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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007 State of the City AddressCITY OF CHUBS UCK STATE OF THE CITYADDRESS MAYOR STEVENM. ENGLAND JANUARY 9TH 2007 As I complete my first year serving as Mayor, I can truthfully say that is has been an honor and privilege and definitely a learning experience. I appreciate the trust that being in this office entails and will try to never take it for granted We have passed some milestones in 2006. Let me just mention a few of the highlights. In the spring the exterior of the City Offices was remodeled to provide more general parking area and to improve the security of the storage yard and buildings. The design and completion of the project was done almost entirely by city staff and personnel. It was able to be finished before the heavy demands of the summer work schedule and provided much needed improvements as well as adding to the aesthetics of our facility. It is a major improvement accomplished by our own city employees that we can all be proud of. We continued and strengthened our partnership with the Chubbuck/Pocatello Hockey Association. They kept us abreast of their fundraising and planning and design for the facility and we continued to promote the positive and progressive aspects of providing this new venue to the entire Chubbuck/Pocatello Area. The City Council approved using Tax Increment Financing money along with city personnel and equipment to install a lighted outdoor arena as a first phase of the project. It was completed late summer and was used by the Hockey Association as long into the fall as the weather would permit. They have been able to use this first phase to generate new interest in roller hockey in our area as well as an additional springboard for the fundraising efforts to continue moving forward. toward completion of the entire facility. All indications are that they are being very successful. We expect that the completed covered facility will be a reality in the near future. We also had a very positive resolution of the issue with the "Taco Bus". When I came into office, the city staff was in the process of working with the owner of the bus in an effort to bring him into compliance with city ordinances. What began as a temporary business had progressed into a permanent restaurant. It also became apparent that he had a loyal clientele that wanted him to stay in business in Chubbuck. With the help of city staff and a several local professionals, a permanent place was built behind his home next to where the bus was doing business. He opened for business in his new building just after Christmas and seems to be doing well. As a result of solving the conflicting issues, we are preparing an ordinance that will help us provide better for temporary businesses. Thanks to all who made this effort turn out so successfully. At the beginning of the summer, from information provided by city staff and consulting engineers, it was determined that an adjustment was needed in both water and sewer rate structures in the city. It was also determined upon the completion of both sewer and water feasibility studies that we implement connection fees for new construction in the city to provide for infrastructure upgrade and improvement associated with the growth. To raise the rates and implement the fees was not an easy decision but will provide the ability to help meet these infrastructure needs into the future. We have made some giant leaps forward in providing for future sewer service in our impact areas both to the west and north of the city. This effort was begun several years ago with the encouragement and vision of Mayor Cotant and other leaders in both Pocatello and the county at the time. We are planning on the continued cooperation of both the leadership in the county and Pocatello to help us move this project along as rapidly as possible. It will be one of the major efforts of the city in 2007. Growth in the city has been steady. Most is in the form of residential subdivisions with some new retail. Our City limits moved west of Philbin Road for the first time with the annexation of 2 new subdivisions in December. Of course the most prominent new structure in the city is the new Idaho Central Credit Union Administrative Office Building. It is a real honor to have Idaho Central decide to make this investment in our community. We have also felt the influence of the new Pocatello Towne Square Development by our southern border with Pocatello. Additional retail businesses have been added in our city boundary in that same area. The Pine Ridge Mall has lost a few stores but the management is very optimistic about not only replacing those businesses but the overall future of the mall and surrounding area. The future is bright for having additional business locate here. Yesterday HOKU Manufacturing, a provider of materials for solar panels, announced that it was going to locate a new facility at the Pocatello Airport Industrial Complex. When completed, it will provide 200 new jobs to the local economy. They plan to start construction of a 220 Million dollar complex in the spring, with all the related construction jobs, and be in operation by the end of 2008. All indications are that this will be just the first of many new employers that may locate here. We are engaged with these efforts to encourage this potential growth to our area. In the past year we have established or enhanced. relationships not only with Pocatello and Bannock County, but with ISU, the Pocatello/Chubbuck School District and INL as well as the Chamber of Commerce, the local Auditorium District, and Bannock Development Corporation. I feel it is important not only to continue to foster these relationships but to also reach out in a cooperative effort to other south eastern Idaho communities from Rexburg to Soda Springs and from American Falls to Malad. Much can be accomplished by positive communication and encouragement of progress on shared goals. Each of the departments in the city has adjusted and stepped up to help meet the demands of the growth in the city. Anew employee was added in both the police and fire departments as well as a full time computer specialist for the city. Two additional people were hired by public works and additional part time help was added to the parks department to assist with summer seasonal work. We still have to stretch to accomplish all that needs to be done. It has been a great privilege for me to work with our dedicated city employees in providing the day to day services that many times are taken for granted. I believe that I can report that the "State Of The City" is good. As you can see, we are progressing in most areas and are striving to improve in others. The well being of the city is very dependant on the makeup and character of its citizens. For the most part I feel are very fortunate in those who have chosen to make Chubbuck their home. As city leaders we appreciate the support and input of the good people of the city. I know that many good and charitable acts are performed every day just neighbor to neighbor. I believe the future of Chubbuck is bright and pledge my best efforts to continue to move us forward. Thank You.