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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009 State of the City AddressCITY OF CHUBB UCK STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS MAYOR STEVEN M. ENGLAND JANUARY13 th 2009 As we begin a new year and I reflect on 2008, I again express my appreciation for the honor and privilege it is to serve as your Mayor. Each year I am more impressed with the trust that is granted with this office and opportunity to serve and represent our city and pledge to continue to strive not to take it for granted. I would also like to express my appreciation to those who work for the city or serve the city in any way. Your dedication is very much appreciated from the Department Heads to each employee and from the City Council Members to each volunteer. I am a better person for being able to work and associate with you. You each make a positive difference to the quality of life and future direction of the City of Chubbuck. Thank you for all you do. As a city, we experienced a slowdown in growth especially in the last half of 2008. We were impacted by everything from fuel costs to the downturn of the national economy. I believe our area is, for the most part, still moving forward and has much to be optimistic about. I would like to mention some of the progress that was made in the city this past year and what is proposed for this coming year and beyond. Wilkes Funeral Home opened in the Afton Meadows Subdivision on Chubbuck Road this summer and two additional businesses started construction in that commercial complex. Cardona Apartments, a retirement community complex, that has been under construction on Hawthorne near Chubbuck Road is nearing completion and is planning to begin showing their facility in February. The Party Palace is still operating from the Pine Ridge Mall but continues to have plans for construction at the East Chubbuck Road location. The Chubbuck Square, a storefront business complex on West Burnside, along with two of their tenants, Avery Financial and American Family Insurance are having a ribbon cutting for their businesses this week. We anticipate the beginning of construction on a new Harley Davidson Motorcycle building and service center on Burnside as soon as weather allows and hope to see some movement on additional development on Yellowstone. The storefront businesses on Bullock Road have added an additional building with Radio Shack being their first tenant there. The Pine Ridge Mall has had some store closures recently and the parent company has struggled, but generally it continues to move forward and find ways to creatively attract new tenants. In my visits with mall management, I find them to be optimistic about both the near and long term future of the mall. We continue to have a good working relationship with them. Premier Technologies, who moved their home office location to Blackfoot a few years ago, has restarted part of their production in the Siphon Road site that they now share with Park -a -Way RV sales. They plan some upgrades to their Chubbuck facility and anticipate expansion of their operations in the Chubbuck/Pocatello Area. Doug Sayer and Premier have been a tremendous asset to our area in the past and we anticipate a renewed progressive relationship with them moving into the future. Although we hated to see Cobblestone Nursery close its doors, Battery Systems Inc., a business that specializes in wholesale as well as retail battery sales is moving into that location and will open for business soon. The Alpine Veterinary Clinic is proceeding with the construction of their new facility on the corner of Burley and East Linden. The Cruise for Less auto dealership, a business being established by long time Chubbuck residents, is continuing to develop along with two additional projects proposed for East Chubbuck Road that we should see progress on early this year. We completed the new vehicle maintenance facility and upgrades to the yard at our city complex and are presently in the process of restructuring other existing buildings to better and more efficiently meet our current and future needs. We believe our first year of providing garbage service has been a success and are exploring the possibility of a recycling program that may include curbside recycling. The response to our community input survey has been informative and positive. With the cooperation of the residents the project to upgrade Lucky and Adams streets was mostly completed in 2008. It will be finished as soon as weather allows in the spring with the connection of Adams to Park Lawn and the closing of Adams directly to Yellowstone. The plan going forward is to work with ITD to signalize the intersection of Park Lawn and Yellowstone as soon as the traffic volume warrants it and the funding is available. The contract is in place and work will begin soon on the project to improve and widen Hiline Road from Chubbuck Road south to the interstate. The project will include widening the road to 5 lanes, piping the canal, installation of a round about at the Mountain Park/Mallard intersection, and replacing the interstate bridges. The road improvements are scheduled to be completed by this fall with the bridge replacement completed in 2010. In addition to this project we anticipate the installation of signal lights at the Chubbuck/Hawthorne intersection and the completion of the design, engineering and property acquisition for a round about at the Philbin and Chubbuck Road intersection all to be completed in 2009. We continue to see progress on the effort to provide additional sewer capacity on the north side of the city and in our north and west adjacent impact areas. We anticipate beginning construction on the first phase of the project in 2009 as well. As you may recall, this project has been facilitated by a Joint Powers Board that was formed by Chubbuck, Pocatello, and Bannock County. We have also seen some substantial progress on the rehabilitation or repair of the underground irrigation water siphon along Siphon Road that has been deteriorating over the past several years. With the extensive engineering study that was done this last fall, we hope the federal government will move forward and take the suggested corrective action in a very timely fashion now. We enjoy a good working relationship with both governmental and non - governmental groups and organizations in the area. Mayor Chase and his staff as well as the County Commission and each element of county government have shown a willingness to assist, compromise, and cooperate to benefit the overall well being of the community. We have 10 participated in the hospital resolution discussion, comprehensive plans, traffic planning, mutual aid agreements and more. We have worked with President Valais and ISU in their effort to establish a medical school here as well as other community /university plans and projects. Matt Hunter with the Chamber of Commerce, Gyni Gilliam with Bannock Development, and Mori Byington of Bannock Transportation Planning and their respective staffs have all been a tremendous benefit to the progress or our valley. We have seen cooperative efforts with the Tribe, the School District, INL, the local Auditorium District as well as many, many other organizations, businesses, and individuals stepping up and helping to move the community along. I have also been privileged to be involved in discussions and efforts to coordinate and support a unified and cooperative direction for the communities in Southeast Idaho in particular, as well as work with the Association of Idaho Cities in efforts that benefit the entire state. As we look to the future it is important that we support each other in maintaining and promoting the "quality of life" that we enjoy and work together to encourage that type of growth and development. Once again I believe that I can report that the "State Of The City" is good. Even though the progress in many areas has slowed we are moving forward and have set goals to continue that steady progress. Indications are that we will continue to confront major economic difficulties for some time. Many of our citizens are dealing as families and individuals with new struggles and challenges. Even small changes and efforts when accomplished as a community can make a difference as we look for better times ahead. I know that many good and charitable acts are performed every day just neighbor to neighbor. The well being of the city is very dependant on the makeup and character of its citizens. Once again I feel we are very fortunate in those who have chosen to make Chubbuck their home. As city leaders we appreciate the support and positive input that we receive. I believe the future of Chubbuck is bright and pledge my best efforts to continue to move us forward. Thank You.