City manager Terry Emery presented the annual State of the City address, as a video at Monday night’s city Marysville City Council meeting. The address highlighted accomplishments of 2020 as well as expectations for 2021. (J-T image capture)
At Monday night’s Marysville City Council meeting, City Manager Terry Emery presented the annual State of the City address.
In years past, the address has been given in person by the mayor or manager. Several years ago, a video was made as part of a larger forum. Because council meetings are being held virtually, the video was released as the city administration’s report to council.
In the 21-minute video, Emery said he wanted to “talk a little bit about the state of our city and what’s going to be happening in 2021, but we’re also going to revisit 2020 and the impacts that the pandemic and COVID-19 had on our community and how we were able to get through it effectively and efficiently.”
“As we reflect on 2020, I just want to say ‘Thank you’ to everyone who made the year as good as it could possibly be,” Emery said.
He said 2020 was, “an extremely challenging year, but we were still able to accomplish primary key projects in the community as well as activity our community has known to grow and enjoy.”
He said “we all had to adjust and we all did.”
Emery discussed “the successful projects we were able to have in 2020” including the Route 31 project, the city’s water plant project and the BMX track.
Emery also highlighted the city’s financial position.
The cash position of the city’s utility operating fund increased $3.1 million to $43.5 million in 2020.
“These funds have allowed the city to continue planning and constructing numerous capital improvements and expansions to the city’s utility system,” Emery said.
He said that in 2020, the city’s governmental operating funds increased 22%, from $15.7 million to $19.2 million.
“This significant increase is due to two primary sources of revenue – income tax and COVID-19 relief from the state and federal government,” Emery said.
He explained that city income collection totaled $20.9 million, up $1.6 million from 2019.
“Financially, 2020 ended up much better than anyone would have ever anticipated,” Emery said.
He also talked about events and recreational activities. He said conducting outdoor events allowed residents some “normalcy” even in the pandemic.
Union County Health Commissioner Dr. Jason Orcena had a primary role in the video, speaking about how the city dealt with the pandemic.
Orcena said the first case of COVID-19 in Union County was in March of 2020, “and since that time, we have been in emergency operations.”
He said Union County has seen more than 4,000 COVID-19 cases, 160 hospitalizations and 30 deaths, “and it really meant that 2020 was a challenging time for everyone, whether it be our residents, our businesses or our partners.”
“One of the things that became abundantly clear throughout 2020 was that our community was able to rise to meet all of those challenges,” Orcena said.
He said a key question that needed answered was, “How do we move about our day to day business?”
“It became critically important to adapt how we navigate our daily lives, whether it is going out to eat or shopping or anything to do with recreation.”
He credited Amanda Morris, city recreation and event manager, for working with the health department.
“Her creativity really allowed Marysville to continue to provide some services that other communities had to stop or cancel for the summer,” Orcena said, citing the MORA, the pool opening and enhanced outdoor dining.
Economic Development Director Eric Phillips said 2020 was, “a very exciting year for Uptown Marysville.”
He highlighted expansions at Leon’s and the Half Pint as well as renovation of the Lamplighter Builder and the Avalon Theatre and completion of the expansion project at Memorial Hospital.
“All of these developments during a time when this country was in a crisis is a huge win for Uptown Marysville,” Phillips said.
Chip Hubbs, president and CEO of Memorial Health said the expansion project has been 15 years in the making, “so it is nice to see that finally come together.”
He said the project turns facilities, which had been a liability for the perception of Memorial Health, into a strength.
“I think Marysville deserves a facility like this and we wanted to provide it to them,” Hubbs said.
He added that with the new facility and programming, “there’s really no reason why folks need to leave Marysville to access 90% of the care they might need to receive.”
Phillips also detailed plans at the 33 Innovation Park, including the Southgate building project to provide industrial space as well as the Alcorta facility.
“Both of these developments will actually bring great investment as well as jobs and payroll to the City of Marysville,” Phillips said.
Emery highlighted projects underway or soon to be underway in Marysville, including the widening of Route 38 and Columbus Avenue, the creation of a communications department and the rebuilding of the Avalon Theatre.
Following the video, Emery said his goal is to deliver next year’s address in the Avalon Theatre.
“We are all going to be present,” Emery said. “It is going to be exciting to get back together.”