By NINA CRISCUOLO
Pittsburg, Kan. - Mayor Rudy Draper forecasts the next twelve months for Pittsburg at the State of the City address Tuesday morning.
Fox 14's Michael Hayslip served as master of ceremonies introducing Mayor Draper.
Purpose, process, and progress is draper's focus for the next year along with the strengthening of partnerships.
Draper says closer ties need to be made between the city and USD 250, surrounding communities, and most importantly Pittsburg State University.
"They have a multitude of different specialties out there, each department head department chairman teachers out there that constantly do research on different items," says Mayor Draper.
The mayor also commended the citizens of Pittsburg for building the 23rd Street Bike Park and funding the Fourth of July fireworks.
Read Mayor Rudy Draper's complete State of the City address below.
STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS
September 29, 2009
Mayor Rudy Draper
Meaningful partnerships are the foundations for success
Welcome,
Thank you everyone for coming to this event. I would first like to thank the chamber of commerce for their hard work for putting on this event every year. I would also like to recognize the current Pittsburg city commission (please stand up). I would also like to recognize all the past mayors of the city of Pittsburg if you are out there (have them stand up). I would also like to recognize all the elected officials from our area if you are out there please stand up to be recognized. Lastly I would like to thank my family for their important role in supporting me during this time as mayor.
Introduction,
I could stand up here and tell you all about the success of the city and all the projects we have undertaken or completed but that is not how I measure success for our city. Success comes from community involvement and community partnerships. So how are we trying to achieve this type of involvement to create the success we need, to have a great quality of life that we all strive to meet? The answer is we are building new and existing partnerships with many different organizations to help solve all types of issues. I truly believe that having the involvement of the community and the partnerships of many different organizations will determine the level of success we will see. SO let me talk a little bit about some of these partnerships that we need to make stronger and work together more often. Pittsburg State University here is a great asset to the city of Pittsburg that should be utilized all the time. Pittsburg state university has many experts in many different fields that can guide us along for many different situations. I have told Dr. Scott the city will assist him in any way that is needed and he plans to do the same for the City. The second partnership I would like to talk about is the relationship with USD 250 School board I think creating a solid relationship with the school board is vital to the community and this will provide a direct line of communication to a large portion of our citizens. These two partnerships will open communication to the rest of our city and should provide a since of openness to our community. There are many other partnerships that are ongoing or will be address soon to begin new chapters in our way of governing. Some of these include but are not limited to the Chamber of Commerce, MT. Carmel, The city of Frontenac, Girard, Arma, and the County Commission.
All of these partnerships will not be successful unless we do some of the following. There are three steps to ensuring successful partnerships, purpose, process, and progress. In purpose we need clear and common goals, process is itinerary and role of leadership and communication, Progress is measured by evaluating what you have accomplished and continuing to learn. Successful collaboration requires constantly tightening the link between sharing a vision and actively pursuing it. Identifying stakeholders is the first step to drawing together a shared vision and those capable of achieving it. Partnership building suffers if too many people feel cut off from their communities. Shared responsibility reconnects them. Committed leaders must constantly keep their noses in their communities' business or previous work can collapse. As your mayor moving into the next decade I will commit to these types of relationships to ensure the great quality of life for the citizens of Pittsburg.
General notes,
I had previously talked about how I measured success for the city of Pittsburg, but the fact of the matter is we have spent a lot of our citizens tax dollars and I will talk a little bit about where there money has been spent and how.
Two of the largest projects the city of Pittsburg has ever undertaken were finished this year the Police and fire stations that were funded through a sales tax increase that the public voted on. These new facilities are state of the art and will be utilized for many decades.
The public works department has been very busy this year on a vierity of projects.
1) 4th and rouse intersection improvements. This project was funded by KDOT grant 90-10 split on funds. This project included drainage improvements, curb and gutter, easement and right of way acquisitions, widening of 4th street for turning lanes, and upgrade of traffic signals to include a left turn signal. This project was completed in June of this year.
2) 4th and walnut intersection improvements. This program was also funded by KDOT grant 90-10 split on funds. All improvements incorporated into this project were the same as 4th and rouse without the left land turn signal.
3) 23rd street improvements Broadway to Michigan. This project was also funded by KDOT at an 80-20 split on funds. This projects consisted of many infustructer improvements and widening of 23rd street and a traffic signal was added to help with safety for that intersection.
4) Airport improvements. An FAA grant was awarded to the city of Pittsburg at a 95-5 split on funds for a wildlife fence around the perimeter of the airport. The FAA also funded an airport master plan update at a 95-5 split on funds.
5) Here are a few other projects that the city is working on or has been completed this year. Ford and Rouse traffic signal installation, Klink resurfacing north Broadway 2nd to 8th street and 4th street Pine to Locust street, Masonite parking lot, north Broadway resurfacing 8th to 11th street, and pedestrian/bicycle path.
Parks and recreation
1) We added our 12th park to the city which was created by volunteers from our city. The bike park which is located at what used to be called the 23rd street dumps.
2) The citizens of Pittsburg this year came through in a big way to help keep the fireworks alive. I am very thankful for their contributions to this city and their hard work to keep this event going should be an example of community service for all.
With all of these projects going on we still need to look at the state of our local economy. Things may be looking on the up side here recently but we are still going to be very cautious on the use of your money. By that I mean we will continue to conserve and continue to look for ways to cut money to better the operating efficiency of the city of Pittsburg. So far the city has reduced its employee head count by 14 from 216 to 202 these jobs are mainly employees who have left due to retirement or just leaving. We as staff have decided not to fill these jobs just arrange people to help out in these areas.
The city has received more than 2.5 million in stimuoulous money from the federal government to help pay for a variety of projects throughout the city. Water plant upgrades, street resurfacing, and funding to hire a new police officer. The federal government's stimulus has helped the city of Pittsburg greatly. There is always an opposite side to the issue we have had to cut 2 million from our budget because of state cut backs. With those cut backs we have still managed to balance out budget and not raise the Mil levy. We are still not sure if more cuts are coming and when we can always hope for the best but we have planned for the worst that is why this city is stable financially. This commission and city staff planned for this recession before it was called one so I am here today to tell you that your city is in good hands and we will not falter with your assets this city is yours, we are here to serve the citizens of Pittsburg to create the best quality of life we can give you. We need to continue to look toward the future but learn from the past.
Our economic devolvement director is continuously and aggressively pursuing to recruit new business to our community. We as a commission believe that focusing on existing business is a top priority they are already here contributing to our economy so we need to work to meet any of there needs to ensure their stability in Pittsburg.
In my opinion the state of the City of Pittsburg is solid; we are ready for the future and whatever it brings. We are committed to this community and its quality of life, so let's come together and lead this city to the direction that is great for all citizens of Pittsburg.
