If you missed the Mayor’s State of the City speech, here are the highlights:
Approximately $40 million was invested in the city of Brazil in 2014 and residents can expect more money to be spent on improvements this year, Mayor Brian Wyndham said on Tuesday.
The number reflects the continued view by both private, public and local officials and residents that Brazil is an area continuing to make positive strides, he said to the crowd gathered at the Clay County YMCA for his annual State of the City address.
“It is an indicator that we are moving forward,” Wyndham said. “They don’t put that kind of money in investments in a dying community.”
Some of the major projects the mayor highlighted were the U.S. 40 project, the city’s side street paving project and Exceptional Living Centers’ plans to start construction of the first assisted living center in the county.
“The more of it we do, the more of it we’ll receive,” Wyndham said. “We will use the U.S. 40 project and these things going on as a springboard to get on more projects and keep doing well.”
Brazil resident Holly True described the mayor’s address as inspiring, adding she has seen a lot of good things going on.
Mayor talks infrastructure
The city continues to work on improving the streets and water and waste water systems.
Around 14 miles of roads were paved with $1.7 million as part of the first phase of the city’s street paving project, he said, and for 2015 the city is working to secure another bond to tackle more roads on the south side.
“This year, we are looking at doing $1.5 million (bond lease) on the south side of town,” Wyndham said. “We are pretty close to completing an Economic Development Area down there that would allow the bond leasing to happen.”
Along with the streets, residents can expect some work to be done on sidewalks.
Wyndham said in the next three years the city will receive a $390,000 grant, which requires a 20 percent match from the city, to not only do repairs but ensure sidewalks are compliant with the American with Disabilities Act.
Also, the city has been working to resolve ongoing water loss problems. Wyndham said over the past year the water department has been able to decrease the city’s water loss by 14 percent — that equates to more than 400,000 gallons pumped that were not getting billed.
In addition, the city is 65 percent complete in replacing all residents’ water meters. Wyndham said the new meters are read electronically, which makes them more accurate and efficient. One feature, he added, allows the reader to even pull up the meter’s history.
“If someone has a leak in the early morning … or they flush the commode you can tell it with one of these things,” Wyndham said.
Other speech highlights:
* The city will continue to pick up residents’ tree limbs. Wyndham said two seasonal employees were hired last year for that specific task and it worked, adding that is the plan this year.
* U.S. 40 project is expected to pick up where it left off later this year. The preliminary plan is to reach the SR 59 intersection by the end of construction season.
* The city plans on replacing the city’s street signs in 2015. Officials plan to let bids on the project in September and have it completed by the end of the year. The city will invest $198,000 in that project, Wyndham said.
* The Federal Emergency Management Agency flood buyout is ongoing. Wyndham said, so far, $1.3 million has been invested with phase I of the project completed and phase 2 near completion.
* The city plans to use $215,000 awarded through the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority as part of the Blight Elimination Program to demolish blighted homes this year. Wyndham said they are also working with Clay County Commissioners to possibly purchase some properties off a commissioners’ sale so they can be included as well.
To watch the full address follow the link below:
