Post by Okwes on Mar 22, 2007 15:04:05 GMT -5
Mayor cites progress in Oneida city government
By LEEANNE ROOT, Dispatch Staff Writer
01/10/2007
ONEIDA - During his State of the City Address for 2006, Mayor Leo Matzke cited lowering property taxes as the city's greatest accomplishment of 2006 and views downtown development as the most important task in 2007.
Property taxes were decreased by five percent and Matzke attributes that in part to receiving property tax payments from the Oneida Indian Nation.
The city reached an agreement with the Oneida Indian Nation that the tribe would pay past due taxes of over $5 million.
"The agreement lays the groundwork for a future of mutual respect and positive relations between our two governments," Matzke told Rotary Club members at their meeting at the Kallet Civic Center Tuesday.
He told members of the service club the plans to spend a portion of a $400,000 federal grant on rehabilitating upper level apartments downtown.
Matzke said he wants to improve the overall look of the downtown area and make it more pedestrian friendly.
The majority of the mentioned $400,000 grant will be used to help senior citizens bring their homes up to code with new heat, electrical, plumbing and roof repairs.
"The city will also continue with the lead water line replacement program for low-income seniors," Matzke said.
The program will be in its 12th of 15 years in 2007. During 2006 32 lines were replaced leaving fewer than 100 of the original 441 left to be replaced.
The Water Department continued with the meter update program in 2006, replacing over 300 meters. This program will go into its fifth of nine years and another 300 meters are planned to be upgraded.
The $1.3 million Glenmore Dam Rehabilitation Project will begin in 2007 and will include security upgrades, construction of improved intake facilities, mechanical improvements and gate house replacements.
"We'll be conducting a leak survey because we lose about one million gallons a day," Matzke said.
The Water Department will also be switching billing formats from using postcards to pressure sealed mailers. Water Superintendent Art Smolinski said the postcards tend to get lost or stuck in between other pieces of mail and discarded.
"The Waste Water Treatment Plant expansion project is running smoothly and will continue through 2007-the target for completion is February 2008," Matzke said.
The Department of Public Works is expecting to replace two old dump trucks with two new ones as well as getting a new pesticide truck, service truck and commercial mower-blower.
Matzke said activity in the Police Department increased during 2006.
He said the number of crimes and arrests increased but so did the number of cases being closed.
"With the addition of the drug investigator position and increased training made available to patrol, the number of drug arrests has increased," Matzke said. "The Police Department will continue to strive to ensure Oneida is safe for our residents and visitors."
A number of projects will benefit the Recreation Department in 2007 including the installation of a commercial kitchen and air conditioning at the Recreation Center, park upgrades and Chapman Pool repairs.
Matzke commended the Fire Department for a job well-done during "one of the biggest fires in the last 20 years at the former National Casket Factory."
"Their greatest and most significant achievement was putting over 200 firefighters on the fire ground and not having a single injury," he said.
The Fire Department received a grant for $240,000 to replace a pumper truck that is over 40 years old.
A Real Property Tax Administration Technology Improvement Grant for $30,000 will be used to implement a Web-based system to display tax parcel information.
"You can access that through your computer and we plan to buddy up with the county, who already has the program in place," Matzke said.
Downtown isn't the only aesthetically pleasing item on Matzke's 2007 agenda.
He said the city would be partnering with the Madison County ARC again to beautify the entrances to the city.
"The city's Neighborhood Revitalization Committee will be focused on making the city more attractive by launching a city-wide cleanup with the intent of instilling a new sense of pride for every resident of our city," he said.
Overall Matzke said he is pleased with the progress the city made throughout 2006.
"All in all, the City of Oneida has a multitude of positive momentum to guide us into 2007 and beyond," he said.
But he said he couldn't do it alone. He expressed thanks to all the city's employees and civic leaders.
"If you ever see a frog on the flag pole know that someone put it up there and I am the frog," Matzke said. "If we are going to be successful we have to work together."
By LEEANNE ROOT, Dispatch Staff Writer
01/10/2007
ONEIDA - During his State of the City Address for 2006, Mayor Leo Matzke cited lowering property taxes as the city's greatest accomplishment of 2006 and views downtown development as the most important task in 2007.
Property taxes were decreased by five percent and Matzke attributes that in part to receiving property tax payments from the Oneida Indian Nation.
The city reached an agreement with the Oneida Indian Nation that the tribe would pay past due taxes of over $5 million.
"The agreement lays the groundwork for a future of mutual respect and positive relations between our two governments," Matzke told Rotary Club members at their meeting at the Kallet Civic Center Tuesday.
He told members of the service club the plans to spend a portion of a $400,000 federal grant on rehabilitating upper level apartments downtown.
Matzke said he wants to improve the overall look of the downtown area and make it more pedestrian friendly.
The majority of the mentioned $400,000 grant will be used to help senior citizens bring their homes up to code with new heat, electrical, plumbing and roof repairs.
"The city will also continue with the lead water line replacement program for low-income seniors," Matzke said.
The program will be in its 12th of 15 years in 2007. During 2006 32 lines were replaced leaving fewer than 100 of the original 441 left to be replaced.
The Water Department continued with the meter update program in 2006, replacing over 300 meters. This program will go into its fifth of nine years and another 300 meters are planned to be upgraded.
The $1.3 million Glenmore Dam Rehabilitation Project will begin in 2007 and will include security upgrades, construction of improved intake facilities, mechanical improvements and gate house replacements.
"We'll be conducting a leak survey because we lose about one million gallons a day," Matzke said.
The Water Department will also be switching billing formats from using postcards to pressure sealed mailers. Water Superintendent Art Smolinski said the postcards tend to get lost or stuck in between other pieces of mail and discarded.
"The Waste Water Treatment Plant expansion project is running smoothly and will continue through 2007-the target for completion is February 2008," Matzke said.
The Department of Public Works is expecting to replace two old dump trucks with two new ones as well as getting a new pesticide truck, service truck and commercial mower-blower.
Matzke said activity in the Police Department increased during 2006.
He said the number of crimes and arrests increased but so did the number of cases being closed.
"With the addition of the drug investigator position and increased training made available to patrol, the number of drug arrests has increased," Matzke said. "The Police Department will continue to strive to ensure Oneida is safe for our residents and visitors."
A number of projects will benefit the Recreation Department in 2007 including the installation of a commercial kitchen and air conditioning at the Recreation Center, park upgrades and Chapman Pool repairs.
Matzke commended the Fire Department for a job well-done during "one of the biggest fires in the last 20 years at the former National Casket Factory."
"Their greatest and most significant achievement was putting over 200 firefighters on the fire ground and not having a single injury," he said.
The Fire Department received a grant for $240,000 to replace a pumper truck that is over 40 years old.
A Real Property Tax Administration Technology Improvement Grant for $30,000 will be used to implement a Web-based system to display tax parcel information.
"You can access that through your computer and we plan to buddy up with the county, who already has the program in place," Matzke said.
Downtown isn't the only aesthetically pleasing item on Matzke's 2007 agenda.
He said the city would be partnering with the Madison County ARC again to beautify the entrances to the city.
"The city's Neighborhood Revitalization Committee will be focused on making the city more attractive by launching a city-wide cleanup with the intent of instilling a new sense of pride for every resident of our city," he said.
Overall Matzke said he is pleased with the progress the city made throughout 2006.
"All in all, the City of Oneida has a multitude of positive momentum to guide us into 2007 and beyond," he said.
But he said he couldn't do it alone. He expressed thanks to all the city's employees and civic leaders.
"If you ever see a frog on the flag pole know that someone put it up there and I am the frog," Matzke said. "If we are going to be successful we have to work together."