As I wrap up my first year as Mayor, I have not only taken the time to reflect on the accomplishments and changes within the City of Leslie, but also remain energized for the future of our city.

 

In 2018, the City Council was successful in hiring a new city manager and overseeing the reorganization of the administrative staff, which resulted in a large cost savings. This administrative team works extremely hard to serve the City. As with all City staff, I remain proud of their commitment and dedication to implement constant improvements and not be resistant to change. Being good stewards of tax-payer dollars remains one of our top priorities.

 

Sue Montenegro, our new city manager (and this year's holiday parade grand marshal), has done a spectacular job in her first five months in this role. She not only continues to work on previous unfinished projects and new projects, but has worked to make herself more accessible to those who visit the City Offices. I look forward to continuing to work with her.

 

Since the General Election, many are talking about the recreational marijuana proposal that passed. Please know that your City Council is working closely with the city manager and city attorney on what that means for our city and how we should navigate. Before the Election, the City of Leslie intentionally chose to exclude provisioning centers under the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act and restricted the grow facilities to the Industrial Park. Both the protective covenants and our zoning ordinance prohibit retail sales in the industrial district. Please stay tuned for information on what the proposal passage means for the City of Leslie and other jurisdictions across Michigan.

 

Water quality remains a top priority in the City and a multi-phased water main replacement is still the goal. The implementation of the metered-billing system has been successful. The City is currently testing new meters that will not only allow for instant reads and tracking, but also a cell phone app that customers can use on their smart phones to see where their water usage is at. Those without cell phone app capability would be able to contact City Offices, any time during business hours, to obtain their current usage information. 

 

Upgrades to Russell Park took place this year, including pouring sidewalks to both pavilions from the parking area. The Parks and Recreation Committee continues to work on a plan for a trail that will go through the City and how that can be funded through supplemental grants.

 

I appointed, and serve on, a Charter Review Committee to conduct a complete review of the City's Charter and make recommendations for amendments to the City Council. The City Council will review these proposed changes and vote on which (if any) should be presented to voters on a future ballot. 

 

The members of the City Council work on committees throughout the community and continue to work collectively with the Chamber of Commerce, Leslie Library, Cemetery Board, Historical Society and other groups. 

 

Going forward, I want to recognize that Leslie has remained resilient during ever-changing economic conditions. Economic development doesn't just happen, it is a business-driven decision and it happens because community leaders work together on a solid strategy. There is no doubt that our community is beautiful and welcoming, but I want to strive to grow the business economy in Leslie. Working with you, the stakeholders of Leslie, we can develop a vision for the City's future to reflect the community's desires, needs and goals. We need to continue taking advantage of outside funding, create incentives for redevelopment, encourage investment in the community and continue cooperation within our surrounding communities. Thank you for your investment in this community and your confidence in the City of Leslie to continue working on your behalf.

 

I cannot wait to see all of you at the annual holiday parade  on December 8th!