HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998 State of the City AddressTHIS PAST YEAR, I BELIEVE, HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST PRODUCTIVE YEARS AND -
IMPROVEMENTS MADE IN OUR CITY IN MANY YEARS. YELLOWSTONE, NORTH OF THE
INTERSTATE,Ia-BEGINNING TO LOOK MUCH BETTER. YES, WE HAVE A NEED TO
CONTINUE ENCOURAGING IMPROVEMENT AMONG THOSE BUSINESS OWNERS WHO DO NOT
FALL UNDER OUR "GREEN" ORDINANCE. I AM HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL, WORKING
TOGETHER, BE ABLE TO PURSUADE THOSE WHO ARE NOT REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH
THIS ORDINANCE TO DO SO VOLUNTARILY -
OUR CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS HAVE BEEN OUTSTANDING AND EACH YEAR WE CONTINUE
TO EXCEED ALL EXPECTATIONS IN OUR RESIDENTIAL.AREAS. INDEPENDENCE STREET
AND NEARLY THE ENTIRE HERITAGE SUB -DIVISION WILL NEED TO BE NAMED "CHRISTMAS
VILLAGE" THIS NEXT SEASON. I COMPLIMENT ALL IN THE CITY WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED
IN CHRISTMAS DECORATING IN ANY MANNER. OUR WEAK AREA OF PARTICIPATION IS IN
OUR BUSINESS DISTRICT. HOWEVER THOSE BUSINESS OWNERS WHO DID DECORATE I
CONGRATULATE YOU FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT. THE CITY WILL
CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR DECORATIONS IN ALL AREAS OF THE CITY. OUR PARK
EMPLOYEES ARE CONTINUING WORK ON CHRISTMAS SCENE TYPE OF DECORATIONS FOR
FUTURE PLACEMENT IN AREAS OF THE CITY. I ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESS
TO JOIN THIS CELEBRATION IN THE FUTURE IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO.
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WE CONTINUE TO HAVE NEW BUSINESS LOCATING CHUBBUCK. WE HAVE BUSINESS FIRMS,
I CANNOT NAME AT THE PRESENT, WHICH CITIZENS HAVE WANTED TO LOCATE IN OUR
AREA, INTERESTED AND COULD SOON BE IN OUR COMMUNITY. TO ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT
WITHIN OUR CITY LIMITS WE NEED TO TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.
OUR STREETS NEED ATTENTION IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS. WEST CHUBBUCK ROAD, AFTON ST.
TO THE CANAL, NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS SHOULD TAKE PLACE IMMEDIATELY NOT
FIVE YEARS FROM NOW. EAST CHUBBUCK IS IN THE PROCESS OF BECOMING A 4 -LANE
STREET IN APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS. THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MUST FIND A WAY
OF FINANCING AT LEAST A 3 -LANE PROJECT ON WEST CHUBBUCK. BURLEY DRIVE NEEDS
TO BE IMPROVED TO A GOOD TWO LANE STREET TODAY, NOT TOMORROW. THIS WOULD
ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA. VALENTY ROAD NEEDS THE SAME, IMPROVEMENT
AND WITH THESE IMPROVEMENTS WOULD COME ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN ALL THESE
AREAS MENTIONED. BUSINESS IS CONTINUALLY LOOKING FOR GOOD LOCATIONS AND
STREETS THAT ARE CAPABLE OF MOVING TRAFFIC ARE A MUST. OUR IMPROVEMENT THIS
PAST YEAR ON HILINE ROAD HAS GREATLY IMPROVED TRAFFIC FLOW ALONG THIS STREET.
I SUGGEST IN THE INTERIM OF THE EAST CHUBBUCK ROAD PROJECT THAT THE INTERSECTION
OF CHUBBUCK AND HILINE BECOME A FOUR WAY STOP. THIS APPROACH AT HAWTHORNE AND
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CHUBBUCK HAS BEEN A GREAT IMPROVEMENT AND IT WOULD HELP SAFETY AND TRAFFIC
FLOW ON EAST CHUBBUCK AND HILINE. I REALIZE WE ARE COMING OFF A HILL ON EAST
CHUBBUCK ROAD BUT THIS CAN WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE DURING WINTER MONTHS BE
SAFELY MAINTAINED. I HAVE REVIEWED THIS WITH STAFF THIS MORNING AND TRAFFIC
COUNTS WILL BE TAKEN AT THIS LOCATION AND HELP DETERMINE THE NEED FOR THE
FOUR WAY STOP.
WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH A SUMMER OF LOW WATER CONSUMPTION. OUR RESERVE FUND IN
THE WATER ACCOUNT IS DOWN. AS A MATTER OF FACT OUR RESERVE FUNDS IN ALL OUR
ACCOUNTS ARE LOW BUT THIS DOES NOT NECESSARILY SIGNAL A CAUSE TO RAISE TAXES
OR UTILITY RATES. PERHAPS WE NEED TO BE A BIT MORE FRUGAL FOR A COUPLE OF
YEARS AND THESE ACCOUNTS WILL REBUILD. OUR SEWAGE TREATMENT COST CHARGED BY
THE CITY OF POCATELLO HAS BEEN INCREASED FROM .57 TO .72 PER THOUSAND GALLONS.
POCATELLO HAS INCREASED THE RATE SIMILARILY TO CITIZENS OF THEIR CITY AND
WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS RATE AND DETERMINE WHAT INCREASE 14E NEED IN THIS
AREA TO ACCOMODATE THIS INCREASE.
OUR RESERVE FUNDS ARE LOW AS A RESULT OF USING THESE FUNDS FOR THE PURPOSE
WE HAVE INTENDED. THE ADDITION TO CITY HALL AND THE ACOUISITION OF PROPERTY
TO THE EAST OF CITY HALL ON HIGHWAY AVENUE HAVE COST A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY.
I AM GRATEFUL WE HAD THE MONEY TO DO THIS EXPANSION. I BELIEVE OUR FUNDS WILL
REBUILD IN A COUPLE OF YEARS. WE NEED TO WATCH OUR SPENDING FOR A TIME.
IT IS ALWAYS EASY, SO TO SPEAK, TO RAISE TAXES OR FEE� HOWEVER I DO NOT SEE
ANY MOOD IN THE CITIZENRY TO ACCOMODATE A TAX INCREASE NOR DO I SEE ANY DESIRE
TO HAVE UTILITY RATES INCREASED. I DO SEE PEOPLE, TAX PAYERS, LOOKING TO US
TO REDUCE OUR TAX MILL LEVY NOT INCREASE IT.I FAIL TO SEE ANY ENTHUSIASM AMONG
OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO INCREASE IN ANY AREAS IF -WE CAN AVOID THIS. WE NEED
TO CONTINUE TO USE CAUTION AS TO HOW WE SPEND AND WHERE WE SPEND..
I REALIZE THERE ARE NEEDS IN ALL AREAS FOR INCREASED FUNDS. THERE ALWAYS ARE.
I LOOK AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THEY HAVE AN UNENDING NEED FOR INCREASED
FUNDING. WE HAVE METH LABS OPERATING IN THE CITY THAT WE DO NOT HAVE THE
MANPOWER TO IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN AND ARREST THOSE INVOLVED. HOWEVER, I
SUGGEST UNTIL WE HAVE A LEGAL SYSTEM THAT CAN RESPOND, WHEN THE POLICE MAKES
THESE ARRESTS, WITH PUNISHMENT AND INCARCERATION, WE ARE FIGHTING A LOSING
BATTLE. THESE LABS ARE CONFISCATED ONE DAY AND A MONTH OR LESS LATER THESE
SAME INDIVIDUALS ARE OUT ON THE STREET AND INVOLVED IN THE SAME BUSINESS.
I DO NOT BLAME THE JUDICIARY NECESSARILY BUT PERHAPS WE NEED A CHANGE IN LAW
THAT WILL ALLOW DIFFERENT METHODS OF INCARCERATION AND ALLOW THOSE CONVICTED
OF SOMEWHAT MINOR CRIMES REMAIN OUT OF JAIL. A STIFF FINE WOULD GET THE
ATTENTION OF MOST OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, THE LOSS OF THEIR DRIVING PRIVILEGES
AND EVEN THE IMPOUNDMENT OF THEIR AUTOMOBILES -FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS COULD
POSSIBLY RELEAVE THE OVER FLOW INTO OUR JAIL SYSTEM.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. CONTINUALLY WE HAVE APPLICATIONS
MADE FOR DEVELOPMENT IN OUR CITY, A ZONE CHANGE IS NEEDED AND PERMITTED PERHAPS
UNDER THE COMP PLAN, AND YET THE DEVELOPMENT IS DENIED. CITIZENS NEED TO BE
INVOLVED IN DETERMING HOW THIS CITY IS TO GROW. CITIZENS DO NOT UNDERSTAND OUR
COMP PLAN AND UNTIL IT "HITS" IN THEIR VICINITY THEY HAVE NO CONCERN. AND BY
THAT TIME WE COULD BE IN A LEGAL PROBLEM WHEN WE DENY AN APPLICATION. ONE OF
THE METHODS TO HOLD THE LINE ON PROPERTY TAX WITHIN OUR CITY IS TO DEVELOP
VACANT LAND THAT LIES WITHIN THE CITY BOUNDARIES. CHANGE IS COMING AND WHETHER
I AGREE WITH IT OR NOT IT IS COMING AND WE MUST ACCOMODATE IT IN A MANNER THAT
WILL BE FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF CITY TAX PAYERS AND THE PROPERTY OWNER CONCERNED.
I MAY WISH CHUBBUCK HAD CONTINUED TO BE AS IT WAS WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE IN
1941. QUIET, PEACEFUL, VIRTUALLY NO TRAFFIC ON CHUBBUCK ROAD, EAST OR WEST.
HOWEVER, WE ARE NOT THE SAME CITY. THERE ARE THOSE WHO DID NOT WANT ANY HOUSING
TO DEVELOP WEST OF HAWTHORNE ROAD BUT IT HAS AND WE HAVE ACCOMODATED THAT GROWTH.
THEY WANTED NO DEVELOPMENT ON THE BENCH ABOVE HILINE ROAD BUT THAT DEVELOPMEN
HAS COME AND WE HAVE ACCEPTED AND ACCOMODATED THIS CHANGE. WE NEED TO REGULATE
BUT ACCOMODATE CHANGE THAT BENEFITS THE MAJORITY OF THE CITIZENS.
OUR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS CONTINUE TO PERFORM WELL. OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE
DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND THEY AND THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE TO BE COMPLIMENTED.
WE HAVE THROUGH THE YEARS HAD TO ACCOMODATE INCREASE IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE TIME HAS COME WHEN WE MUST LOOK TO CHANGE IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND IT
COULD COST MORE THAN IT HAS IN THE PAST. IN MY JUDGEMENT IT IS IMPERATIVE
THAT WE INTEGRATE OUR CITY MAINTENANCE AND OTHER EMPLOYEES, WHO DESIRE, INTO
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THESE EMPLOYEES WOULD PROVIDE THE CITY WITH NEARLY A FULL
TIME MANNED FIRE DEPARTMENT DURING THE EIGHT HOUR DAY. THESE HOURS ARE WHEN
THE VOLUNTEERS ARE COMMITTED TO THEIR FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT. HOWEVER THEIR
EMPLOYERS H. I AVE ALWAYS ALLOWED THESE VOLUNTEERS TO RESPOND TO A FIRE AND CONTINUE
THEIR EMPLOYMENT PAY IN MOST CASES. WE NEED DO THE SAME WITH OUR EMPLOYEES. WE
CANNOT EXPECT PRIVATE EMPLOYERS TO SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT IF THE CITY WILL NOT.
THESE TWO GROUPS, FULL TIME CITY EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEER FIREMEN NEED TO BE
INTEGRATED AND WORK EFFICIENTLY AND FRIENDLY TOGETHER. THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS
IN THE PAST. WE ARE MOVING TO RESOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. I AM PROPOSING TO THE
COUNCIL THAT OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AND ANY OTHER VOLUNTEER JOIN WITH THEM IN
TRAINING ON ONE WEEK DAY AFTERNOON EACH WEEK. THESE CITY EMPLOYEES NEED TO BE
TRAINED AS RAPIDLY AS POSSIBLE TO EFFICIENTLY RESPOND TO ANY TYPE OF FIRE.
AS, I STATED, ANY MEMBER OF THE VOLUNTEER FIRE GROUP ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED
TO JOIN IN THIS TRAINING IF YOUR TIME PERMITS. I TRUST THAT ALL CONCERNED
WILL COME TOGETHER AND RECOGNIZE THAT WE MUST ACCOMPLISH THIS INTEGRATION
IMMEDIATELY.
THIS PAST WEEK WE LOST IN OUR CITY, PERHAPS THE ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO GAVE MORE
OF HIS LIFE TO OTHERS, THAN ANY I KNOW OF ANYWHERE. LEON CAPELL, THE LOCAL
BARBER, HAS PASSED ON. LEON WITH HIS WIFE HAVE GIVEN COUNTLESS HOURS IN
SERVICE TO OTHERS AND ESPECIALLY THE YEARS THEY GAVE TO HANDICAPPED YOUTH IN
CAMPING, FISHING, HIKING AND ALL TYPES OF ACTIVITIES. A JOB THAT MOST OF US
WOULD SHY AWAY FROM. I SUGGEST WE RECOGNIZE THE CAPELLS WITH A CITY PARK BEING
NAMED IN THEIR HONOR. COUNCILMAN STEVE ENGLAND HAS MADE THIS SUGGESTION TO ME
AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE THAT WE SHOULD DO So. PERHAPS THE PARK WE PLAN
IMMEDIATELY NORTH OF CITY HALL WOULD BE APPROPRIATE. WE WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS.
APPOINTMENTS:
ROY QUICK --POLICE COMMISSIONER. MARVIN GUNTER-FIRE DEPARTMENT COMMISSIONER.
DEAN WOOD --PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSIONER. STEVE ENGLAND--EMMISSARY TO VARIOUS
COMMITTES IN INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS. STEVE SMART --PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.
RON CONLIN--CITY CLERK AND FINANCE OFFICER. MYRNA CRAPOASSISTANT CITY CLERK
AND FINANCE OFFICER. JERRY ROWLAND--POLICE CHIEF. CHARLIE DICKMAN--FIRE CHIEF.
LARRY MILLER—PARKS AND RECREATION SUPERINTENDANT.
BRYAN HALL --MAINTENANCE FOREMAN. I BELIEVE THIS INCLUDES ALL DEPARTMENTS.
I EXPRESS MY "THANK YOU" TO EACH EMPLOYEE FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO OUR CITY. TO
THE CITIZENS OF CHUBBUCK I EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE YOUR MAYOR.
YOU HAVE TREATED ME AND My WIFE, ALICE, WITH THE UTMOST DIGNITY AND RESPECT. THANK
90U. I THANK OUR VOLUNTEER GROUPS WHO GIVE SO MUCH TIME TO THE BETTERMENT OF
THIS CITY AND AGAIN TO THE CITIZENS FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION, WISDOM, INPUT TO THE
SUPPORT OF CITY PROGRAMS. MY PERSONAL"THANKS", AND I BELIEVE I EXPRESS THE
FEELING OF EVERYONE WHO HAS WORKED WITH HIM, TO TOM HOLMES, OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
IN_,ALL THE TWENTY EIGHT YEARS I HAVE BEEN MAYOR WE HAVE NEVER HAD A CITY ATTORNEY
WHO HAS BEEN AS RESPONSIVE AND DEDICATED TO OUR NEEDS AS HAS TOM HOLMES.
AGAIN, MY"THANK YOU" TO ALL OF YOU.
MAYOR