Parade magazine is included with Sunday's print edition of The Journal Gazette. Here is what is featured this week:Despite a difficult economy, Fort Wayne and the surrounding region can succeed by working together, Mayor Tom Henry said Monday during his third State of the City address.
Speaking for a half-hour to about 160 people at the Rhinehart Recital Hall at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, the mayor offered an overview of past accomplishments and future goals.
He said a partnership with Allen County helped ensure the local General Motors plant not only stayed but also will grow. The mayor also touched on his efforts to keep Navistar in Fort Wayne and his work with local banks to secure financing for the new Courtyard by Marriott downtown.
Henry also discussed how the city is partnering with Anthis Career Center to give students experience with street work and the numerous economic development agencies the city supports.
While other communities have cut employees, Henry said the city is in good financial shape – coming in $2.3 million under budget last year. He said the city will not look at collecting revenue from non-profits, despite supporting an examination of the idea previously.
“Other Indiana cities are discussing new revenue streams, but this is not needed currently in Fort Wayne,” he said.
The speech also made clear Henry’s preference for solving the ongoing city-county office space debate. He called putting the sheriff and city police departments in the City-County Building and administrative teams in Renaissance Square “the only workable solution.” Architects are currently studying costs for such a move and a second option to keep the two law-enforcement departments separated.
The largest new proposal to come from the speech was an effort to reduce the need for residents to use payday loan services through a “Bank on Fort Wayne” program. It would help people open bank accounts locally, Henry said, allowing them to keep more of the money they earn and save for the future.
Henry said he will meet with local banks to discuss specifics, and a more formal announcement on the program would likely happen in a few months.
Immediate reaction was positive to the speech.
Councilman Tom Smith, R-1st, said he was glad the mayor talked about the city’s efforts to create jobs and the fact the city would not look for any tax increases.
“I’m glad the mayor talked about how strong a financial position the city is in,” he said.
Councilwoman Karen Goldner, D-2nd, said she was especially happy with the mayor highlighting his commitment to infrastructure. Henry committed $2.5 million annually on repairs to concrete streets, which Goldner said is critical to aging neighborhoods.
