HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986 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