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2010 State of the Town Address by Cara Russell
I’m pleased to report that Buena Vista is currently in good financial shape. We fared much better than many towns in Colorado and throughout the nation last year. The Town Council has based the budget for 2010 on flat revenues; we’re assuming that the economy will continue to be slow for the next 12 months. Even so, we’re taking a careful approach to expenditures and will keep a sharp eye on sales tax revenues throughout the coming months.
I’m proud of the accomplishments the town made in 2009. We completed the reconstruction of East Main Street, we created a new boulder garden in the River Park, and designs were finalized for renovating the airport terminal to bring it into conformance with ADA requirements and modern building codes. We approved the update to the comprehensive master plan, as well as a new sign code intended to protect Buena Vista’s sense of place. After a hiring freeze, we added several new full- and part-time positions to improve the town government’s ability to respond to its citizens’ needs. We invested in financial management software to reduce inefficiencies and provide more useful information for making fiscal decisions.
In planning for projects and service levels for 2010, the trustees and I determined that we could either let the progress we have made toward the goals identified in the comprehensive master plan slow to a crawl or we could make modest investments in the town’s future to keep the momentum going. We chose to invest in the future of Buena Vista.
We are investing in replacing sidewalks on West Main, in new power upgrades at McPhelemy Park, in replacing windows at Town Hall, in new street furniture for East Main, as well as replacing 10 more fire hydrants throughout the town and replacing sprinklers in Four Square Park. We have budgeted for engineering on the Gregg Drive project so we’re better positioned for grant funding. We will continue to invest in the airport to help it reach its potential as an economic driver for Buena Vista, but staff and the council are focused on developing strategies to reduce the town’s subsidy in 2010 and beyond.
We recognize that government can get in its own way. Every single member of the council wants to see businesses in Buena Vista survive and thrive, during the economic downturn and beyond, but sometimes we unintentionally create roadblocks to success. We are committed to removing those roadblocks when necessary. Therefore, at our first council meeting of the year, we repealed the parking requirements on East Main that have hampered the sale or lease of several vacant buildings.
Last year, we planned to re-evaluate our ordinances to allow for alternative energy and to create an ad hoc economic development committee. Those goals were pursued in conjunction with countywide efforts, with delayed or mixed results. This year, we will continue to collaborate with county efforts on energy projects, but it’s time to hear from our local business community. I urge all business owners to share their frustrations and suggestions with this council. I assure you, we are listening.
It’s important to note that five seats on the council, including mayor, will be up for election this April. The success of the projects and goals set forth by the current council will, in large part, be determined by those elected this spring. I realize that elected office in this town is no place for the faint of heart (I’ve heard it said that politics is a blood sport in Buena Vista.) However, elected office is a place for those with a passion for the future of this town, a place for those who love what’s best about her and want to see her fulfill her potential. If you’ve entertained a notion about running for council, follow through on that thought. If you’ve served before, consider serving again.
While 2010 promises to be a challenging year, Buena Vista is in solid financial shape. I believe this will be a year in which collaboration on multiple levels is critical to our future, a year in which citizen involvement becomes more important than ever, a year of positioning ourselves for economic recovery and the projected growth that will follow. I believe that champions are made in the off season.
It’s time to suit up. To show up. To speak up.
Thank you, and may God bless Buena Vista.