Farewell Address

I would like to review some of the more noteworthy accomplishments of this city commission along with city staff that I am particularly proud of and that have transpired over the last two years:

          First and foremost a foundation for good government has been established.

          We developed the city administrator’s position.

          We developed an effective municipal organizational structure.

          We instilled a team spirit amongst our city employees.

          We developed competitive city employee pay scales.

          We developed a performance based employee evaluation system to reward and recognize exceptional employees.

          We retained the legal services of an attorney with exceptional ability and a strong understanding of governmental law.

          A strong gateway corridor standard ordinance was enacted. Thank you to our PLDRC.

          Sound accessory structures standards were developed based on property size and location.

          Efficiency has been heightened within the police department by bringing approximately $40,000 worth of previously contracted services for animal control and code enforcement within the police department without an increase in personnel. Thank you Don and Keith.

          A plan to network the city computer assets has been developed and is in the vendor selection process.

          The city charter has been revised to meet current standards and state statute requirements. Thank you Lonnie.

          A development fee schedule was developed and implemented to force developers to pay their own way through the development         review   process.

          Phase 1 of the city’s water distribution system is near completion. Thank you Steve and Ricky.

          Phase 1 of the City Hall restoration has been completed.

          City hall staff did an outstanding job of identifying and securing Grant funding for improvements to infrastructure during the last two years. Thank you Jeannie and Don.

          I would like to mention some of these projects that are all currently in various stages of completion.

          Pennsylvania Avenue has been paved and almost complete.

          Phase 2 city hall restoration has been awarded funding.

          Euclid / Clough storm water improvements are funded and currently underway.

          The McKenzie loop water project has been awarded funding.

          Macy Park infrastructure improvements have been funded.

          Ballpark lighting has been funded and is near completion.

          Funds for networking the city’s computers have been secured and vendor selection is currently underway.

I am proud of this city’s commission and all that has been accomplished during the last two years.

It is now time for this new commission to continue to place the building blocks on what is now a strong foundation of city government. I perceive the following three items to be of utmost and foremost importance in the coming two years if Lake Helen is to maintain its identity and small town character.

The new commission will need to perform a comprehensive review of the city’s current Comp Plan resulting in an amended Comp Plan which will responsibly guide the city through its most critical period - the next ten years.

The new commission will need to perform a comprehensive review of the city’s current land use districts resulting in the development of an effective zoning matrix which will align with and support the amended Comp Plan.

The new commission will need to identify methods to both better capitalize on existing revenue streams as well as identifying new ones. The city as in the past currently operates on a no frills budget which basically meets the cost of operation with limited resources for capital improvement. The city can not rely solely on grant moneys to maintain and make improvements to its infrastructure. Revenue will have to be heightened in the coming years.

In conclusion I would like to thank the City of Lake Helen and its residents for giving me the opportunity to serve the last two years as city commissioner. I do plan on maintaining a presence and remaining involved in our city government.   I have confidence that this new city commission will be successful in meeting the challenges of the next two years.

So that being said: “It’s been fun - But now I’m done and Buddy Snowden is the one”.