State of city, county outlined (1/28/04)

Pride in Jay County and Portland were stressed by both Commissioner Mike Leonhard and Mayor Bruce Hosier during state of the county and city addresses Tuesday.

“Jay County is a place I believe in. That’s why my roots are here,” Leonhard, who is county commissioner of the North District, said to close his speech on the state of the county.

“I wake up every morning with a hope and determination ... that I can make our community a better place to live,” Hosier said near the end of his state of the city address.

Leonhard and Hosier spoke Tuesday during the Portland Area Chamber of Commerce’s luncheon at Jay County Hospital.

County roads, bridges, paramedics and ambulances and the Jay County Retirement Center topped Leonhard’s list of topics.

“I just want to thank everyone for coming out on this beautiful day,” Leonhard said, referring to the snowy, windy weather that could be seen outside the large window in the hospital’s conference room.

Leonhard’s mention that there are “paramedics in the county” drew applause from those attending the luncheon. He added that Jay Emergency Medical Service ambulances made a total of 1,847 runs in 2003.

Leonhard also reported that the county has 750 miles of county roads, and approximately 450 miles of those roads are paved. He hopes in the next year that more stone roads will be paved.

“That’s one of our biggest issues now,” Leonhard said. “We are working on it.”

He also talked about the condition of the bridges in the county. “We have a real healthy bridge fund,” Leonhard said. “There are only two steel structures left in the county.”

Leonhard also spoke Tuesday about the condition of the county’s retirement center.

“It needed a complete revamping ... It now has a new heating system, and we are working to get the windows replaced,” he said.

Hosier started his address lightly by proclaiming that Tuesday was a state holiday — Indiana University was set to play Purdue University that night.

He added that his outfit — a black suit with a bright red tie — supported both Indiana college teams.

Hosier then outlined several goals he has set for the city in the coming year. He spoke about the current state of and plans for city employees, finances, educational opportunities, the city’s downtown and status of the Weiler Wilson/Hudson Family Park project.

He said that the city department heads and employees are moving in the right direction to the city’s goals of “exhibiting honesty, hard work and friendliness.”

Financially, Hosier said, the city is in “excellent shape.” He then commended city clerk-treasurer Barbara Blackford for her efforts.

He also mentioned the positive educational opportunities available in the city at the John Jay Center for Learning, and commended the Portland Park Board and the Barry Hudson family for their commitment to the planned 33-acre park on Portland’s southeast side.

“This project will become a reality for the community,” Hosier said drawing applause.

Hosier also mentioned the state of the city’s downtown area.

“The foundation (of the city) starts downtown and extends out to our neighborhoods,” he said.

After the mayor’s address, chamber member Eric Rogers, who is executive director of Arts Place, asked Hosier what the city’s plans are for the former Portland Fire Station located on Commerce Street.

Hosier said that city officials have met with the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana and have requested that the organization complete a feasibility study to determine what options are available for the building.[[In-content Ad]]