As summer rapidly comes to a close, our City has much to be proud of and to celebrate. The season began with the hanging of beautiful flower baskets along Route 306. I especially want to recognize and thank both Divine Word Parish and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for their generous donations equating to $1,500 that helped continue this tradition.
July and August have been full of the promised professionally designed and constructed road paving work. By the time our contractor (Specialized Construction) completes their final phases, the end of the Kirtland paving season will amount to just over four miles of roads repaved, lines striped on our main thoroughfares, miles of crack sealing that help keep our good roads good, and countless pavement patches laid by our City Service Department. In addition to paving and maintenance, drainage is being installed to help to keep damaging water from infiltrating beneath our new road surfaces.
This successful paving season was made a reality by practically and strategically taking hard looks at department staffing over the last year and a half, and continuously discerning the wisest ways to spend your tax dollars. I appreciate the support of members of City Council that voted for my 2020 and 2021 budget proposals, especially to those that voted in favor of outsourcing Dispatch to Willoughby. This consolidation created the lion’s share of annual savings necessary to support payments for our 2021 road program.
Moving from roads to recreation, the new outdoor pickleball court project has been spearheaded by Service Director Fornaro and the Kirtland City Service Department. We received generous pro-bono surveying work from City Engineer Doug Courtney and had the special court asphalt labor donated by Specialized Construction resulting in over $4,000 in total project cost savings. With the assistance of Councilmen Haymer, Lowery, and Smolic, and Kirtland High School freshman Robby Hansen, trees were cleared in record time in preparation for the courts. These donations of time and resources by so many will result in a great outdoor activity for our residents to enjoy for years to come.
In addition to a successful season of construction and maintenance, the Friends of Kirtland Library hosted four great concerts at the City Hall Gazebo. Working in collaboration with Jane Carle of the Library to expand the events with food and fun, and with support from our local businesses, parks, and churches, Jane reports record overall attendance. We all look forward to expanding this new tradition next year.
The summer of 2021 gave us a great reprieve from the torment that was 2020. Both of our ice cream shops were bustling. The new event venue behind the Dollar General had great activity, and it looks like the new carriage house inn will soon be hosting guests. With the reopening of local establishments Honey’z Cafe and the Kirtlander (featuring the new Sausalito restaurant), things look to be on the move in our great little City. Thanks to all of our small businesses for investing in Kirtland and I wish them all success as Kirtland continues to grow in spirit and community.
Finally, please come out to support our Kirtland Police & Fire as well as other first responding agencies on Safety Forces Day, Saturday, September 11th at City Hall from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. We look forward to seeing you there!
Kevin Potter – Mayor