Mayor Patrick D. Long
Year 2000
State of the Village address
DELIVERED TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2000
CARLISLE, OHIO
IT IS ONCE AGAIN MY PLEASURE TO ADDRESS THE
COUNCIL, THE STAFF, AND THE CITIZENS OF CARLISLE
PURSUANT TO SECTION 733.41 OF THE OHIO REVISED
CODE. THAT SECTION REQUIRES ME TO REPORT TO THE
LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY OF THE MUNICIPALITY AT
THE FIRST MEETING IN JANUARY CONCERNING THE
AFFAIRS OF THE MUNICIPALITY AND TO RECOMMEND
SUCH MEASURES AS I DEEM PROPER. I HAVE
ALWAYS TAKEN THAT OBLIGATION SERIOUSLY. I VIEW
IT AS MY OPPORTUNITY TO SUMMARIZE THE
EVENTS OF 1999, AND TO HELP FOCUS OUR ATTENTION
ON OUR GOALS FOR 2000.
I WISH THAT I COULD TALK ABOUT 1999 AND NOT
MENTION THE EVENTS THAT SURROUNDED OUR
POLICE DEPARTMENT. HOW CAN YOU TALK ABOUT A
A YEAR THAT INCLUDED THE RESIGNATION OF A CHIEF
AND SEARGENT FOR VANDALIZING THE HOME OF A
CITY MANAGER, AND THE RESIGNATION OF A LT.
FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF
ALCOHOL? OTHER OFFICERS WERE SUBJECTED TO
INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS. WE ARE STILL IN
LITIGATION CONCERNING THE RESIGNATION OF ONE
OFFICER. I CAN ONLY SAY THREE THINGS. I EXPRESS
MY APOLOGIES TO THE CITIZENS OF CARLISLE THAT
SUCH EVENTS TOOK PLACE ON OUR WATCH.
SECONDLY I WANT TO THANK INTERIM CHIEF DAN
CHILTON FOR STEPPING INTO A CRISIS SITUATION AND
HELPING TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN OUR
DEPARTMENT. I RECENTLY READ A COMMENT FROM
ONE OF OUR CITIZENS THAT DURING ALL THE
UPHEAVAL THAT WHEN YOU SAW A POLICE OFFICER
YOU DIDN’T KNOW IF HE WAS A GOOD GUY OR A BAD
GUY. THAT COMMENT HIT HOME. WE CAN
NEVER AGAIN ALLOW SUCH A SITUATION TO EXIST.
LASTLY, I WANT TO THANK CHIEF DICK ST. JOHN AND
OUR PRESENT POLICE FORCE FOR WORKING ON
INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE POLICE
ACADEMY, THE EXPLORERS, AND THE BIKE PATROL IN
ADDITION TO IMPROVING THE LEVEL OF BASIC POLICE
SERVICES WE PROVIDE TO OUR CITIZENS. WE ARE
BACK AND WE WILL BE BETTER.
I WANT TO COMMEND RON HOVELL AND THE TOWN
HALL STAFF ON THE Y2K CONVERSION. WE PASSED
INTO THE NEW YEAR WITH FLYING COLORS.
OUR Y2K TOWN MEETING WAS A SUCCESS AND THE
PREDICTIONS OF BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT WERE
RIGHT ON TARGET. THOSE WHO STOCKED WATER AND
HID IN THEIR BASEMENTS ON NEW YEARS EVE MUST
FEEL RATHER FOOLISH.
WE HAVE CONTINUED OUR EFFORTS TO PROTECT THE
WATER RESOURCES IN CARLISLE. WITH THE HELP OF
THE MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT, SERVICE
DIRECTOR GAYLON BROWN, AND OUR CITIZENS, WE
ARE PARTICIPATING IN A WELL MONITORING PROGRAM
WHICH IS ANOTHER STEP IN OUR PRESERVATION
EFFORT.
DESPITE DEAF EARS WE CONTINUE TO CALL FOR
REGIONAL CONTROL OF HIGH CAPACITY WELLS TO
PROTECT OUR GROUND WATER RESOURCES. I WILL
CONTINUE MY OWN EFFORTS TO HAVE TWIN CREEK
DECLARED A SCENIC RIVER TO FURTHER PROTECT
THAT VALUABLE RESOURCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
1999 SAW THE PASSAGE OF A REPLACEMENT LEVY
WHICH WILL HELP THE FUNDING SITUATION IN THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT. ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA WE SEE
LEGISLATION TO PURCHASE A NEW FIRE TRUCK TO
KEEP THE PROMISE TO OUR CITIZENS TO PROVIDE THE
BEST FIRE PROTECTION WE CAN.
BRAD HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB SECURING
GRANTS FOR US AS WE HAVE BEEN AWARDED GRANTS
SUBJECT TO FINAL RANKING AND APPROVAL IN THE
AMOUNT OF $250,000.00 FOR THE STATE
ROUTE 123 CORRIDOR, THE PARK DRIVE INTERSECTION,
AND ROSCOE ROOF PARK.
THE MAJOR INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR HAS BEEN THE
ATTEMPTS TO SECURE ADDITIONAL LAND TO HELP
PROVIDE FOR INDUSTRIAL GROWTH IN THE VILLAGE.
BRAD, BILL COVELL, AND BERNIE CONTINUE THEIR
EFFORTS TO SECURE ADDITIONAL LAND TO MAKE
THIS A REALITY. WE RECENTLY WERE ONE OF A
NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES WHO MADE A
PRESENTATION TO AN OUT OF STATE INDUSTRY IN
AN ATTEMPT TO BRING THEM TO CARLISLE. TO BRING
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY TO TOWN, WE NEED MORE
LAND.
THIS YEAR WILL SEE THE COMPLETION OF THE
MEADOWS CROSSING SENIOR CITIZENS HOUSING
COMPLEX. WE CONTINUE TO ENJOY MODERATE
GROWTH IN THE NEW SUBDIVISIONS IN THE VILLAGE.
DURING THE COMING YEAR I CALL FOR ANNEXATION
OF TWIN CREEK RESERVE TO THE VILLAGE, AND FOR
CONSIDERATION OF THE ANNEXATION OF THE AREA
NORTH OF INDIAN TRACE SUBDIVISION TO THE
VILLAGE.
ELECTRIC DEREGULATION WILL PRESENT CHALLENGES
TO US DURING THE COMING YEAR. BRAD, BILL COVELL,
RON AND I WILL BE GOING TO COLUMBUS TOMORROW
TO PARTICIPATE IN A OHIO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE
WORKSHOP ON GROUP PURCHASING, OR
AGGREGATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY
MUNICIPALITIES. I MAY ONCE AGAIN THIS YEAR CALL
FOR THE FORMATION OF THE CARLISLE ELECTRIC CO.
SO THAT WE MAY OBTAIN THE LOWEST PRICE FOR
ELECTRIC RATES FOR OUR CITIZENS.
WE MUST ALSO STUDY THE POSSIBILITY OF
EXTENDING THE LEBANON CABLE SYSTEM TO OUR
CITIZENS. WHILE I HAVE SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE CONCEPT, I AM CONCERNED WITH THE
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE MERGER OF AOL AND
TIME WARNER. IT SEEMS THE MEDIA IN THIS COUNTRY
IS BECOMING DANGEROUSLY MONOPOLISTIC.
AS THE 2000 CENSUS APPROACHES, AND AS WE
HOPEFULLY APPROACH CITY STATUS, WE MUST MAKE
A COMMITMENT TO DO OUR JOB BETTER. WE SHOULD
STRIVE DURING THE COMING YEAR TO PROVIDE MORE
EFFICIENT MUNICIPAL SERVICES TO OUR CITIZENS.
WETHER ITS POLICE AND FIRE, SERVICE DEPT,
UTILITES, THE COURT, TOWN HALL STAFF, OR
CONSTITUENT SERVICES BY COUNCIL, WE NEED TO DO
A BETTER JOB. MY GOAL FOR THE YEAR IS TO HAVE
ALL DEPARTMENTS, ALL STAFF, ALL BOARDS, AND ALL
ELECTED OFFICIALS SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS AVENUES
TO IMPROVE OUR SERVICES. THIS SHOULD BE OUR
YEAR OF THE CITIZEN.
ON A HISTORICAL NOTE I CALCULATE THAT
CARLISLES 200TH ANNIVERSARY WILL OCCUR IN 2003.
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UPON THE COUNTRY FAIR
COMMITTEE, THE CARLISLE LIONS CLUB, AND OTHER
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO BEGIN THE
PLANNING PROCESS FOR THAT CELEBRATION.
LASTLY I AM CONCERNED THESE DAYS ABOUT THE
LACK OR INVOLVEMENT OF MANY OF OUR CITIZENS
IN CIVIC AFFAIRS. I KNOW THE TIMES ARE HECTIC AND
THAT PEOPLE WORK MORE THAN EVER. EACH YEAR
THE PERCENTAGE OF CITIZENS WHO VOTE DECLINES.
IT BECOMES INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO RECRUIT
PEOPLE TO RUN FOR OFFICE OR TO SERVE ON BOARDS
AND COMMISSIONS. I HAVE NO MAGIC SOLUTIONS. I DO
HOWEVER HAVE A PROPOSAL TO CONSIDER. THE STATE
OF MAINE THROUGH THE KIDS CONSORTIUM
INITIATED A PROGRAM 10 YEARS AGO TO GET
TEENAGERS INVOLVED AS "APPRENTICE CITIZENS".
RECENTLY THE STUDENTS OF THE LEWISTON MIDDLE
SCHOOL FILMED A VIDEO CALLED "LEWISTON- THE
CITY WE LIVE IN". MORE THAN 12,000 STUDENTS HAVE
TAKEN PART IN THESE TYPE OF SERVICE PROJECTS.
THE GOAL OF THESE PROJECTS IS TO GIVE STUDENTS
RESPONSIBILITY FOR COMING UP WITH WAYS TO HELP
THEIR COMMUNITY. I PROPOSE THAT THE VILLAGE IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THE CARLISLE LOCAL SCHOOL
DISTRICT APPLY FOR GRANT FUNDS TO INITIATE SUCH
A PROGRAM GEARED TO OUR COMMUNITY. AS MARVIN
ROSENBLUM STATED "CHILDREN ARE RESOURCES, NOT
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED." I KNOW THAT MANY
STUDENTS AT CARLISLE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED MUCH
THROUGH PROJECT SERVE. WHAT I HAVE IN MIND IS ON
A MUCH LARGER SCALE AND MORE FOCUSED ON THE
CONCEPT OF CITIZENSHIP TRAINING. IT DOES IN DEED
TAKE A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD. I WANT THE
CHILDREN TO UNDERSTAND THEY ARE PART OF THE
VILLAGE.
2000 WILL HAVE SURPRISES AS ALL YEARS DO. LET US
WORK TOGETHER THIS YEAR IN THE HOPE THOSE
SURPRISES WILL BE GOOD ONES. THANK YOU.
.
