A Few Minutes with the Mayor – February 2024

WELCOME TO 2024 EVERYONE. It’s always a bittersweet moment saying goodbye to the old year and welcoming the new. We are another year older, but hopefully starting the next twelve months fresh and renewed. 2023 was a quiet, but a busy year. I would like to briefly share with you some of the old and new business your City Council will be addressing in the coming months. We always have carry-over projects that sometimes require months to complete, and we start out in January of each year with a full schedule. A lot of what we do is like watching paint dry but is necessary to run even a small city. When I’m setting the agendas for meetings, I’m eternally grateful for several things that make being Mayor easier: Our dedicated staff, our talented city council, our appointed Committees and Commissions, and the caliber of people who live in Jacksonville and contribute to our way of life. City Council members, and all those serving on Committees and Commissions carry the sometimes-tremendous workload, and we are all volunteers.

Something on the forefront the past year has been the work the newly-founded Ad-Hoc Traffic Committee is wading through. Councilman Andy Hellenthal, citizens Cindy Rasmussen and Sue Murray, along with myself, are looking to bring some proposals to a Council Work Session. That will be followed by a vote by City Council, on what changes we make to keep all of you safe on the sidewalks and streets of Jacksonville. Some basic changes have started and more will follow in stages, depending on weather, funding, and meeting state and local laws. We will do what we can, with what we have, to make these changes. You may have noticed our electric flashing traffic speed warning signs over the past year. We have both stationary and portable signs in use now. As soon as we hit a warm weather window, in the spring, we will be starting our annual crosswalk, bike lanes, and other traffic lane painting. We will be adding some new lane lines throughout the city. Incidentally, as of the January meeting, the Ad-Hoc Traffic Committee meetings are being held upstairs in the Assembly Room again. I apologize for miscalculating how many attendees we would have and that we need additional space. The downstairs conference room simply was not adequate. I will ensure we have enough chairs for everyone!

Committees and Commissions: due to folks moving or retiring, we have openings on the Budget Committee, the CCI Committee, and the Cemetery Committee. Volunteering for one of these groups is a very rewarding, educational endeavor. This is a chance to meet with other folks to decide on the future of Jacksonville and how to meet the needs of the people who live here.

The Museum Project: Councilor Ken Gregg is the lead on this new undertaking. The project was given the green light to use the Old City Hall building at a recent City Council meeting. This will be a slow process as it must be self-funded. The city simply does not have the funds to handle a development of this size. We will keep reporting on the Museum Project throughout the year.

Two other possible agenda items are #1-The feasibility and sustainability, of acquisition of Engine #1, (the original train engine for the City of Jacksonville) currently housed at the Bigham Knoll Campus. And #2- The idea of a “Pedestrian Plaza” on the part of 3rd Street that connects to California Street. Both projects require a lot of homework and research before coming to City Council. Both projects would have to be funded with grants and we will keep you updated as any possible plans unfold.

Last but not least, this is an election year. Jacksonville has a rotating schedule of electing three Councilors in one cycle and two years later electing three Councilors and the Mayor. This fall the cycle is for three Councilors and a Mayor, who will be sworn in at the first City Council meeting in January 2025. Each position is for a four-year term. People often ask me what it is like to be Mayor or City Councilor. It is always rewarding, but at times can be difficult. As with any job, there are many ups and downs. These can make you doubt yourself, question yourself, or hopefully, be very happy with decisions you make. The best Mayors and Councilors are people who can take the long view on what is in the best interests of Jacksonville and the people who live here. This year I welcome anyone who is interested in running for office to call me and find out what being in an elected office in Jacksonville is like. I will also hold an informal question and answer meeting in late spring to explain the process required, and the duties required, if you are elected.

Until March, drive lawfully, and safely, and be mindful of the weather!