Fellow Council members and Citizens of Carlisle, it is my privilege to deliver to you my first State of the City Address as Mayor of Carlisle.

As we review progress we’ve made in 2003 and look forward to 2004, I believe Carlisle is at a turning point in its evolution. I believe the remainder of this decade will see many changes in Carlisle as we undergo unprecedented growth. This growth will bring many good things to our City and will undoubtedly cause growing pain as well.

I am fully aware that not all of you are looking forward to the growth that I am sure we will see. We who serve in City government cannot take credit for starting or stopping it, we are only charged with the duty of managing it.

As your Mayor, I pledge to you that during this period of growth, I will do everything in my power to make sure we maintain the small town atmosphere that we all love and cherish about Carlisle.

In 2004 the City will face a landmark situation when voters of Franklin and Franklin Township go to the polls in November and decide whether or not to merge into one city. The merger would mean the demise of Franklin Township and that Carlisle would be surrounded on three sides by the City of Franklin. If the merger were successful, a large part of the Carlisle School District would be in the City of Franklin. The full effects on Carlisle that this merger would have are not known at this time, but rest assured that we will be monitoring the merger study and plan accordingly to do what is best for Carlisle should the merger become a reality.

2003 saw the completion of numerous road projects. The intersection improvements to Central Avenue at Jamaica and Park drive were long awaited improvements to make both those intersections safer for our citizens. We have completed a large portion of the Central Avenue improvements, which will change an old two-lane highway to a three lane urban design to help ease the flow of traffic through the City.

2004 will see the improvement of Central Avenue’s North side from Union Road to the underpass, which will complete the three-lane design from the Bridge to the underpass.

2003 saw the sale of 10 acres in our new business park to Vork Trucking and the construction of their new facility, which also facilitated the extension of the Business Parkway further into the park opening up additional land for development. This has been a wonderful new addition to our business community. In 2004 we intend to explore new and better ways to market the Business Park and bring new jobs to Carlisle.

2003 saw the extension of our City water system to the Carlisle Family Practice building thanks to a public-private partnership between the City and Middletown Regional Hospital, which saved us from losing our only Doctors office in Carlisle. Since then, Carlisle Family Practice has added a second physician, Dr. Jewell Stevens, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for bringing her practice to Carlisle. Having this medical facility in our community is a valuable asset to Carlisle and especially convenient for families with children and our senior citizens.

2003 saw the Police Department continue to implement the continuous improvement plan suggested by the Ohio Chief of Police Association in order to improve the Police Services we offer the citizens of our City. I want to thank the Police Department for their professionalism and their commitment to working together and constantly improving themselves and their services.

2003 saw another successful year for our Fire Department. The fire department has once again managed to get by successfully on its limited budget and I want to thank all our Firefighters for their efforts. 2004 may bring significant changes to the Carlisle Fire Department if the proposed merger between Franklin and Franklin Township is successful at the ballot in November. The merger will probably lead to the disbanding of JEMS and our fire department will be called upon to begin emergency medical service to our City. As part of our contingency planning in the event of the merger, our Fire Department will be trained and prepared to provide this service if called upon to do so.

2003 saw the Service Department acquire a new plow truck and an addition to our salt bins in order to insure that they can provide effective snow removal in the city, especially in the event of another snowy winter like last year. I want to thank all our service department workers for their tireless efforts to keep our streets maintained, our parks mowed, our sewer and water lines working, and all the other efforts they make to keep the City moving. In 2004, we will see the repaving of Meadowlark Drive and the South end of Sunset Drive.

2003 saw the addition of a permanent bathroom facility and a toddler playground at Roscoe Roof Park. Lions Park was improved with the relocation of a baseball backstop from Roscoe Roof Park in order to provide more ball diamonds for our children to practice on. The Park Board also sponsored several recreational events in the City this year including a Golf Outing, a Tennis Clinic, and a Breakfast with Santa for the Children, and they even published a local Cookbook. In 2004 I look forward to a repeat of these recreational activities for our citizens, and I want to thank the Park Board for their countless hours of volunteer work to make these things happen in our City.

2003 saw the donation to the City of Tapscott Baptist Church’s historic building. This is an exciting addition for the City and our plans are to make it a multi-use community center and meeting room. The facility is very old and will require significant improvements to bring it up to code, such as sewer service, a parking lot and lighting to make it functional for public use. I will be working with staff in the coming year to see if we can find a way to get the funds for these necessary improvements needed to make this community center a reality for Carlisle.

Thirty-one new homes were built in Carlisle in 2003. 2003 also saw the approval of two new subdivisions, Timber Ridge and Indian Trace, and additional phases added to Pineview subdivision. 2004 will include the start of Eagle Ridge subdivision. These additions will provide several new choices of housing within the City.

When it comes to the City’s finances, 2003 was another successful year for the City. The City experienced an 11.3% increase in income tax revenue over 2002. We ended last year with a balanced budget once again, and I want to thank our Finance Director, the Manager and all the Department Heads for their efficient use of our limited resources. We are budgeting conservatively for 2004, but with the improving economy, I don’t see why it shouldn’t be even a better year financially for the City. When I read the newspaper stories about the struggles many of our neighboring cities have endured during this recent recession, I count my blessings that Carlisle’s businesses and citizens have fared so well during this difficult economy.

2003 was also a tragic year for the City with the loss of our long time Mayor Pat Long. Mayor Long raised the bar for all of us when it comes to public service. He dedicated himself to public service and worked tirelessly for what he thought was right and best for the City of Carlisle. I wish I could have had more time to absorb his great wisdom before becoming a Mayor. I can’t help but feel that I am assuming this role prematurely, and hope that you will bear with me as I attempt to follow in his great shoes.

I would like to give special thanks to Mayor Drexel Lykins who filled in as Deputy Mayor during Mayor Long’s illness and served as Mayor for the remainder of Mayor Long’s term last year. Mayor Lykins provided strength and leadership for us during this difficult time for the City.

I would like to thank the Manager, Finance Director, all the Department Heads and Staff for their service to the City and its citizens. You are the ones who make this City government work and I look forward to working with you in 2004 to make Carlisle the best it can be. I would like to thank Council for its leadership and all the supporting committees and boards that guide our decision-making.

I would be remiss if I didn’t recognize the Carlisle School District for its contribution to making this a great City. I was talking with a City Manager of a neighboring town recently at a Christmas Party and he said the reason Carlisle is doing so well, is that we support our School District. Those words of wisdom were not lost on me, and I want to let the Citizens know how proud I am of them for supporting our local schools.