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STATE OF THE CITY

SEARCY, ARKANSAS

MAYOR DAVID MORRIS

MARCH 12, 2013

Looking back at 2012 we have seen Code Enforcement and Sanitation

Departments working together to clean up unsightly conditions in our

neighborhoods, the City Street Department working around the clock to clear our

streets after a massive snow storm, unmitigated vigilance by our Drug Taskforce

and Police Department to keep our city safe, the Fire Department responding to

major incidents and structure fires, and record numbers of our young people engaged

in various sporting activities organized by our Parks Department. Through all of this

we are reminded of the awesome task before us in providing vital day to day

services for the almost twenty three thousand individuals who call the city of

“Searcy” home.

For the third year in a row, we as city leaders have worked together as a team

to adopt a General Fund and Street Fund Budget and tonight a Capital Equipment

Budget that are “in the black”. We have done this without experiencing any layoffs

of personnel, salary or benefit reductions and without any decrease in the level of

services to our citizens. As I have stated on many occasions, “Serving the public is

easy when you have plenty of money to work with, but in times of economic

distress, our jobs become very difficult”.

The balances of city funds as of December 31, 2012 were as follows:

General Fund: $ 817,477.91

Street Fund: $797,745.64

Capital Equipment Fund: $109,289.67

Airport Projects Fund: $47,945.66

Connector Route Fund: $3,709,227.18

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During 2012 we continued to hold Town Hall meetings to hear firsthand the

concerns and desires of the citizens of our town. From these informal discussions,

we learned that public safety, good streets, drainage, sanitation, leaf and limb

pickup, and recreational opportunities, especially for our children, were foremost on

the minds of our residents. I propose continuing these Town Hall meetings

throughout the year. I am excited to announce our first Town Hall meeting will be

7:00 p.m. on April 1, 2013 at First Assembly of God Family Life Center.

Last year we saw a change in personnel at City Hall with the resignation of

the City Clerk/Treasurer in addition to changes in three key positions within that

department. After accepting resumes for the Clerk/Treasurer position, the City

Council made an excellent choice by appointing Jerry Morris and he has already

demonstrated his value to us. Additionally, new leadership has come to the Police

Department in the appointment of a new Police Chief, Jeremy Clark.

I report that the all the city’s departments and services are operating

efficiently. Obviously, we continue to make adjustments from time to time to better

refine their daily routines. It is difficult for one to comprehend all the varied

services that are provided by our city each and every day, especially if you are not in

direct contact with each area of service.

As Mayor, I continue to be a “hands-on administrator” as I personally review

all purchases and expenditures of city funds, holding every city department

accountable for their operation. We hold monthly Department Head meetings,

Safety Committee meetings, and conduct unscheduled accountability and

compliance audits from time to time in each city department. Overall, the

effectiveness of our city government lies with its people.

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We now know that the Arkansas Department of Highway and Transportation

has chosen the northern or Covington Road option for the Highway 36/67 Connector

Route. This decision allows us to begin planning improvements to North Main

Street and Davis Drive, as well as address additional planning and growth issues.

We will soon “cut the ribbon” to open the newly constructed terminal building

at the Searcy Municipal Airport. The new terminal will serve as the front door to

those individuals flying into Searcy who may be looking at relocating their business

here or perhaps expanding their current operations.

With new lighting at the Sports Complex, another exciting baseball and

softball season will soon begin with soccer presently underway. Our Sports

Complex gives hundreds of young people an organized venue to participate in

recreational activities. It also gives us, the parents and grandparents, a great

opportunity to cheer on our “national champion hopefuls”.

With uncertainties looming, such as the Act 833 Fire Protection Funding

issue, we must be willing to constantly monitor and make adjustments. We continue

to be plagued by comprehensive street and drainage problems, but with the passage

of a ballot issue in last fall’s general election, we will soon receive much needed

funding for overlay pavement work. Additionally, there is a serious need for new

sanitation trucks and equipment. Cost of repairs escalates as these aging trucks run

their daily routes.

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There is much to be done. The City of Searcy has a great workforce and

dedicated elected City Leaders. This being said, I know that we can rise to meet the

challenges that lie ahead.

In closing, I want to thank each city employee and elected official for the

positive spirit of cooperation that you show in working together each day for the

betterment of our City.

May God’s richest blessings be with our city and each of you as well.