALL OR ABOUT THE COMMUNITY OR I RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS. I NEED THIS INFORMATION FOR ALL CONCERNED. THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL SHOULD NEVER BE CAUGHT BY A QUESTION THAT WE DO NOT HAVE AN ANSWER FOR. IF WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CITY WE ARE UNINFORMED. WE NEED BE. WE DEPEND ON DEPARTMENT HEADS TO KEEP THE MAYOR INFORMED AND THE MAYOR NEEDS TO PASS THIS INFORMATION ON TO THE COUNCIL. I AM HAVING A GREAT TIME AS MAYOR. I EAGERLY LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE. WE AT THE COUNCIL AND WITH THE STAFF AND CITIZENS OF OUR COMMUNITY CAN CONTINUE To MAKE CHUBBUCK A "GREAT" PLACE TO LIVE. MAYOR JOHN 0.