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which added something special to this year’s festivities. At the December meeting, Mr. Doug Smith, liaison to Governor Hutchinson, delivered a letter from the governor recognizing city leadership along with business leaders and dedicated volunteers in creating the White River Wonderland Christmas Lights Display. With the excitement of an added ferris wheel attraction, made possible by Crystal Johnson and her team at the Chamber of Commerce, the public turned out in huge numbers to view the largest “free” Christmas light display in Arkansas. Johnathon Abbott and his crew always go above and beyond designing and hosting this spectacular event for our community and visitors. Over 64,000 vehicles, from all over Arkansas, drove through the lights display while countless others gave up waiting in line, parked and walked through the lights enjoying both the lights and the parkwide Christmas music. We estimated over a quarter of a million people viewed the 2020 White River Wonderland Christmas Lights Display. I am sure for most visitors; this Christmas season was definitely “one to be remembered”! Our Community came together putting the troubles of the year aside as the twinkling lights and Christmas music reminded each of us of the reason for the season. Looking back at 2020, the city faced unprecedented challenges and I cannot over emphasize the dedication of city employees in meeting these challenges. Whether it is repairing a broken water line in the middle of the night in dangerously cold temperatures, picking up the trash during inclement weather, or clearing the streets after a snowfall, these men and women are always ready to tackle whatever job is at hand and we owe them a huge debt of gratitude. Personally, I owe a special debt of gratitude to every member of the city council. Each one of them bring a unique perspective to the table, but more importantly, they bring with them the willingness to be team player and a commitment to continue moving Batesville forward. To each of you, I say a heartfelt “thank you” for providing me with a council whose only desire is to put the best interests of our community and all our citizens first. Turning now to Batesville’s future, I am reminded of her past. Though Batesville was settled in 1812, it was not platted into lots and th streets as a town until 1821. 2021 brings our 200 year anniversary as a city and various activities will occur throughout this year. I hope you enjoy the celebrations and take the time to learn more about the history of Batesville, the oldest, continually inhabited city in Arkansas! Arkansans continue to admire the progress of the city of Batesville over the last decade. City leaders from all over Arkansas come to see first hand our accomplishments and to learn insights into how our community came together to accomplish so many different things. Many include the success of the Downtown Historic District revitalization, the Community and Aquatics Center, and our unique approach the city took with the Advertising & Promotions Commission. These leaders take our accomplishments and stories of success hoping to apply them to their own communities. Mountain Home is just one example of the cities whose leadership visited Batesville last year. Recently, they successfully passed a sales tax to build a community and aquatics facility to rival our own. We have made monumental strides in creating a community where people want to live, work and rear their families but our work is never done. Building on the recommendations of the Impact Independence Strategic Plan, we will continue exploring new ways to achieve the goals set forth in the plan. Of utmost importance is the desire of our community to see Riverside Park become much more than it is today. The Impact Plan envisions a more diverse park with new additions that will draw people to our community. Turning your attention to economic development, the 2008 County Economic Development Tax was not renewed by voters in 2013 leaving our community without a funded economic development program. When our community gets an opportunity to compete for a new factory the question “What incentives can you offer my company?” is always the first question asked. Without a funded economic development program, it is extremely difficult for our community to compete for new jobs. Today, I am announcing that the City of Batesville will move forward with the creation of the City of Batesville Economic Development Program in partnership with the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce. I am calling on our community to join with us as we develop and build this program. It is my hope that our community will begin to fully appreciate the value of having a well-funded economic development program. Recently, our inability to successfully compete for the Emerson Electric Plant that announced it would locate in Ash Flat, Arkansas reminded us of the importance of being able to offer companies incentives to bring new jobs to Batesville. We have always learned from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission that it is critical to always have “skin in the game” or opportunities, like the Emmerson project, would likely pass us by. Batesville continues to have a bright future because of the determination of our citizens to create the kind of city they can be proud of and the kind of community their children and grandchildren will want to come home to. It is my hope that our citizens will continue moving Batesville forward with the same dedication and determination that has proven successful over the last 14 years. May God bless our country during this unprecedented pandemic and may he continue to bless the City of Batesville, Independence County and the citizens of our community in the days to come. Mayor Elumbaugh declared a vacancy in council Ward 3, Position 2, after the resignation of Mr. Pete Musgrave. The Mayor asked anyone interested in applying for the position to contact City Hall. Mayor Elumbaugh also announced that the next scheduled meeting will be May th 11. LIAISON REPORTS