Mayor gives State of the City address

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Van Wert Mayor Don Farmer talked about the city’s positive financial position and also addressed economic development issues during his final State of the City address.

The mayor, who is not seeking re-election to that position, said the city saw a half-million-dollar General Fund carryover, as well as reserves of $288,000 heading into 2015.

Mayor Farmer also noted that the austerity measures put in place during the recession that began in 2008 are finally ending. The .22-percent Safety Capital Tax was not used for fire and police salaries and non-capital expenses in 2014 — the first time in several years that hadn’t happened — and those funds will also not be used for non-capital purchases in 2015, the mayor said.

In addition, the city will continue to reduce the number of Street Fund dollars being allocated to non-Street Department personnel, freeing up additional funds to use for street improvements.

Revenues also look positive in 2015, Mayor Farmer said, noting that January’s income tax receipts were up approximately $100,000 — a 15-percent increase — over January 2014.

The mayor said Van Wert added 460 new jobs between July 1, 2013, and July 1, 2014, ranking the city fifth in percentage of job growth in the state. He also noted that the city unemployment rates was 3.8 percent in December 2014, tying the county for eighth best in the state.

“The credit goes to those business and industrial members in our community that have invested in expansion or new facilities,” Mayor Farmer said, while adding that more such expansion will be seen in the coming year.

The mayor also said the Jobs Ready Site would finally become fully certified by the end of this month.

“It has been a long and tedious endeavor, but it will afford the community and region the opportunity to attract a large industry,” Mayor Farmer said.

He noted that the city economic development office will now join with other economic development partners to market the site, while also working to maintain the city’s current businesses and industries.

“Maintaining our existing business and industry is a priority,” the mayor said, noting that 80-85 percent of a community’s growth comes from its existing manufacturing, service and retail base.

Mayor Farmer also address infrastructure issues, noting that Phase 2 of the West Main Street reconstruction project will take place, starting this spring, while reconstruction of a portion of South Washington Street, from Ervin to Fox roads, will take place in 2016. The mayor said all of the most recent major street projects were partially funded using Small Cities grant money.

“Utilizing these grants enabled the city to leverage our Street Fund money, with the city being responsible for only 20 percent of the (projects’) cost,” Mayor Farmer said.

In addition to the West Main Street project, the city spent $750,000 to resurface a number of other city streets in 2014.

The mayor also talked about the creation of a new city park on the former Franklin Elementary School property, as well as the use of the old Washington School site as a Youth Football facility. He praised the Van Wert County Foundation and former city resident Scott Niswonger for their financial contributions to the Franklin Park project.

“Our community is fortunate to have individuals and groups that have continuously worked and invested in Van Wert to make it a better place,” Mayor Farmer said.

The mayor also talked about his administration’s plan to upgrade water meters, allowing for automatic readings on a monthly basis, instead of the current system of quarterly in-person readings.

Mayor Farmer also talked about improvements made in the Municipal Building, including new paint and flooring, as well as technology improvements in Council Chambers.

Economic development was also an important part of the mayor’s State of the City speech.

“The economic development efforts in the City of Van Wert are alive and well,” the mayor said, noting that the city was fortunate to have good economic development partners, such as Main Street Van Wert, the Van Wert Area Visitors and Convention Bureau, Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce, Community Improvement Corporation, the OSU Economic Development Advisory Group, the Business Development Corporation and the many volunteers who help operate those entities.

He also made a plea to city residents to maintain a positive development atmosphere in Van Wert.

“It takes more effort to become a building in our community, than that of tearing it down,” Mayor Farmer said. “I ask all of us to become builders for the City of Van Wert, Ohio, and reflect that to the rest of the world.”

Finally, the mayor thanked city employees for their hard work and service to the community.

“Their efforts most of the time go unnoticed or taken for granted,” Mayor Farmer said. “To them, I say thank you for your dedication.”