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PURSUANT TO SECTION 733.41 OF THE OHIO REVISED CODE, IT
IS ONCE AGAIN MY PLEASURE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL,
STAFF, AND CITIZENS OF CARLISLE. THAT SECTION MANDATES
THAT I REPORT TO THE LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY EACH YEAR
IN JANUARY CONCERNING THE AFFAIRS OF THE
MUNICIPALITY, AND THAT I RECOMMEND SUCH MEASURES AS I
DEEM PROPER. IT IS A TIME TO ENGAGE IN WHAT FORMER
PRESIDENT BUSH USED TO CALL THE “VISION THING”. I WOULD
NOTE THIS IS THE FIRST STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS I HAVE
HAD THE PLEASURE OF DELIVERING.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL AND STAFF FOR A
PRODUCTIVE YEAR. FINANCIALLY WE HAD A GOOD YEAR. WE
CONTINUE TO PAY DOWN DEBT, CONTROL EXPENDITURES,
AND SEARCH FOR AVENUES TO INCREASE REVENUES.
THE BUDGET FOR 2002 IS TIGHT. HEALTH CARE COSTS HAVE
INCREASED 34%, THE INTEREST RATE ON OUR INVESTMENTS
IS DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY, AND IN GENERAL WE HAVE
DECREASED REVENUES AND INCREASED EXPENDITURES. WE
HAVE COMMITMENTS TO FUND MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS AND
WE MUST BE CAREFUL TO PROTECT OUR FISCAL HEALTH.
BRAD, RON, AND THE TOWN HALL STAFF HAVE PERFORMED
COMPETENTLY AND PROFESSIONALLY IN KEEPING US ON
TASK. THE NEW INDUSTRIAL PARK HAS CONTINUED TO BE A
MAJOR FOCUS FOR OUR STAFF. WHILE THE ECONOMY HAS NOT
BEEN KIND TO US, WE CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT
THE GOALS OF THE CARLISLE 2005 COMMISSION AND THE
NOMINAL GROUP PLANNING CONFERENCE WHICH IDENTIFIED
CONTROL OF THE ZINK FARM FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
AS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. WE PLAN FOR TWENTY YEARS
DONE THE ROAD, NOT TWO, AND HAD WE NOT PURCHASED
THIS LAND FOR COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
DEVELOPMENT, WE WOULD HAVE REGRETTED IT IN THE
FUTURE.
I WANT TO THANK CHIEF PIEPER AND HIS OFFICERS AND STAFF
FOR THEIR CONTINUED EFFORTS IN RETURNING THE PRIDE AND
PROFESSIONALISM TO THE FORCE. WE HAVE A YOUNG,
ENERGETIC, CAPABLE DEPARTMENT WHICH CONTINUES TO
IMPROVE . LAST YEAR I ISSUED A CHALLENGE TO THE
DEPARTMENT TO REACH THAT NEXT LEVEL AND THEY HAVE
RESPONDED TO THAT CHALLENGE IN A POSITIVE MANNER.
OUR OFFICERS ORGANIZED THIS YEAR AND WE NEGOTIATED
OUR FIRST CONTRACT WITH THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF
POLICE. WHILE MANY CRITICIZE THE ORGANIZATIONAL
EFFORT, AND WE ALL WONDER HOW THIS YEARS BUDGET WILL
ACCOMMODATE THE NEW CONTRACT, THIS ORGANIZATIONAL
EFFORT WILL IN THE LONG RUN IMPROVE RELATIONS
BETWEEN THE CITY AND ITS OFFICERS.
I WANT TO THANK CHIEF WALLACE AND HIS DEPARTMENT FOR
A PRODUCTIVE YEAR PROTECTING THE LIVES AND PROPERTIES
OF OUR CITIZENS. THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN PROACTIVE
IN HELPING US SEEK SOLUTIONS TO CHRONIC FUNDING
PROBLEMS SUCH AS SEEKING INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT
FOR FIRE RUNS.
I ALSO WISH TO THANK GAYLON BROWN AND THE PUBLIC
SERVICE DEPARTMENT. WE CONTINUE TO ADD
ADDITIONAL DUTIES TO THE DEPARTMENT. THEY HAVE
AS IN THE PAST RESPONDED TO THE CHALLENGE IN THE
FACE OF AN INCREASED WORK LOAD.
I ALSO WANT TO COMPLEMENT THE TOWN HALL STAFF AND
THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WHO CONTINUE TO WORK MORE
EFFECTIVELY TOGETHER THAN EVER TO IMPLEMENT THE
GOALS SET BY COUNCIL.
IN REVIEWING MY ADDRESS FROM LAST YEAR, I NOTED THAT
EACH YEAR BRINGS SOME UNEXPECTED EVENTS AND I HOPED
THAT THOSE WOULD BE PLEASANT SURPRISES FOR US. THEY
WERE NOT. HAD I KNOWN THE YEAR WOULD BRING
SEPTEMBER11, A MAJOR MURDER CASE FOR ME, AND MY
FATHER’S DEATH, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE STAYED IN BED
LAST JANUARY FOR THE YEAR.
THERE IS NOT MUCH I CAN ADD TO THE COMMENTARY
CONCERNING THE EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001. AS OUR
PRESIDENT AND OUR ARMED FORCES, INCLUDING SOME
FROM CARLISLE, SEEK THE COWARDS WHO LAUNCHED THIS
DESPICABLE ATTACK ON OUR HOME SOIL, WE ALL GLADLY
PAY THE PRICE OF INCREASED HOMELAND SECURITY, AND
ADDITIONAL DEFENSE SPENDING TO PROTECT OUR INTERESTS
AT HOME AND ABROAD.
LAST YEAR I ANNOUNCED A YOUTH INITIATIVE. I WANT TO
THANK CHIEF WALLACE, MY WIFE JENNIFER, AND OUR
STEERING COMMITTEE FOR THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE
TO HELP IMPLEMENT THAT PROPOSAL. NEXT MONTH THEY
WILL BE MEETING WITH YOUTH LEADERS AT SCHOOL TO
CONTINUE THE PLANNING PROCESS. CHIEF PIPER AND I ARE
MEETING WITH SCHOOL OFFICIALS THIS WEEK CONCERNING
OUR DIVERSION PROGRAM. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON
THESE EFFORTS TO INVEST IN OUR YOUTH AND OUR
COMMUNITY THIS YEAR.
WE WILL CONTINUE THE PLANNING PROCESS WITH OUR
CHILDREN; WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
AGENCIES SUCH AS WARREN COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICES,
JUVENILE COURT, AND WITH LOCAL CHURCHES AND
COMMUNITY GROUPS, TO ADDRESS OUR NEEDS; AND
WE WILL CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO ACQUIRE A SCHOOL
RESOURCE OFFICER; EXPAND THE JUVENILE DIVERSION
PROGRAM; PROMOTE A PROGRAM OF GUN SAFETY; AND IN
GENERAL WORK TO IDENTIFY, UTILIZE AND EXPAND THE
ASSETS AVAILABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR OUR YOUTH.
YOUTH WILL CONTINUE TO BE MY MAIN FOCUS.
IN COLLECTING MY THOUGHTS FOR THIS ADDRESS, THE
COMMON THREAD IN MY THOUGHTS WAS THE WORD
CHALLENGE. I WOULD LIKE TO ISSUE A NUMBER OF
CHALLENGES TO THE CITY:
A. I CHALLENGE BRAD,
RON AND BERNIE TO CONTINUE
TO EXPAND THEIR EFFORTS AT INDUSTRIAL AND
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT. I CHALLENGE THEM TO FIND A MAJOR EMPLOYER AND
BRING 3 NEW BUSINESS TO CARLISLE IN 2002. I ALSO CHALLENGE RON AND BRAD TO
IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES TO INCREASE SALARIES FOR OUR EMPLOYEES TO REMAIN
COMPETITIVE.
B. I CHALLENGE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO OBTAIN A
GRANT FOR A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER, TO
COOPERATE WITH THE MAYOR’S OFFICE TO EXPAND THE
DIVERSION PROGRAM, TO DEVELOP AND PROMOTE A
PROGRAM OF GUN SAFETY, AND TO CONTINUE THEIR
EFFORTS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY
POLICING.
C. I CHALLENGE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO FIND ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO
COMPLEMENT
THEIR BUDGET, TO INCREASE THEIR MEMBERSHIP BY 5%, AND TO MORE EFFECTIVELY
EDUCATE OUR CITIZENRY ABOUT FIRE AND HOME SAFETY.
D. I CHALLENGE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO INCREASE USE OF COURT WORKERS
TO SUPPLEMENT OUR CREWS, AND TO PROMOTE OUR PROGRAM FOR CARE OF ROADS BY
PRIVATE CITIZENS.
E. I CHALLENGE THE CITY HALL STAFF TO UNDERTAKE AN EFFORT TO INITIATE
PLANNING FOR E-GOVERNMENT FOR OUR CITIZENS.
F. I CHALLENGE THE PARK BOARD TO CONTINUE DEVELOPMENT OF ROSCOE ROOF
PARK,
TO EXPAND FACILITIES AT LIONS PARK AND COOK PARK, AND TO WORK IN
COLLABORATION WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM OF COMMUNITY
EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
G. I CHALLENGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO FINALLY TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT
ELECTRIC AGGREGATION FOR OUR CITIZENS, TO CLEARLY AND PUBLICLY SET GOALS
FOR THE COMING YEAR, AND TO WORK MORE EFFECTIVELY IN COMMITTEE AND AS A
WHOLE TO ESTABLISH PRIORITIES.
H. I CHALLENGE THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF CARLISLE TO BECOME MORE
INVOLVED IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND THEIR GOVERNMENT.
I. AND LASTLY I CHALLENGE THE MAYOR. AS MY WIFE AND CHILDREN ARE FOND
OF POINTING OUT, I LOVE TELLING OTHER PEOPLE WANT TO DO. I CHALLENGE
MYSELF TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE THIS YEAR AS A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CITY, TO MORE
EFFECTIVELY ENGAGE COUNCIL AND THE STAFF IN JOINT EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF OUR
CITY, AND TO BE MORE ACCESSIBLE TO OUR CITIZENS.
2002 IS HERE. THE CHALLENGES HAVE BEEN MADE AND WHAT
REMAINS TO BE SEEN IS HOW YOU RESPOND. WHEN WE REVIEW
OUR EFFORTS FOR 2002 NEXT YEAR, LET US BE ABLE TO SAY
WE RESPONDED TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES.
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