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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1983-0104 STATE OF CITY STATE OF THE CITY January 4, 1983 TO THE CITIZENS OF ASHLAND: ONE OF THE MOST GRATIFYING DUTIES OF THE MAYOR'S JOB FOR ~ HAS BEEN TO PRESENT THE ANNUAL "STATE OF THE CITY" ADDRESS EACH YEAR. THIS YEAR IS NO EXCEPTION, BECAUSE IN MY OPINION, ASHLAND IS A MORE LIVABLE CFrY TODAY THAN IT WAS A YEAR AGO. HISTORY WILL PROVE THAT 1982 WAS A GOOD YEAR FOR THE CITIZENS OF ASHLAND. IN SPITE OF THE DEPRESS- ED ECONO~.~ AND OTHER OBSTACLES YOUR CITY GOVERNMENT ATTAINED SEVERAL NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHI~NTS MAKING ASttI~ND AN EVEN GREATER PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE AND WORK. BEFORE I LIST THESE ACCOMPLISh~iENTS, LET ME GIVE YOU MY ECONOMIC OUTLOOK FOR 1983. RECENT ECONOMIC REPORTS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEl, GIVE PROMISE OF CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT IN THE NATIONAL ECONOMY. LOWER INTEREST RATES, REDUCED INFLATION, FASTER GROWTH OF THE MONEY SUPPLY, STOCK PRICE IMPROVE- MENTS AND NEW ACTIVITY IN THE HOUSING INDUSTRY HAVE PROVIDED A NEW BASIS FOR OPTIMISM BOTH IN AND OUT OF GOVERNMENT. THE SAME iS TRUE HERE IN ASHLAND,AND I AM HIGHLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT ASHLAND'S ECONOMIC OUTLOOK FOR 1983. AFTER MONTHS OF STAGNATION, ASHLAND'S ECONOMY IS SHOWING SOME ENCOURAGING SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT. REAL ESTATE SALES HAVE PICKED UP,WHILE BUILDING PE~vlITS FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS HAVE AD~OST DOUBLED OVER THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR. TOURISM, OUR LARGEST INDUSTRY, WAS UP IN '82 - THE ATTENDANCE FOR ALL SHAKESPEAREAN FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES TOTALLED $483,000 a 28% INCREASE OVER '81~ EARLY TICKET SALES FOR THE '83 SEASON ARE PROMISING, WHICH GIVES US CONFIDENCE THAT THE FESTIVAL WILL HAVE ANOTHER EXCELLENTYEARAND PROB- ABLY SURPASS THE $46 MILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT IT ttAD ON OUR LOCAL ECONOMY IN 1982. ALTHOUGH STUDENT REGISTRATION WAS DOWN SLIGHTLY THiS FALL OVER LAST, THE OUTLOOK FOR SOSC REMAINS BRIGHT. HOPEFULLY, SOSC WILL SOON BECOME SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY AS PROPOSED BY PRESIDENT NAT SICURO,AND WHICH WE SUPPORT WHOLEHEARTEDLY. BOTH THE NEWMULTI-MILLION DOLLAR DRA~ BUILDING -1- D~iCATED LAST MAY AND THE NEW ONE AND ONE QUARTER MILLION DOLLAR ATHLETIC STADIUM NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION WILL INCREASE THE 50 MILLION DOLLAR CON- TRIBUTION SOSC MAKES TO OUR ECONOMY ANNUALLY. WITH THE ENCOURAGING PICK-UP IN THE LUMBER BUSINESS AND THE CROMAN CORPORATION'S PURCHASE OF McGREW SAWMILL, JOBS FOR 80 TO 100 WORKERS HAVE BEEN SAVED, ASSURING THE CONTINUANCE OF AN IMPORTANT PAYROLL IN OUR CITY. THE RECENT OPENING OF A NEW PIZZA HUT AND THE PLANNED OPENING OF A NEW McDONALD'S IN EARLY S~E~ WILL PROVIDE A LARGE NUMBER OF NEW JOBS FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS. ASHLAND'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COPtMISSION UNDER CIIA~,~N BEN TYRAN'S LEADERSHIP AND THE ASHLAND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION UNDER PRESI- DENT MARION KREBS ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO BRING CLEAN INDUSTRY INTO OUR CITY TO CREATE MORE JOBS AND FURTHER IMPROVE THE ECONOMY. A NEW 21 ACRE INDUSTRIAL PARK MAY SOON BE A REALITY INSTEAD OF JUST A DREAM. CITY OFFICIALS WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE VOTERS, [~VE SEVERAL CAPITA]] IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS UNDERWAYWHICH WILL STRENGTHEN THE CITY'S ECONOMY A~JD ASSURE CONTINUED RELIABLE UTILITY SERVICES TO OUR CITIZENS. THESE PROJECTS ARE: 1.7 MILLION DOLLAR UPGRADING OF THE CITY'S WATER SYSTEM AND CONSTRUCTION OF A 2 MILLION GALLON RESERVOIR WHICH WILL PROVIDE ADEQUATE WATER AND PRESSURE TO ALL SECTIONS OF OUR CITY. $ $650,000 DOLLAR CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW CITY WAREHOUSE AND YARD. $ $38,000 DOLLAR REMODELLING OF CITY HALL. THESE, IN ADDITION TO THE NEW $700,000 DOLLAR CIVIC CENTER WHICH WAS DEDICATED LAST YEAR AND PAID FOR BY REVENUE SHARING FUNDS WAS PART OF A CONTINUING CITY POLICY FOR INVESTMENT OF REVENUE SHARING FUNDS IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL PROVIDE LONG-TERM COST SAVINGS TO THE CITY. YES, I AN CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL S~AN INCREASED ACTIVITY IN THE LUMBER AND BUILDING INDUSTRY NEXT YEAR. THI~ IN ADDITION TO AN INCREASE IN TOURIS~ WILL ASSURE A STRONG ECONOMY FOR OUR CITY. NOW BACK TO THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF 1982. FIRST LET ME GIVE CREDIT TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH TO OUR COMMUNITY'S PROGRESS. WITHOUT THE HELP OF 150 CITIZENS WHO SERVE AS MEMBERS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES; 140 CITY EMPLOYEES (320 COUNTING HOSPITAL), THE CITY RECORDER, -2- AMn THE SIX DEDICATED MEMBERS OF THE CITY COb~CIL, THIS RECORD OF ACCOMP~ L MENTS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE. THANK YOU ONE AND ALL~ ACCOMPLISHMENTS: IF THE PAST IS A PRELUDE, THEN WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO TIlE FUTURE WITH A GREAT DEAL OF OPTIMISM. AS YOUR MAYOR I GET GREAT SATISFACTION OUT OF REFLECTING ON OUR ACHIEVEMENTS AND TO SHARE THESE REFLECTIONS WITH YOU. HERE ARE FOUR HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 1982 ON WHICH I BASE MY ENTHUSIASM AND OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK FOR 1983: 1. ONE MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR WATER BOND ISSUE PASSED BY VOTERS. THIS WILL ALLOW THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW 2 MILLION GALLON RESERVOIR, REPLACEMENT OF SEVEHAL OLD LEAKING PIPES, AND THE INSTALLATION OF LARGER LINES TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH SECTIONS OF THE CITY SO AS TO PROVIDE AN ADEQUATE WATER SUPPLY AND PRESSURE TO ALL SECTIONS OF THE CITY. 2. NEW ENERGY CONTRACT SIGNED WITH B.P.A. THE SIGNING OF A NEW 20 YEAR ELECTRIC SUPPLY CONTRACT WITH BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRA- TION WAS A HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT IN 1982. THIS CON- TRACT PROVIDES OUR CUSTOMERS WITH A RELIABLE SUPPLY OF ELECTRIC ENERGY AT A SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER COST THAN FROM OTHER AVAILABLE SOURCES,AND MAKES OUR CITY ELIGIBLE FOR PARTICIPATION IN CON- SERVATION AND WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM FUNDS WHICH WILL PAY LARGE COST AND ENERGY SAVINGS DIVIDENDS FOR YEARS TO COME. OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE ARE FAVORABLE CONTRACT TERMS WHICH ALLOW THE CITY TO PHASE DOWN IT'S RELIANCE ON ELECTRIC REVENUES WITHOUT A SERIOUS DISRUPTION OF BASIC CITY SERVICES. HOWEVER, THE CITY COUNCIL AND BUDGET CO~iITTEE WILL NEED TO GIVE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO NEW SOURCES OF REVENUE AS ELECTRIC REVEN'UE SUPPORT FOR THE GENERAL FUND BEGINS TO DECREASE. 3. CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMPLETED. THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN WAS COMPLETED, APPROVED AND SENT TO LCDC WITH COMPLIANCE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT EXPECTED LATER THIS YEAR, THIS DOCU- MENT PLANS FOR ORDERLY GROWTH IN OUR CITY FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS. 4. $300,000 ADDITION TO ASHLAND COMMUNITY HOSPITAL. THIS ADDITION. TO THE CITY-OWNED 66 BED MEDICAL FACILITY INCLUDED AN EXPANDED RECOVERY ROOM~ INCREASED THE CENTRAL SlIPPLY AREA, ,MEN AND WOMEN'S LOUNGE FACILITIES FOR SURGERY CR~qS, A DOCTOR'S LIBRARY AND IM- PROVED SURGICAL SUITES. TttE COST WAS PAID FROM REVENUE GENERATED -3- FROM PATIENT FEES AND WILL PROVIDE IMPROVED HIGH QUALITY MEDICAL CARE TO THE CITIZENS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND SURROUNDING AREAS. AS YOUR .MAYOR ITS ~N HONOR TO HAVE PLAYED A PART IN HELPING ATTAIN THESE SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 1982, THE BENEFITS WHICH WILL BE ENJOYED BY GENERATIONS TO COME. NOW PLEASE PE~4IT ME TO RELATE TO YOU SOME NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS REPORTED BY THE VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS LAST YEAR. FINANCE DEPARTMENT FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A RO1~ WE RECEIVED A FLAWLESS AUDIT REPORT FROM THE CITY'S AUDITORS. FINANCE DIRECTOR BOB NELSON AND STAFF ARE TO BE COMMENDED FOR THEIR EFFICIENCY, ACCURACY AND FRUITFM~ LABORS. ~ IN COOPERATION WITH CITY RECORDER NAN FRANKLIN, DIRECTOR NELSON REPORTED INTEREST EARNINGS FROM INVESTI~NT OF CITY FUNDS REACHED AN ALL-TIME HIGH OF $511,420.00. ~ THE CITY'S STATE-MANDATED WORK ORDER ACCOUNTING PROCEDURE WAS CERTIFIED AND USED AS A MODEL FOR OTHER CITIES. POLICE DEPARTMENT ~ AFTER MONTHS OF PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION THE, ASHLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A COMPUTER COMMUNICATION CENTER SECOND TO NONE WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES OUR SIZE THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THIS COMMUNICATION CENTER IS EQUIPPED WITH THE LATEST~SO~H~STICATED .HIGH TECHNOLOGY ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT AND IS A PART OF THE SOUTHERN OPZGON CRIMINAL INFORMATION COMPUTER SYSTEM. FORMERLY ALL SUCH CRIMINAL INFORMATION WAS WRITTEN UP ON PAPER AND STORED IN FILE CABINETS, BUT NOW IS STORED IN THE COMPUTER AND CAN BE RETRIEVED ALMOST INSTANTLY WHEN NEEDED. THIS SYSTEM ALSO SUPPLIES A MONTHLY PRINT- OUT SHOWING THE ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT, EACH INDIVIDUAL OFFICER AND CUMULATIVE FIGURE~ ON CASES REPORTED, CLEARED AND ARRESTS .MADE, NOT ONLY HAS THIS SYSTEM INCREASED THE EFFICIENCY OF THE DEPARTMEN~ TREMENDOUSLY BUT AS THE DATA BASE INCREASES, SO WILL ADDITIONAL BENEFITS. ~ IN '82 THE POLICE RESERVE DIVISION GA~E 4,925 VOLUNTEER HOURS AND THE EXPLORERS POST GAVE 756 FOR A TOTAL OF 5281 VOLUNTEER HOURS OF ADDITIONAL POLICE PROTECTION TO OUR CITY AT A VERY MINI.MAL COST TO THE TAXPAYERS. TO EACH OF THESE RESERVES AND EXPLORERS WE SAY THANK YOU,SINCERELY. -4- THE CITIZENS OF ASHLAND CAN BE TRULY THANKFUL FOR THEIR FINE POLICE DEPARTMENT UNDER THE CAPABLE LEADERSHIP OF CHIEF VIC LIVELY. ALTHOUGH UNDED~NNED AND RESTRICTED BY A TIGHT BUDGET, YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TURNED IN AN EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE IN 1982. FIRE DEPARTMENT YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT ADDED THREE MORE STUDENT FIREFIGHTERS IN '82 BRINGING THE TOTAL TO SIX. THIS PROVIDES THREE ADDITIONAL PERSONS AT EACH STATION WITH ALL SIX AVAILABLE TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCY CALLS AT NIGHT. THIS INNOVATIVE PROGRAM SUPPLIES ADDITIONAL TRAINED PERSONNEL FOR INCREASED FIRE PROTECTION AT MINIMUM COST. UNDER COMPETENT FIRE CHIEF LEE ROY KING, A PLAN WAS IMPLEMENTED WITH JACKSON COUNTY FIRE DIST. 5, ALLOWING THEM TO HANDLE ALL EMERGENCY MEDICAL CALLS IN THEIR AREA WHICH PERMITS ASHLAND'S RESCUE UNIT TO RE~IN ON CALL iN THE CITY TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF ASHLAND. ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT UNDER A GRANT PROGRAM OF THE BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION, 1500 MERCURY VAPOR STREET LIGHTS WERE CHANGED TO HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM VAPOR LIGHTS AS A CONSERVATION MEASURE. THIS WILL RESULT IN A SUBSTANTIAL ANNUAL SAVINGS OF ENERGY. SINCE BONNEVILLE FUNDED THE EXPENSE TO THE CHANGE-OVER, THERE WAS NO COST TO THE CITY. 0 1982 WAS THE 16th STRAIGHT YEAR OF NO-TIME-LOSS INJURIES WITHIN THE ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT. THIS IS A TRULY OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT FOR ANY TRADE, BUT EVEN MORE SO FOR SUCH HAZARDOUS WORK AS THAT DONE BY OUR ELECTRICAL DEPARTPZNT. CONGRATb%ATIONS ARE ALSO IN ORDER TO EMPLOYEES IN ALL OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS FOR NO-TIME-LOSS INJURIES IN 1982. THE LEAGUE OF OREGON CITIES RECOGNIZED THIS DEDICATION TO SAFETY BY PRESENTING ASHLAND WITH IT'S ANNUAL SAFETY AWARD GIVEN CITIES WITH OVER 300 EMPLOYEES WHO HAD N0-TIME-LOSS INJURIES DURING THE YEAR. A TRULY ENVIABLE RECORD~ THIS DEDICATION TO SAFETY HAS SAVED OUR RESIDENTS THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN WORKMAN COMPENSATION CLAIMS WHILE EARNING LARGE INSURANCE REFUND DIVIDENDS. AFTER 36 YEARS OF DEDICATED, EFFICIENT AND HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE SERVICE TO THE CITY OF ASHLAND, BERNIE KRUG, DIRECTOR OF ELECTRIC UTILITIES RETIRED DECEMBER 31, 1982. UNDER HIS CAPABLE MANAGED%NT, THE CITY'S ELECTRIC SYSTEM HAS BEEN REBUILT AND UPGRADED UNTIL IT IS NOW ONE OF THE FINEST OF ANY MUNICIPALLY-OWNED ELECTRIC SYSTEMS IN THE STATE. THE CITIZENS OF ASHLAND WILL BENEFIT FROM BERNiE KRUG'S EXEMPLARY SERVICE -5- FOR YEARS TO COME. HE WILL BE HARD TO REPLACE AND WE WILL MISS HIM BUT WISH HIM THE BEST OF HEALTH AND HAPPINESS IN HIS RETIREMENT. PUBLIC WORKS THE ENGINEERING DIVISION PLANNED AND COMPLETED THE FIRST MAJOR SIDEWALK REPAIR PROJECT IN THE CITY SINCE THE 1950's - NUMEROUS DANGEROUS SECTIONS OF Si~ALK WERE ELIMINATED THUS PROVIDING INCREASEi SAFETY TO PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS. A MAjOR PORTION OF THE T,I.D. IRRIGATION SYSTEM THROUGH LITHIA PARK WAS REPLACED THEREBY ENHANCING THE RELIABILITY OF THE SYSTEM AND PROTECTING THE PARK FROM EROSION. ~ AN UPDATED AIRPORT MASTER PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT WERE COMPLETED AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL. ~ ON DECEMBER 31, 1982 A "LIVING LEGEND" RETIRED AFTER 35 YEARS OF DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVICE TO THE CITY OF ASHLAND. WATER'SUpERINTENDEI7~ ED FALLON OFFICIALLY CLOSED HIS RATE BOOK AND REPORT PAD FOR THE LAST TIME. ED'S CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD IMPROVING THE Qi~LITY OF LIFE IN OUR CITY ARE TOO NUMEROUS TO LIST AT THIS TIME. SUFFICE TO SAY, THE CITY WATER TREATMENT PLANT AND WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITY ARE SECOND TO NONE WHEN COMPARED TO CITIES THE SIZE OF ASHLAND, LARGELY DUE TO ED'S EXPERTISE AND YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE. CRUSTY~ CANDID, BUT TOTALLY HONEST, ED FALLON WILL BE HARD TO REPLACE BUT WE WISH HIM THE BEST OF HEALTH AND HAPPINESS IN THE RETIREMENT HE SO JUSTLY DESERVES. PLANNING DEPARTMENT 1982 WAS A YEAR OF GRO~H AND CHANGE FOR THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. A NEW ENERGY CONSERVATION COORDINATOR WAS APPOINTED AND ASHLAND'S FIRST ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAM WAS BEGUN. ONE ESSENTIAL PART OF THAT PROGRAM IS THAT OF RESIDENTIAL WEATHERIZATION. IN 1982 W~ RECEIVED 591 AUDIT REQUESTS WITH 341 AUDITS COMPLETED AND 133 HOMES WEATHERIZED BY YEAR'S END. THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL THAT THE CITY RECEIVED AN AWARD FROM THE LEAGUE OF OREGON CITIES FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN ENERGY CONSERVATION. 1982 ALSO SAW THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT ENTER THE COMPUTER AGE. 0N APPROVAL FROM THE COUNCIL, PLANNING DIRECTOR JOHN FREGONESE PURCHASED A MICRO-COMPUTER FOR $6,000 ~ICH HAS PROVEN TO BE ONE OF THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE INVESTMENTS MADE BY THE CITY. IT HAS TREMENDOUSLY IMPROVED THE EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. AND ENERGY AUDIT PROGRAM. -6- THE CITY OF ASHLAND,THROUGH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S IMPLEMENTA- TION OF THE STATE'S FIRST SOLAR ACCESS AND RESTRAINT ORDINANCES, AND THE ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAM,HAS GAINED NATIONAL RECOGNITION - THANKS TO THE DEDICATION AND EXPERTISE OF PLANNING DIRECTOR JOHN FREGONESE, ENERGY COORDINATOR DICK WANDERSCHEID AND THEIR CAPABLE STAFFS. LET ME EMPHASIZE THAT THESE ARE ONLY A FEW OF THE HIGHLIGHTS. THERE ARE YJNY OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION. I MUST GIVE CREDIT TO CITY ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN ALMQUIST FOR Ills DEDICATION AND MANAGEMENT SKILLS WHICH PL~ED A HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT PART IN THESE ACCOMPLISHM'ENTS. THE CITY OF ASHLAND IS LUCKY TO tb~VE HAD THIS OUT- STANDING CITY ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS -- AND I HOPE HE STAYS HERE MANY, MANY MORE. AS I STATED EARLIER,ASHLAND TODAY IS A MORE LIVABLE CITY THAN IT WAS A YEAR AG~ AND HERE ARE THREE FINANCIAL FACTS THAT MAKE ASHLAND THE ENVY OF MOST EVERY OTHER CITY IN THE STATE. OUT OF THE 51 LARGEST CITIES IN THE STATE ONLY 2 HAVE A LOWER CITY TAX~ ~ THE CITY OF ASHLAND'S BONDED DEBT IS ONLY 1/2 OF 1 PERCENT OF OUR LEGAL STATUT~JRY DEBT LIMIT~ ~ WHEN COMBINING BOTH ELECTRIC UTILITY COSTS AND PROPERTY TAXES - ASHLAND RANKS 45 OUT OF 51 CITIES WITH 5 M POPULATION OR OVERf YES, ASHLAND IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK, BUT WE MUST CONTINUE TO PLAN AND WORK TOWARD IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL CITIZENS. AS MAYOR, IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO "KEEP THE SHIP ON COURSE". I RECENTLY SENT TO THE COUNCIL AND STAFF A LIST OF CITY OBJECTIVES, BOTH SHORT AND LONG TERM, W~ICH WHEN AND IF ATTAINED WILL FURTHER ENHANCE THE LIVABILITY OF OUR CITY. .THESE OBJECTIVES ARE: SHORT TERM UPGRADING OF CITY WATER SYSTEM AND BUILDING NEW RESERVOIR.* CONSTRUCTION OF NEW CITY WAREHOUSE AND YARD.* CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN REMODEL CITY HALL.* BUILD AN 18 HOLE GOLF COURSE HYDRO-GENERATOR AT REEDER DAM CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION'S EFFORTS TO ATTRACT NEW INDUSTRY TO ASHLAND * Project funded and already under~way. -7- LONG TERM COMPREHENSIVE STREET PLAN-INCLUDING AN ON & OFF RAMP AT MOIfNTAIN AND PAVING OF MOUNTAIN FROM I-5 TO END OF PRESENT PAVEMENT DOWNTOWN PARKING FACILITY. REBUILD CITY'S STORM DRAIN SYSTEM, A SENIOR CENTER FOR ALL SENIORS MORE MEDIUM PRICED HOUSING, INCLUDING MOBILE HOMES, FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND RETIRED PEOPLE ON FIXED INCOME MoTELs, B HAVE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL I'M SURE ttAVE GOALS THEY TOO WOULD LIKE TO SEE REACHED AND WE'LL BE DISCUSSING THESE AT THE SCHEDULED GOAL SETTING SESSION LATER THIS WEEK. I'M CONFIDENT THAT WITH A FORWARD-LOOKING COUNCIL AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF COMBINING FORCES WITH EACH CITIZEN, ASHLAND WILL CONTINUE TO ENJOY ITS RECORD OF PROGRESS. IN CLOSING, LET ME QUOTE FROM THE LATE HAYOR McKEEN'S 1973 "STATE OF THE CITY" ADDRESS. MAYOR McKEEN SAID "IN SPITE OF MANY OBSTACLES WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY, AND WE HAVE NOW GENERATED THE MOMENTUM TO MAKE ASHLAND AN EVEN GREATER PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE, WORK AND INVEST." TEN YEARS LATER LET ME AS YOUR MAYOR SAY THAT WE TOO HAVE COME A LONG WAY IN THE LAST TEN YEARS,AND WE STILL HAVE THAT MOMENTUbl, BUT WE ALSO CONFIDENCE AND ARE DEDICATED TO MAKE ASHLAND AN EVEN GREATER PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE, WORK AND INVEST. THANK YOU. -8-