Mayor Murray offers thoughts in State of the City

Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Mayor Sue Murray

Beginning the final year of her second term as mayor of Greencastle, Sue Murray looks confidently ahead to the coming year while proudly digesting the accomplishments of 2014 in her annual State of the City remarks.

"As we begin the 2015 year, I remain incredibly proud of our community," Murray said. "I am proud of the fact that collectively our city departments were again able to stay well within their budgets."

That, the mayor said, has been the direct result of the planning and fiscal management of each of city department head, along with the dedication of city employees to efficiently provide the services and protection local residents have come to expect.

"They are amazing," the mayor said in praise of city workers.

"I am proud of the vibrancy of our local economy and the successful businesses and industries that are located here," Murray assessed, "and the increasing number of job opportunities that follow. I am proud of the results we are seeing from the Stellar Grant investment that the State of Indiana has made in us, and I am very proud of the citizens of Greencastle who invest their time and talents to make our community something truly special."

The mayor also pointed out a number of 2014 accomplishments by the city that:

* Rebuilt a section of Indiana Street that now provides relief from flooding rains and a well-lit, pleasant pedestrian way.

* Joined the Civic League in the design and building of the Bob York Memorial Splash Park.

* Completed the first round of facade revitalization in the downtown.

* Built and nearly completed two new parking lots to provide relief for downtown parking congestion.

* Took over the ownership of Big Walnut Sports Park.

* Did more than $250,000 in street improvements.

* Invested more than $100,000 in our sidewalks and ADA ramps.

* Completed six owner-occupied rehabilitation projects.

* Received the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns' Green Community of the Year designation for the sixth time.

* Invested $18,000 in the city's tree canopy.

* Watched a reconstituted Main Street organization emerge and begin an energetic First Friday program.

* Witnessed the growing interest, investment and enjoyment of the arts that have come through the work of the DePauw School of Music, committed citizens and the schools.

* Saw the opening of the Zinc Mill Apartments and Milestone Phase 2 units on Martinsville Street.

* Broke ground at the Miller School site for new senior housing.

Meanwhile, in looking ahead to the next 12 months, Mayor Murray noted that the city will turn its attention to:

* Reconstruction of a section of Vine Street.

* An aggressive season of street resurfacing and sidewalk work.

* Phase 2 of downtown facade reconstruction.

* Building 11 new downtown loft apartments.

* Finishing the last seven owner-occupied rehabilitation projects.

* Remediation of structural issues in the Greencastle Fire Department building.

* The building of Micaela Cancilla Park (Maple Berry Park east).

* Rebuilding the tennis courts at Robe-Ann Park.

* Refurbishment of Manhattan Road and Indianapolis Road (from Kroger to Percy Julian Drive).

* The Indiana Department of Environmental Management's mandated water construction project.

* Letting of the South Street project for construction.

* Final submission of plans for the Phase IV People Pathways project to link the high school and middle school to the stoplight just west of Walmart and the rest of the trail system.

* Continuing to provide services residents have come to expect, while working to ensure the city's financial integrity for the future.

"Our days will be busy and the year will move quickly," the mayor predicted, "but because of all of the construction that will be taking place in our downtown, I must ask again for the continued patience of our citizens and visitors alike.

"It is our goal to try to minimize the inconveniences and move through the construction season as quickly as possible," Mayor Murray said. "I think we all will be pleased.

"I am sincerely grateful to the people of Greencastle who have given me the opportunity to serve as your mayor," she concluded. "It is a privilege."

Mayor Murray has stressed publicly that she will not serve more than two terms as mayor and thus has no plans to seek re-election. Her second term will end on Dec. 31, 2015.

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