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Mr. Lindsey Castleberry, our city attorney is also a huge asset to our community. Besides providing legal advice to the city he also prosecutes offenses that occur within the city.
<br />Batesville is very fortunate to have a city attorney with the kind of dedication Mr. Castleberry has demonstrated.
<br />Finally, I must also praise the work of my administrative secretary, Mrs. Jennifer Corter. She has been a dedicated city employee for numerous years working for the city in
<br />multiple departments. She is responsible for scheduling my appointments and making sure I am not late for meetings. Her professionalism, knowledge of city government, and
<br />love for our community makes her the perfect person to greet our citizens who visit or call city hall.
<br />I believe that the city services we provide enable our citizens to live better, more productive and comfortable lives, enabling them to have a quality of life not always found in
<br />small cities.
<br />We are fortunate to have loyal, and dedicated employees, many of our employees have decades of service, who love this city as much as I do and are committed to serving the
<br />citizens of Batesville.
<br />These dedicated men and women make sure that you have uninterrupted water and sewer service. They see that your trash is picked up on time and improve the looks of our
<br />city with limb and leaf pickup. They make sure our parks are well maintained, and see that all public areas are landscaped and well groomed. They work to maintain our
<br />streets, provide our citizens with superior firefighting and rescue capabilities, operate our airport, and enforce our zoning laws and our state's fire and building codes. Animal
<br />control is enforced to help ensure the safety of our citizens and their pets. Soon we will also be providing the citizens of Batesville an enhanced level of police protection with
<br />our new Batesville Police Force.
<br />Early in my administration I began weekly meetings with the supervisors of all these departments. My goal was simple. If each department knew what all the others were doing
<br />then we could be more efficient in the delivery of services to our citizens. An added benefit has been that your mayor has really learned a lot from these dedicated employees!
<br />Each year when I begin to prepare this address, I initially think the previous year has slipped by quickly without as much forward movement as I would have hoped for. Then, as
<br />I begin to look back through the minutes of each council meeting, I am reminded ofjust how much progress has actually been made. This past year has seen many great things
<br />accomplished for our city and I hope you are as proud of them as I am. Recently a citizen commented that he believed Batesville had made more progress in the last five years
<br />than it had in the twenty plus years he had lived here. I hope you feel the same. Early in my administration your city council recognized the importance of the airport to our
<br />business community and economic development. They chose to substantially increase funds to the airport commission allowing them to have the matching funds available to
<br />secure additional grants. As a result, the airport has continued to grow as aircraft owners continue renting hangar space faster than the Airport Commission can build it. A new
<br />multi -bay hangar for larger aircraft was constructed and occupied in 2014, making it the third new multi-plane hangar constructed by the Airport Commission in recent years.
<br />About 80 aircraft are currently based at the airport. Currently, the Commission continues adding additional hangar space and is planning a major renovation of the terminal
<br />building, which hasn't been updated in several decades. We are fortunate to have such a talented group of aviation and civic minded volunteers who serve on this important
<br />commission. The Batesville Regional Airport is recognized as one of the best airports of its size in Arkansas.
<br />In October, airport manager Darren Wilkes was recognized, along with the airport itself, for being chosen as the 2014 Airport of the Year by the Arkansas Airport Operators
<br />Association. The award is in recognition of the airport's contribution to the overall Arkansas airport system and the community's efforts to expand and improve the facility.
<br />Our city continues to enjoy increased sports tourism, which brings tremendous dollars into our community as participants and their families spend money at our area
<br />businesses.
<br />Each February, our city continues to host the Six County Region 3 Archery Tournament, which brings 300-400 archers and their families to our city. We are grateful that
<br />FutureFuel Chemical Company continues to allow the use of the White Rogers Building for this event.
<br />The new Terry Sims Diamond Sports Complex and the new soccer complex were both part of the capital facilities authorized by voters under the 2012 Community Development
<br />Initiative. These projects are both complete and we continue to nurture the establishment of the grass to improve the eye appeal and first impression of the new facilities.
<br />In May of last year, the first baseball tournament was held at the new complex. The three day Ian Kinsler NIT baseball tournament was a resounding success bringing an
<br />estimated 5,500 additional visitors and players to our city. According to the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce, the tournament had a $500,000.00 impact on sales, with
<br />businesses reporting a 100 to 118% increase in revenues for the weekend. This is a Win, Wn! Awin for our businesses and our community. Parks Director, Jeff Owens, has
<br />scheduled eight baseball tournaments for this spring with five of those already in the definite category. As the word of the new, seven field, Terry Sims Diamond Sports Complex
<br />spreads, the facility will generate increased sports tourism bringing thousands of visitors to our community each year. Participation in the city's youth soccer program continues
<br />to grow with 33 teams signed up to play and the youth baseball and softball programs have over 500 kids signed up to play this spring.
<br />We are certainly appreciative of the local businesses that continue to demonstrate support for the new sports complexes by purchasing all of the available sponsorships for the
<br />sports fields.
<br />In February, the city opened bids on the new Fitzhugh Park Community Center and Aquatic Park. The new facility is part of the 2012 Community Development Sales Tax
<br />Initiative passed by voters. The new facility will have a gymnasium with three basketball courts, six volleyball courts, a walking track, and a racquetball court. This large facility
<br />will attract basketball and volleyball tournaments and will be able to utilize chair seating for two to three thousand people for area graduations and other large events such as
<br />outdoor products shows, boat shows and other similar events. The center section of the new facility will house several large meeting rooms, two "board" type meeting rooms,
<br />exercise rooms and office space. The indoor aquatics facility will feature a competition swimming pool capable of hosting competitive swimming events in both meter and yard
<br />disciplines, a heated therapy pool, and a smaller "kiddie" pool with a small water slide to create a year round venue for children's birthday parties. The outdoor portion of the
<br />aquatics facility will have a zero entry pool with a swimming area, diving area, a double water slide, a zip line and a lazy river. Not only will these new facilities provide exciting
<br />new opportunities for our schools, citizens and local businesses, but they will also attract companies and individuals looking for large event venues and individuals wanting to
<br />take advantage of the aquatic offerings and exercise opportunities in a fifty to seventy five mile radius of Batesville.
<br />We are making good progress on construction of the Fitzhugh Park Community Center and Aquatic Park although continued bad weather can possibly delay the project. We are
<br />still hoping for a 2015 grand opening although the timetable is dependent on the weather during the coming months.
<br />When completed, our community will have a facility to be proud of and one that will provide new opportunities for our citizens and area businesses. Soon, we will be giving area
<br />residents and businesses opportunities to sponsor certain furnishings for the new facilities. If you are interested in being a part of this exciting new addition to our community
<br />through a sponsorship, please contact Parks Director Jeff Owens or myself. There will also be multiple opportunities for citizens to volunteer at the new facility.
<br />In July, construction was begun by M & A Jones Construction Company of Batesville on a $634,996.00 project that has been in the works for at least six years. The city has
<br />been working with the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB), White River Planning & Development District (WRPDD) and others to secure funding
<br />to relocate the White River Fire Fighting Training Center from the banks of the White River in Riverside Park to the UACCB Campus in conjunction with the construction of a
<br />combined Firefighting Training Center/Workforce Training Center. Once the center locates to the new facility, the city can consider economic development opportunities of the
<br />riverfront area, including the possibility of marketing the site for a multistory riverfront hotel.
<br />2014 was a pivotal year for the Main Street Batesville Program. Deficiencies in the program had resulted in a possibility of de -certification of the program by Main Street
<br />Arkansas. Mr. Bob Carius was elected as the chairman of the Main Street Batesville Board and he has led a renewed interest in preserving and improving the downtown area.
<br />With most of the downtown buildings privately owned it was critical for the Main Street Batesville organization to obtain the support of a majority of the property owners in the
<br />effort to revitalize the downtown area. The Main Street Batesville Board decided to engage the services of Mr. Dan Burden, a world renowned leader in helping cities revitalize
<br />their downtowns. Our goal was to create a more walkable, pedestrian friendly, and more aesthetically pleasing downtown environment where people would want to go to spend
<br />time.
<br />Over a three-day period, Mr. Burden met with downtown stakeholders and afterward the Main Street Batesville organization held a public meeting to discuss the
<br />recommendations of Mr. Burden. The Main Street Batesville Board recognized that a complete makeover of the downtown streetscape would have the best chance to foster a
<br />revitalization of the downtown area. The Main Street Batesville Board asked the city to partner with them to create a completely new streetscape for Main Street in the
<br />downtown area. Instead of two driving lanes with parking on each side of the street, angled parking on alternating blocks utilizing a single, reduced speed, driving lane to slow
<br />traffic down would be created. Large planters would be created on the corners to increase the green space. The streetscape changes are a work in progress and their overall
<br />changes have been well received by a majority of the public.
<br />Recently, it was announced that the owner of the 100 plus year old Historic Barnett Building was donating it to the City of Batesville and its partnership with Main Street
<br />Batesville. The coming year will bring exciting new possibilities for this historic building's use. I am excited about the new challenges and opportunities taking place in our
<br />historic downtown.
<br />No political races developed in the city during the fall elections and all of the aldermen, city clerk and city attorney were all returned to office, along with myself. Early in the year
<br />however, two vacancies were created when aldermen moved out of their respective wards. Mrs. Paige Hubbard resigned from Ward 3, Position 2 because she moved into Ward
<br />4, and Mr. Davy Insell resigned from Ward 4, Position 1 because he moved out of the city limits. The council appointed Mrs. Hubbard to fill the Ward 4, Position 1 seat and Dr.
<br />Chris Beller to fill the Ward 3, Position 2 seat.
<br />In September, Mr. Fred Krug retired and moved to Greers Ferry. He was recognized for his dedicated ten years of service as a city council member serving Ward 3, Position 1.
<br />After considering four applicants to fill the Ward 3, Position 1 vacancy, the council appointed Ms. Sonya Crafton to fill the vacancy.
<br />An ordinance was passed prohibiting the use of e -cigarettes in city parks, cemeteries and other city owned facilities.
<br />A new Patrol/Narcotics Detection dog was purchased with monies from the alcoholic beverage tax set aside for public safety.
<br />The city accepted the annexation of the county's new 46.7 acre business park.
<br />A new fire truck was placed into service in order to maintain the city's excellent Class 3 fire rating which saves property owners money on existing fire insurance premiums.
<br />The city continued its promotion of economic development through its participation in the "Tax Back Program" administered by the Arkansas Economic Development
<br />Commission that allows companies to recoup local sales taxes paid on certain items used in an expansion of existing facilities.
<br />A $50,000.00 grant allowed the city to purchase a new chipper machine which allows the continuation of our free leaf and limb pickup program.During the summer months the
<br />Parks and Recreation Department continued the "Movies in the Park" program, which is sponsored by area businesses, and provides free, family oriented movies in our very
<br />own Riverside Park.
<br />A flashflood early in the year resulted in an estimated $250,000.00 damage to several city facilities including the new walking trail and extensive damage to the bridge in
<br />Riverside Park. One recommendation was to replace the old bridge at an estimated cost of over a million dollars. Street Department personnel decided to repair the bridge
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