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State of the City I really appreciate the opportunity provided by the Rochester Kiwanis Club to give the State of the City Address for 2003 in a public forum. To me it is very important the entire community be aware of what their local City Government is doing. This administration has worked very hard on community involvement and communication. The local news media does an excellent job of covering meetings as well as providing space and time for the various public units to inform citizens of community happenings and projects. I may not have fully
appreciated the full extent to which the past State of the City addresses have
impacted the city until I reviewed them preparing for this year. In 2000 I spoke
of the need for a new Fire Station, up dating the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning
Ordinances, City Web-site and getting the replacement of City police cars into a
set rotation plan. In 2001 I spoke of refining the City clean-up program,
community involvement and working with the County on a standard mapping system.
In 2002 topics addressed were hazardous materials, A number of these
items we now take for granted as we have had them for several years. The City of
One item that should
be of interest to all citizens is the financial state of the City of We have sufficient funds on hand to operate in a normal manner well into the year. There will be no capital expenses until after we have received final approval from the State on the city budget for 2003 and know for sure when the tax statements will go out as well as when our funds for the year will be received. Some items take a lot of planning and just will not happen in the space of a year. A new Fire Station is one of these. This administration is aware of the need for a new Fire Station but would like to be in a position to construct it without having an additional tax on the tax rolls to pay for it. In three years we have set aside $320,000.00 in Community Host Fees, established the Rainy Day Fund and set aside $180,000.00 and have over $100,000.00 in the Cumulative Capital Development Fund that could be used. In three years we have set aside, in cash, over half the anticipated cost of a new fire station. The Rainy Day fund was a real blessing for cities and towns and was allowed by the State Legislature in 2001. Prior to that it was difficult for a city to set aside funds for large expenses. We are allowed at the end of each year to place unspent funds from the budget into the Rainy Day Fund up to 10 percent of our budget. One other item I feel is very important and I feel confident we will finally see progress on this year is an Industrial Park. This will take the real cooperation of the City, County and FEDCO. I feel for the first time in years we have all three units thinking of this and by working together we can accomplish it. No matter where an Industrial Park is located there will be obstacles to overcome including infrastructure, drainage, traffic as well as location. The first step is for all to support the idea, from that point it is one step at a time until we see the project come to life. A general meeting was held last week to lay the very basic groundwork, which was no more than the united thought that Rochester/Fulton County does need an Industrial Park. In my opinion we need to continue communicating along these lines, keep the various councils informed as well as the public. There is no doubt an Industrial Park will take a lot of money but we do need to get out of the stage of talking and move to the next step with some type commitment. I am very comfortable we will have a form of GIS mapping in working order before this year is over. In a recent joint meeting with county officials it was determined the 911 mapping system is in place and working fine on a number of city and county computers. The Rochester Police and Fire Departments are using the 911 map at the present time. The Building Commissioner has the Zoning Maps overlaid on that map and is in the process of working out problems and details. Within the month the map will be presented to the Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals for their thoughts and then to the Rochester City Council. Details will need to be worked out for water and sanitary sewer lines but I am hopeful those layers could be added in the near future. The The I did have a very pleasant surprise as I prepared for the recent annual planning session for the city. I wanted to make sure all elected officials, superintendents, boards and commissions were informed of the meeting. This involved contacting approximately 55 individuals. I was able to contact all but five by e-mail. This is a very quick, easy and efficient method of communication and a good way to keep everyone informed. I have an e-mail database with over one hundred addresses at the present time and continue to expand this at every opportunity. This is an excellent way, and in our busy times, a very easy way to get information to our citizens and I hope to get ideas communicated to the city. I do have several individuals whom I hear form on a regular basis concerning anything from a street light out to a thought or idea to improve something within the city. Anyone who would like to be added to this database may contact me at their convenience, I would think the easiest way would be the city web site which is www.rochester.in.us I am looking forward
to another good year for the City of Thank you for this
opportunity to speak to you this afternoon, I do hope it can become an annual
tradition.
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