GENTRY -- Kevin Johnston, mayor of Gentry, delivered his state of the city address to the council during the March 7 meeting in the council chambers. His unedited address follows:
Gentry citizens, business owners, elected officials and employees, it is my honor and privilege to deliver to you the 2016 State of the City Address.
The past twelve months have been both challenging and rewarding. As we reflect, let us not forget the collaborative efforts of our residents, business owners, schools, churches, organizations, volunteers, employees and elected officials who have worked together to continue to improve the quality of life in Gentry.
During 2015 inter-department cooperation proved to be very beneficial. Through this effort, many projects were started and completed.
The Police Dept. is currently completing its move into their newly acquired facility. This much needed space will not only allow for many years of growth, but will also provide the opportunity to conduct in-house training for our personnel and continue on the path of recognition as one of the top 10 safest cities in Arkansas. This fine group of individuals was recently recognized by the Gentry Chamber of Commerce as the "2015 Organization of the Year." Thanks to recent corporate and private donations, improvements in technology and training will continue in 2016. Through funding allocated by the city council and a grant received through the Bissell Pet Foundation, a humane alternative to control the feral cat population was started with positive results already being tracked and documented with the assistance of the EAST Program within the Gentry Public Schools.
With a slight increase in overall calls for the Fire Dept. in 2015, a couple of items have become evident. We have witnessed an increase in medical calls and motor vehicle incidents, which is supportive of our need to continue our EMS Agreement and coverage with the City of Siloam Springs. Additionally, we have witnessed a decrease in fire-related calls which is supportive of our continued efforts to educate our community and youth through fire prevention and outreach programs. Through the efforts of Chief Cripps and his staff, a new Jr. Firefighter and Recruit Program is scheduled to begin this year.
With increases in service calls, permits and projects, the Public Works Department wasted little time as it trained its additional work force in preparation for the retirement of two of its long-time, dependable and trustworthy employees, Donald Amos and Robert Stichka. With financial assistance through the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department's State Aid Street Program, 2 ½ miles of street overlays and construction were completed in 2015, which included a one-half-mile street, Crowder Ave., that will offer safer travel and traffic relief from growth within our school district, local industries and neighborhoods. Additionally, in what some might have called their "spare time," crews were also able to complete an important main line extension to our water system that will, in the future, connect to a water storage facility on recently acquired property within our service area.
The Gentry Public Library and its staff continue to offer computer access, WiFi and a variety of books and DVDs to its patrons while also expanding and improving the History Room upstairs. This project alone has caught the attention of many visitors as they experience the countless number of items on display, such as the recently donated and restored Backer's Variety Store sign from the 1920s, that represent the near one and a quarter century of our city's growth.
In the infant stages of our Parks and Recreation Dept., we continue to improve the amenities we provide our citizens and visitors. In early 2015, as Arvest Bank was celebrating the grand opening of its new facility on Main St., they also dedicated the Gentry Heritage Pocket Park which also provided a new welcome sign at the east end of our business district. Completion of the new restroom facility should follow in the coming weeks, while continued improvements to athletic fields and construction of additional walks and trails are planned for 2016 with funding being provided by the McKee Foods Outdoor Happiness Program, the Jack McKee Foundation, Gentry United Way and the GIF grant program.
Financially, 2015 was a great year. We were blessed with impressive revenues and conservative spending. With no single contributing factor taking the credit, our success has truly been based on cooperation, dedication and teamwork. We remain committed to partner with our Chamber of Commerce to continue to strengthen our economic environment where local businesses can be competitive and prosperous. For us to be successful, we must continue to understand and convey the importance of the phrase "Shop Local, Shop Gentry." Let the recent closing of our Walmart Neighborhood Market serve as a reminder that, if we do not adhere to this practice, not only do local businesses not strengthen and prosper but we, as consumers, may be forced to travel 20 to 30 miles to purchase daily goods and services. We remain optimistic that our efforts will soon bear fruit and we will soon have a grocery retailer who will see all that this great community has to offer and choose to call Gentry, home.
Whether it is the Fire Dept. assisting the Chamber with local events, the Chamber working with local businesses on economic development, businesses working with schools on career-readiness programs, schools partnering with the Police Dept. to ensure a safe learning experience for our youth, off-duty police officers serving as coaches and mentors for our youth organizations or our youth organizations assisting the community with various projects, for our community to continue to grow and be strong it requires us all to work together through cooperation, dedication and teamwork.
I am confident our greatest challenges and rewards may still lie ahead. As we continue on into 2016, I look forward to working with each of you to continue to make Gentry the best place to live, work, worship and enjoy life.
I pray that God will continue to bless us all and our great city. Now, let's get to work!
Kevin D. Johnston
Mayor
City of Gentry
General News on 03/23/2016