Mayor delivers 'state of the city'

Announces tentative plan to run for office again

Department heads appointed, committee and commission assignments and appointments announced

[May 08, 2008]  Mayor Beth Davis-Kavelman opened the first meeting of the city's fiscal year on Monday with her "state of the city" address. She said that her delivery would be brief. Starting into her eighth year, second term, she said, "We have had positives and negatives this past year."

Finances

Under positives, we have improved the budget that was started under Alderman Verl Prather and completed by Alderman Busby. This year's budget was cut to $10,520,427. That is $340,734 less than last year's budget. The largest expense is payroll. At that, every one of the departments is short-staffed. The police, fire, street departments and the clerk's office all need more help, she said.

Early retirement incentives were offered, which led to a number of higher salaried employees retiring. The deputy police chief, Harley Mullins, who took early retirement in December, was hired to stay on until a replacement could be chosen and trained. Mullins retired last Wednesday. The early retirements did help, the mayor said.

Future development for city

She said it is a continual project to maintain the city as well as to keep new construction going. "We are building on the west side," she said, adding that she'd like to see our economic development continue by building to the northeast side. "I'd like to keep our courthouse in the middle of our beautiful, historic downtown area."

She said that before becoming mayor she had 16 1/2 years working for the city and was on the county board previously. In those years we only needed a part-time mayor. Things have changed since those years, and she believes it is time for a full-time mayor, or an additional administrative position needs to be added.

The mayor's salary is $12,000 for part time. The mayor said that she had to take an additional job last year, but still works as much as possible for the city. "I still work the job 24/7, when I'm not at the other office," she said. It (the mayor's position) is an all-the-time job. It is time that the council look at this, she said.

The aldermen have not had a pay increase in 22 years.

The city treasurer, Les Plotner, does a yeoman's job for $5,000-$6,000 a year.

"It's time to give a little more for what we're doing," the mayor said. "It's not easy being an elected official. We under go threats, media malignment, blasted on a regular basis; but we're trying to find solutions for what's best for our community. We're trying to be out there for our citizens, helping where we can as quickly as we can. We don't always have the most favorable answers for things, but we really are trying. All of the aldermen and the department heads are trying to do a good job. We just want to improve our quality of life. I think we're doing a pretty good job. We're moving more on the positive side. This takes cooperation on everyone's part.

"Thank you very much. I hope we have another good year. And if I run again, which I think I am, I hope we have another four years of good things going on in this community."

Appointments

Next the mayor made appointments. She asked each of the city's current appointed department heads to return for another year of service: Bill Bates, city attorney; Lester Last, building and codes official; Tracy Jackson, streets superintendent; and Stuart Erlenbush, police chief. All agreed and were approved by the council. Next she announced committee and special commission appointments for the coming year. These can be seen in LDN's Community section. (Appointments)

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