2007

STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS

City of CARLISLE, OHIO  

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

As we review the progress we’ve made in 2006 and look forward to 2007, as expected the City continues to see moderate growth.

In 2007 the City will continue with the Central Avenue reconstruction project, which is changing our old two-lane highway into a three lane urban design to help ease the flow of traffic through the City. In 2006 we saw the completion of phase IV from Lincoln to Park Drive, and also the completion of phase V from Jamaica Road to Sunset Drive. These projects also included major improvements to the intersections on Central at Park Drive and Sunset Drive. In 2007 we will begin phase VI which will continue the project westward from Sunset to just short of the Dupp’s railroad crossing on Central Avenue. This project will also include reducing the sharp curve in the highway just west of Sunset Drive.

In 2006 the City contracted for an Urban Renewal Plan for the area of Central Avenue entryway near the gravel pits. The plan should be completed in early 2007. The plan will help us determine the best re-use of the former industrial areas and aid with cleanup and redevelopment of the sites.

In 2007 the U.S. Department of Transportation will provide 100% grants for a program called “Safe Routes to Schools” and I have instructed the City Manager and City Engineer to pursue the grant for a plan which would extend sidewalks around the schools and improve crossings to make it easier and safer for our children to walk to school.

Carlisle continues to see growth in the business community. In the retail sector 2006 saw the addition of a new real estate brokerage named First Realty Group in the Ameristop center, Country Peddler in the Whistlestop Center, B-Safe Driving School on Dubois Road, The Cages (a batting cage business) opened in the Brown/Mann building on Industry Drive and Dracool Industries is moving into the Industrial Park on Eagle Court. In 2007 DeBello Masonry plans to add a new building on Eagle Court and Carlisle Family Practice will construct a new doctors office in the Carlisle Business Park.

2006 has been a difficult year for the fire department. In 2005 the township cancelled the contract with Carlisle for fire protection in the Township west of the river. The $25,000 per year revenue we received from this contract was a significant part of the budget for the Carlisle Fire Department. In 2006 Council placed a levy on the ballot to raise funds and combine Fire and EMS into the fire department. The levy was defeated at the ballot in February but the funding shortage for the fire department remains to be a problem. The last time a fire levy was passed in Carlisle was in the year 2000 and our costs of operation have grown with inflation but the fire levy revenue remains the same since 2000. In 2007 Council must address the need for adequately funding the fire department. I would like to thank Fire Chief Greg Wallace and all our firemen for maintaining our fire service during this time of difficulty for the fire department.

In 2007 a new challenge has presented itself for maintaining Emergency Medical Service for the City in light of the news that Franklin intends to withdraw from JEMS. If the City of Franklin withdraws from JEMS, about half of the revenue JEMS currently receives will be lost. Franklin Township and the City of Carlisle have formed a committee to study the effect of Franklin’s withdrawal from JEMS and to be prepared for such an eventuality so that quality Emergency Medical Service can be maintained for the City and Township.

In 2006, the City’s paving program completed the repaving of Fairview and Central Avenue. In 2007 we will repave North Park Drive and the east leg of Ethelrob Circle.

In 2006 the City’s Service department hired Ron Phelps as our new Service Department Director. The department acquired a new 1-ton dump truck and a tool trailer last year to better service the City. I want to thank Ron and all the Service department workers for their hard work in maintaining our City.

In 2006 the City continued to expand its water system by completing the water main loop through the new Eagle Ridge subdivision and back to Central Avenue. This increases the water quality and fire protection for that area of the City.

The Police department has seven full time officers and five reserve officers and replaced two cruisers in our normal fleet rotation for vehicles. I would like to thank Chief Boggess and all his men for their hard work.

In 2006 the City of Carlisle added about 33 new homes in Timber Ridge and Eagle Ridge subdivisions. Also in 2006 another new subdivision, Waterbury Village opened on the south end of town. This new development will contain 109 new lots and feature a pond and walking trail.

In 2006 Carlisle created four new TIF (Tax Increment Financing) districts to generate revenue to pay for infrastructure improvements within the City. These districts encompass our new residential developments. As these new developments are built, the property tax generated from the new housing will fund infrastructure improvements necessitated by this growth. These TIF districts will provide a new source of revenue for the City to fund improvements without raising taxes. I would like to specifically commend the City Manager Brad Townsend for having the foresight and the expertise to get these TIF districts negotiated with the school district and put in place for the City. It required a lot of work but will pay off for the City for the next twenty years.

I am pleased to announce the first major project to be undertaken with the new TIF district funding will be the long-awaited extension of Union Road between Central Avenue and Fairview Drive. This will provide a much needed additional North-South Route for the City and connect Union Road from the north to State Route 123 in Carlisle.

When it comes to the City’s finances, 2006 was good overall for most of the Cities funds but we will see a deficit in the fire fund in 2007 if we don’t bring in some additional funding for the fire department. Our income tax revenues were up from the previous year, which means our citizens and businesses had a better year in 2006. I want to thank our Finance Director Julie Duffy, the Manager and all the Department Heads for their efficient use of our limited resources. We are budgeting conservatively for 2007 as always and hope that it will be a better year.

In June of 2006 Carlisle was hit by a Tornado that damaged many homes and knocked down numerous trees. Fortunately, there were only a few homes that were damaged significantly and no one was hurt. The tornado damage brought out volunteer help from many of our neighboring Cities and Townships and I want to thank them all again for the cleanup of downed trees in the City. We would have never cleaned it up so quickly without their help. Also I want to thank all our service department workers, fire and police personnel and everyone else who helped for such a valiant effort in dealing with the Tornado.

And finally, I would like to thank Council, City Manager Brad Townsend and 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 serving with you in 2007.

Mayor Gerald T. Ellender