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On June 811 the city formally held the ribbon cutting for the Batesville Community Center and Aquatics Park elevating our"quality of
<br /> life"and"quality of place"to a position that few,if any,cities in Arkansas our size,have attained.The June 911 edition of the Batesville Guard
<br /> carried a fitting headline entitled"A Promise Fulfilled".The new 105,000 square foot facility is one of the largest facilities in the state and its
<br /> iconic architecture and modern amenities have made Batesville the envy of many other cities. We have hosted many groups,meetings and
<br /> events. A few of these consist of the Las Vegas act,"Recycled Percussion",the MMA Fights,several banquets,craft shows,wedding showers,
<br /> birthdays,and even the start of a new church. The center has helped to improve and grow our youth and adult programs as well. I am most
<br /> proud of the fact that so many of our citizens have the opportunity to improve their quality of life. I have received numerous testimonials of
<br /> members becoming independent after being on a walker,losing weight,quicker recoveries from the use of our therapeutic pool and
<br /> eliminating their dependence on medications.
<br /> In November,the city was notified that its entries in the Arkansas Business Trendsetter City 2017 program had won in four of six
<br /> categories for cities of 5,000 to 20,000 in population. The Trendsetter City program is designed to honor cities that are leaders in innovative
<br /> programs and initiatives for improvement and growth. Being a"Trendsetter City"is an honor that speaks to the commitment of city leadership
<br /> and its citizens,and creates a great economic development selling point.The December 2017 insert to the Arkansas Business Magazine detailed
<br /> the awards with the formal presentations made at the Arkansas Municipal League's Winter Conference in Ft.Smith in January.The importance
<br /> of this statewide recognition cannot be overemphasized.
<br /> Batesville was a Trendsetter Winner in the Public Safety Category for the Batesville Police Department's Community Relations Team
<br /> and the programs and classes it offers to our citizens. Its non-profit arm,the Law Enforcement Public Safety Partners,helps provide for non-
<br /> budgeted training and equipment for both the Batesville Police Department and the Independence County Sheriff's Department.Batesville was
<br /> recently named as the 2018 sixth safest city in Arkansas by the National Council for Home Safety and Security.The recent addition of four new
<br /> officers for 2018 brings the total number of employees to 29,and provides the citizens of Batesville with 5-6 officers on our streets at all times.
<br /> With a focus on community based policing,advancements in training and education,our department has quickly become a leader in Arkansas.
<br /> Batesville was a Trendsetter Winner in the Infrastructure Category for the new Wastewater Treatment Facility and its innovative use
<br /> of"moving bed bio-reactor technology"to effectively double the city's wastewater treatment capacity to 9.0 million gallons per day.With the
<br /> construction of this new facility,the city of Batesville was recognized as going"above and beyond",setting new standards,statewide,for
<br /> wastewater treatment.
<br /> The city,and its engineering firm,McGoodwin,Williams&Yates,received top honors at the 2017 American Council of Engineering
<br /> Companies of Arkansas'Engineering Excellence Awards for the new Batesville Wastewater Treatment Plant and collection system infrastructure
<br /> upgrades.The project also received the"People's Choice Award"designated by event attendees as the single best overall engineering project.
<br /> Batesville was a Trendsetter Winner in the Wellness and Fitness Category for the development of the Batesville Community Center
<br /> and Aquatics Park and the city's development of the Batesville Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.The Batesville Community Center and
<br /> Aquatics Park also received the"Facility of the Year Award"in the over$500,000.00 category by the Arkansas Recreation&Parks Association.
<br /> Members from all over Independence County have embraced the new facility,which currently has a membership base of 6,447 individuals. The
<br /> center has seen well over 200,000 visitors in the ten months since its opening last June and is used on a daily basis by an average of 750 people.
<br /> At the American Council of Engineering Companies of Arkansas'annual banquet recently held in Little Rock,the city,and its
<br /> engineering firm,Crafton-Tull,won the 2017-2018 Engineering Excellence Award and the"People's Choice Award"for the Batesville Bicycle and
<br /> Pedestrian Master Plan. Batesville's dedication to health and wellness for its citizens continues to attract statewide attention.
<br /> Batesville was a Trendsetter Winner in the environmental category for the new wastewater facility,and in particular,the 1,800-foot
<br /> wastewater tunnel under our golf course. The use of Archimedes screw pumps should save our citizens thousands of dollars in annual energy
<br /> costs.By returning treated wastewater to the White River,much cleaner than the White River itself,Batesville leads the way in environmental
<br /> stewardship of our state's natural resources.
<br /> At the Trendsetter Awards ceremony in Ft Smith,the first ever Pinnacle Award was introduced.Each winning or honorable mention
<br /> city was eligible to compete for the Pinnacle Award.As the anticipation of the announcement began to build,the over 500 in attendance
<br /> wondered if the winner would be Little Rock,Bentonville,Ft.Smith,EI Dorado,Fayetteville,Maumelle,Crossett,Magnolia,Berryville,Danville,
<br /> Paris,Prescott or Batesville.Fayetteville and Batesville had both won in four categories,and most people expected Fayetteville to win the
<br /> Pinnacle Award.When Batesville's name was called as the winner of the Pinnacle Award as being"THEcity in Arkansas whose programs and
<br /> initiatives are truly innovative,represent a commitment to progress and are an example for other cities to follow",the crowd cheered as myself
<br /> and members of the city council proudly took the stage to receive this coveted award!
<br /> Leaders from every corner of Arkansas are talking about Batesville and the exciting things happening here.Community leaders from
<br /> all around our state are coming to Batesville to see firsthand our improvements in"quality of life"and"quality of place".Investors have taken
<br /> notice and we have new inquires by groups and individuals wanting to be a part of our progressive community.
<br /> Batesville has been transformed from the BACKGROUND to the FOREGROUND with these prestigious awards.
<br /> Now let us shift gears for a moment and touch on a just a few other noteworthy things that happened in 2017.
<br /> In January,the city council passed the first-ever lodging tax,and created the Batesville Advertising&Promotions Commission to
<br /> market and support the assets and events of Batesville and Independence County. The new position of Director of Tourism was created in
<br /> order to increase economic development by bringing new dollars into our community through tourism. This was a central goal of the Impact
<br /> Independence Project.Just last week,at the Arkansas Department of Parks&Tourism's 2018 Governor's Conference on Tourism,the city of
<br /> Batesville won the"Community Tourism Development Award". This award is presented annually to a community or organization that has
<br /> achieved substantial success in the enhancement of its local resources through imaginative and innovative development efforts.Also at the
<br /> event,the Ozark Gateway Tourist Council's Executive Director and Batesville Advertising&Promotions Commission Chairwoman,Cathy Drew,
<br /> was inducted into the Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame.
<br /> In March,the council continued planning for Batesville's future by authorizing the city engineer to begin the design phase of
<br /> improvements to the Water Treatment Plant facilities.The council also approved a resolution to offer for lease,the 2.63-acre riverfront site,
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