A Few Minutes With the New Mayor – February 2021

We have all been through quite a stretch since last winter. Life as we knew it is different and not by choice. Some days it seems we have given up much that we will never regain. We miss our freedom of travel; dining out; the movies; and our friends and family. One thing that hasn’t changed is the spirit of people who live here in Jacksonville. We have been fortunate in living out this quarantine here in our small town. We are able to get meals from restaurants, borrow books from the library or buy them in a bookstore, buy groceries, go to the Post Office, get our hair cut, shop for clothing or gifts, exercise and enjoy our miles of trails; all quickly and easily. We have continued to live life to the best of our abilities, with most of what we need right here, in Jacksonville. City government has also carried on, mostly through audio meetings, sometimes smoothly, sometimes with major glitches. So, what’s next for your city officials?

To begin with, you may have noticed City Council and Planning Commission meetings are via ZOOM now. This should be a huge improvement over the antiquated system we were using previously. Please go to the Agenda Center of the City of Jacksonville webpage at jacksonvilleor.us to get the information you need to call in, listen, and participate as dictated by the meeting agendas.

City Council meetings will look a little different. Starting in January: The first Council meeting of the month, on the first Tuesday of the month, will be a regular Council meeting. We will approve bills, have agenda items for discussion and vote, hear public comment, and conduct all our normal business. The third Tuesday of the month, the Council meeting will be a work session. Your Council will be getting a review and education on topics such as wildfires, evacuation and safety procedures; urban growth boundary issues, and fiscal challenges. I believe Wildfire/Fire Wise concerns should be one of the first areas covered. Fire season will be here soon. These work sessions may be attended by the public but there will be no public comment and there will be no council votes. It will be an informal/educational format. For now, all meetings are virtual/audio, until such time as we are able to hold public meetings again.

Some continuing projects will include the renovation of our outdated firehall; the completion of the second story of the historic Courthouse; ongoing utility projects; and the CAC work of re-writing the City Development Code. Additional information on these projects and more, will be forthcoming through this column and the City Newsletter included with your City Services Bill.

As your newly-elected Mayor, I’m excited to begin this new year. I will have the benefit of working with returning Councilors Jim Lewis, Ken Gregg, Mike McClain, and Steve Casaleggio. I welcome our new councilors Andrea Thompson and Scott Selbe. We also have the privilege of working with an experienced City Administrator and staff, making our jobs easier. I look forward to hearing from you at mayor@jacksonvilleor.us on any subjects you have concerns about.