Mayor Kenneth Edwards’ 2009 State of the City of Greenwood Address
Mrs. Cabe, Mr. City Attorney Hamby, Councilmen, Citizens of Greenwood:
We have ended another successful year together and it is time to reflect and plan, ponder and chart, celebrate and fortunately, not apologize. Like it or not, the “State of the City” is tied directly to the finances of the City. For the second consecutive year, we have completed a year of service to our constituents within our budget, albeit just barely, in places. Sales tax collections in Greenwood are up 10 to 15% over the last year. Dallas Melvin had conservatively budgeted for a 3 to 6% increase. Steve Tedford, our new Director of Finance is budgeting for a sales tax decrease in 2009 in light of the overall national economic picture. We read that times are bad. The current numbers tell us, ”Not in Greenwood”! Steve and I are putting together a budget for presentation to Council that reflects a spirit of cooperation among the various city department heads. We will buy what is necessary and needed and save where we can.
The City of Greenwood came together over the recent Christmas holidays in a way that shouted cooperation, exuberance and celebration. A parade, Christmas lightings, Christmas displays in parks, chili on the square, beautiful music and fireworks. Where there are those who spawn divisiveness and hatred, the celebration here said loudly, “Not in Greenwood”! All that followed election returns that called for cooperation and good will among leaders. We have been a divided community before. The 2006 election gave this community good government, with in our means and building a better town. There were those who sowed seeds of discontent, spread rumors and tried in coffee shops and courtrooms to keep division alive. The 2008 election said, “Not in Greenwood”! From that cherished democratic display we gained a new City Councilman, Dr. Lee Johnson. Born, reared and steeped in the richest traditions of Greenwood’s pride, Lee will take his place with the rest of us to give this community the cooperative spirit that this election signaled and demanded and was heard loud and clear by the City Council, the department heads, the city staff, the citizens and their Mayor.
Water improvements are made daily. Greg Cross gives this community the best water that it has ever had. Progress is also made each month to achieve long-term water source solutions. The association with the Franklin and Sebastian Water Authority and the James Fork Regional System will eventually remove forever the cloud of bad water. As debt on the burdensome water plant is reduced, monies will be available for this critical element of our growth potential. Greg and Water Distribution Director Tim Posey have worked diligently to cut costs and expand water and sewer improvements in Greenwood. Funds will now be available to begin long awaited sewer services to parts of town that should not have been allowed to develop without it-Bell Addition, Bellwood and areas of North Main. New waterlines deliver better water to our citizens and allow for the flow at pressures that mean something to firefighters and lawn sprinklers alike. Tim’s judicious scrutiny of the waterline replacement program has allowed for the extension of water to Bell Park, fire hydrants in Bellwood, pump station improvements on Honeysuckle Lane and repairs throughout the system.
Not only does water now flow to Bell Park-people do too and along with them events and tourist dollars and family outings and trail developments and that builds a better Greenwood, one pavilion at a time, one Parks committee meeting at a time and one fall festival at a time and Doug Kinslow and the Parks Committee deserve our thanks for their selflessness. Service clubs, scouts, businesses and families swell with pride that is reflected in the Christmas lights, picnics, strolls and each new foot of walking trail that is created. This year will see a Promenade begun, trails connected between the bridges and extended throughout town, playground equipment installed in neighborhood parks and more of our beautiful “signature pavilions” built.
None of that could have been achieved without the help of Don Keyes and the Street Department. A new street paving in cooperation with the schools, street resurfacing and bridge replacement along and off of Denver Street, lights decorations at the Town Square where a world class Veterans’ Memorial is underway and creek clean out that represents flood control and a flood of cooperation with County Government. Don and his staff are involved in every aspect of the government we give you. From paw prints to moving army tanks, helping neighbors with downed trees, putting up our Christmas lights and putting away our Santa House. Everywhere this crew goes, a better Greenwood is the result both repairing the past and helping develop our future.
Our growth, which continued in 2008 with the start of over 50 new homes, plans for new and expanded business points to the need to not repeat past mistakes, plan for the future and for cautious growth. We must guard against inferior development and continue to raise those standards. When Steve Tedford moved to the Finance Department, Sonny Bell accepted my challenge to guide our growth and head the critical project of planning what the Greenwood will look like that we hand over to our children and theirs. Sonny has invested years in the Planning Commission and brings that wealth of experience to the office Planning and Community Development. Our Planning Commission of dedicated citizens has known no better advocate for well a thought out future than Sonny. We have invested nearly $30,000.00 in the improvements to our Master Plan. It would be a waste not to have that project in the hands of a director who has demonstrated his commitment to the community, but also his shared interest with Doug in where parks should be, shared experience with Don Keyes in where streets should end and good sense to help Tim Posey and Greg Cross plan for the most basic, yet most important of essential services. We welcome Sonny Bell to public service at yet another level.
Parks, water, sewer, streets, sound financial management are work. Having them is not a luxury. Sleeping at night safe from fear is. There is more to law enforcement than getting traffic through town. The Greenwood Police Department is a glowing example of public service. Responding to the call of the public 4160 times in 2008 while installing security lights for disadvantaged elderly and raising funds for children whose distresses would break a bank and whose stories would break your hearts. Lives are touched daily, calls are responded to and yes, tickets are written. The luxury of a good night’s sleep is the result. Police Chief Keith Jackson has been recognized by his peers with election to the Board of Directors of the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police. Law enforcement is not static. It changes with the whims of society and has to feel the pulse of each community. What worked well in law enforcement once will be an embarrassment in time. Growth means trial and error and endless experimentation in responding to the dream that we live peaceably and respectfully respond when we don’t. Our Police Department is a source of pride for our residents.
This community tells us that they expect increased fire protection and willing to pay for it. The facilities, equipment and training are expensive and bought with an eye to the future, the growth and the safety of our citizens. Fire Chief Stewart Bryan has overseen the construction of a new fire station and the most intense training mandates that the industry has ever witnessed. The expansion of the Greenwood Fire Department to a total of 29 to 33 volunteer firefighters and represents the largest and best trained force in the history of this community. They have responded to the needs of this community 134 times in 2008. Intergovernmental cooperation requires that our Fire Department provide our area with “First Responders” capable of rendering life saving procedures to trauma victims. Chief Bryan and five of his force have undergone hours of arduous training and testing to ensure the safety of our citizens until further medical assistance is available. These men and the other firefighters with whom they serve represent the finest of my generation and I salute them for their willingness to serve and pledge my support. I am sure the City Council will provide for them what has been mandated by the voters.
2008, as successful as it has been, is but a foundation upon which an even better 2009 will be built. The successes we have achieved have not been without criticism from a few. That is to be expected.
The Mayor’s Community Improvements Committee has provided effort for cleanups, recycling, beautification, Santa House, Veteran’s Memorial ideas, paw prints and volunteer opportunities galore for this town. I thank them. So does Greenwood. What we are achieving in Greenwood as a team is supported by the City Council behind me and is being recognized as a “government that works” by those who award grants in furtherance of our efforts. In 2008, the City of Greenwood’s various departments and committees have been awarded over $500,000.00 in grants and contributions to provide for better living in Greenwood. That money does not fall out of the sky. We go after it. We go to meetings, grant workshops and conferences. I lobby the legislature and the Governor and lobby on behalf of the Arkansas Municipal League and I make frequent trips to the State Capitol seeking this money, often with the help of the Department Directors of our city government. I appreciate the cooperation of the City Council in making these trips seeking funds possible. Obviously, it pays big dividends and it will continue.
Cooperation will be our theme. It has been mandated by the voters and as you can see, it works. We will continue cautiously in our spending, our courtesy for one another, the level of professionalism that you have come to expect and deserve. We will give each of you a 2009 that will earn your confidence and your respect. Thank you, good night and may God continue to bless Greenwood, Arkansas.