|
decision most likely saved 1,500 jobs of those directly employed in our poultry plants.These annual wages pump between 70 and 100 million dollars
<br /> annually into our economy and countless other jobs as well.
<br /> Last year,the new wastewater plant was brought online effectively doubling our wastewater capacity. Recently,I was privileged to attend an
<br /> event at the Governor's Mansion in Little Rock,where our wastewater engineering company,McGoodwin,Williams&Yates of Fayetteville,was honored
<br /> with an Engineering of Excellence Award for the design of our new wastewater plant.
<br /> The old adage,"if you fail to plan,then you plan to fail"has vividly reminded us that we cannot afford complacency concerning our future.
<br /> The positive attitude demonstrated by our citizens in finding the solution to the wastewater issue created an atmosphere of heightened enthusiasm in taking
<br /> responsibility for our future.
<br /> In April of 2008 between 75 and 100 citizens gathered at Batesville High School to begin planning a better future for our community.Groups
<br /> represented included the Batesville Planning Commission,the city council,parks commission,airport commission,historic district commission,Main
<br /> Street Batesville,our chamber of commerce,arts council,preservation society,UACCB,Lyon College,Batesville School District,quorum court members,
<br /> several businesses and industries,and numerous members of the public.Never before had such a diverse group come together to plan for Batesville's
<br /> future.The facilitators commented that this was the largest turnout of any such planning effort they had ever conducted in the state.
<br /> The purpose was to let the voices of our citizens build a community vision for our future.Participants were asked:"What do you like about this
<br /> community?""What do you want to improve about the community?""What are the issues you want to see addressed?"They were encouraged to"dream
<br /> big"and to not be intimidated by obstacles.
<br /> As I prepared for this address,I re-read the vision our citizens had created.Our citizens identified several areas they believed should be
<br /> improved to offer a better quality of life for our citizens and to create a community where others would also want to live.Tonight my time only allows me
<br /> to touch on a few of the highlights of that vision.
<br /> Citizens wanted basic infrastructure issues corrected.To ensure good decisions were made,the city hired its first professional civil engineer to
<br /> oversee infrastructure improvements and give other city departments the benefit of an engineer's opinion on other projects.These issues have,for the most
<br /> part,been corrected and the city currently has the water and wastewater infrastructure needed for growth.
<br /> Citizens expressed a strong desire to see the historic downtown area reframed in a different form.The creation of the Downtown Commercial
<br /> Historical District in 2009,under the purview of the Historic District Commission,gave investors the assurance that the exterior facades of downtown
<br /> historical structures would be required to maintain historical accuracy.This action paved the way for redevelopment and revitalization of the downtown
<br /> area.Changes were made to the zoning code to allow loft apartments downtown in order to encourage a mixed commercial and residential use.
<br /> Largely,through the efforts of volunteers Bob Carius,Danny Dozier and others,the Main Street Batesville organization was re-energized with the purpose
<br /> to bring the necessary change needed to ensure the downtown area became viable and vibrant again.
<br /> With wide support from the community,a nationally acclaimed professional helped guide the design for a complete makeover of the downtown
<br /> area with particular emphasis on creating a safer and walkable streetscape environment which will soon be finished.Excited by the enthusiasm for change,
<br /> area citizens have taken the lead in investing in our historical downtown.The Melba Theatre has been completely restored to its former glory and three
<br /> new restaurants have opened downtown along with other new businesses bringing the occupancy rate to near 100%for the first time in decades.
<br /> Recognizing the importance of a healthy lifestyle,citizens wanted more walking trails and more biking opportunities.The voters approved the
<br /> 2012 Community Development Initiative which has provided the revenue for the required matching portion of recreational grant applications allowing the
<br /> city to aggressively pursue grants for walking trails.This project includes the paved walking trail from Harrison Street to Riverside Park connecting with
<br /> the River Walk,and continuing on to the Batesville High School.The city continues in its efforts to build a comprehensive trail system to bring this dream
<br /> to fruition.
<br /> Recognizing that recreational facilities and opportunities greatly influence a community's quality of life and its ability to attract new jobs,
<br /> tourists and modern retirees,citizens wanted recreational facilities expanded with more recreational opportunities.To help meet these needs the Parks&
<br /> Recreation Commission,in consultation with the University of Arkansas,conducted a comprehensive parks and recreation study.
<br /> After an earlier recreation proposal narrowly failed as being too expensive,voters approved the$25 million dollar 2012 Community
<br /> Development Initiative.This initiative included a new soccer complex,expansion of the North Recreational Complex to include the new ten acre Terry
<br /> Sims Diamond Sports Complex with its seven new ball fields,three new tee ball fields and a new concession and restroom facility.It also included the
<br /> construction of the Fitzhugh Park Community&Aquatics Center.
<br /> The new community and aquatics facility will become the center of activity for those of all ages.From basketball,racquetball,and volleyball to
<br /> organized exercise classes,a completely equipped fitness center and an indoor walking track,the new facility will have something for everyone wanting a
<br /> healthier lifestyle.
<br /> The aquatic facility's indoor amenities include a heated therapy pool,a meters by yards competition pool and a kiddie splash pad and play pool
<br /> perfect for birthday pool parties for children,especially those born between August and May who may have never had a birthday pool party.Two indoor
<br /> pool party rooms will serve both indoor and outdoor birthday pool parties.
<br /> Those accustomed to the old rectangular Mickey Mouse Pool will delight in the amenities of the new outdoor aquatics facility,which includes
<br /> a splash pad,whirlpool tub,a zero entry pool complete with features for small children,a lap swimming area,a diving well,zip line,two large water
<br /> slides,and a 450 foot lazy river.Several adjacent party pavilions are also available.
<br /> The meeting rooms in the new community center will provide much needed meeting space for area groups and attract meetings from
<br /> governmental organizations and businesses from all over the state.The multipurpose gymnasium will attract basketball and volleyball tournaments and
<br /> provide the space needed for large gatherings of several hundred up to a few thousand.
<br /> Our citizens also dreamed of more outdoor recreational opportunities and tourism along Polk Bayou and the White River.These began to
<br /> materialize when land along the bayou was donated for a new park where White Drive crosses the bayou.A local entrepreneur began offering canoe and
<br /> kayak float trips on the bayou that continue to increase in popularity.A local landowner allowed the city to clean up and make more accessible the area at
<br /> the mouth of Polk Bayou for canoeists to have a good take out location.Area residents said they also wanted to see additional efforts to promote tourism.
<br /> Recently,the city created an Advertising&Promotion Commission to promote tourism and passed a 3%hotel tax to fund this advertising and promotion
<br /> program.
<br /> As more of our citizens began to visit the Branson Landing in Branson,Missouri and the San Antonio River Walk in San Antonio,Texas they
<br /> began to visualize what economic development along our riverfront might look like.In 2009 the Memphis architectural firm of Looney,Ricks,&Kiss
<br /> conducted several days of meetings with city officials and community leaders to dream what development of our riverfront area might look like.A
<br /> centerpiece in the vision was a destination hotel on the banks of the White River.With the community center nearing completion the need for a hotel on
<br /> the river is greater than ever.The relocation of the firefighting training facility has given the city an opportunity to help bring this dream to reality by
<br /> offering a long-term lease on the two-acre parcel for the development of a hotel and several developers have already expressed interest in the concept.
<br /> Working together with the Arkansas Highway&Transportation Department and the Arkansas Game&Fish Commission the city recently
<br /> completed a new boat ramp and dock in Kennedy Park with two new paved parking areas under the bridge providing better recreational access to the
<br /> White River.The city is also continuing negotiations to extend the river walk westward under the White River Bridge.
<br />
|