State of the City Address from March 26th Community Dinner:
Thank you for the invitation to address this group and give an update on the state of our city. I apologize that Mayor Grimm could not be here. I know he was looking forward to it, but he was required to be in North Carolina for business. I pass along his greetings to all of you.
What is the state of our city? Given the poor economic conditions we are reminded of on a nightly basis by the talking heads in our televisions and the enlightened writers at our newspapers, it would be easy for me to say we are in for very rough times and everyone must share in the pain. Perhaps I should declare that we will have to slash our budget making Rogers a shell of what it is today. Maybe I should dwell on questionable decisions made in the past that still affect our present, and our future. Yes, I could do that in describing the state of our city, but I will not.
No. We’ve had enough focusing on past decisions and pointing fingers, enough controversy and enough scapegoats and enough passing of blame. Rather, I will look to our future and talk about building upon the groundwork that we, as a community, worked so hard to put into place.
Rogers is moving towards a future of prosperity and growth. Recently we have slowed, but we have not stopped. We can be thankful that we are in a better place than many of our neighboring communities. We don’t have streets lined with vacant houses and we have not had to lay-off employees en masse to cope with bloated budgets. We have not cut services that many need or enjoy by raising taxes and we will not do so.
Our Council and Staff understand that there is no way to avoid our financial challenges, so we are examining our current budget to avoid or reduce costly decisions. Fiscal discipline will be required at every level in the city. We are prepared to deal with the loss of state funding that has crippled many communities throughout Minnesota. Quite frankly, Rogers received little from the state so the impact from the loss in funding is negligible. We have directed our City Administrator and Department Heads to be proactive in finding ways to become more efficient and effective. Rogers will adopt the best practices of other cities and private industry as we reevaluate the status quo.
We are working to bring progress to our town in the form of better transportation, such as the realignment of Highway 81 and Main Street beginning next Spring. This will benefit citizens and businesses alike. We continue to work towards upgrades in the I-94 interchange that will ease congestion and enhance safety. We are current on a short list of possible projects for stimulus money. We are finding solutions to insure that those few properties that are foreclosed and vacant do not become blights within our neighborhoods.
Starting this year, we are engaging our youth in the governing process by reestablishing the Youth Council at our High School. By doing so, we hope to make better decisions when planning for their needs. We are returning to community-oriented policing, a philosophy that encourages interaction between officers and citizens to help build cooperation between our Police Department and our community. Two groups that will benefit from this the most are our seniors and youth.
As an elected leader, I realize that many residents face difficult times. As a neighbor, I’ve seen how the economy is affecting those living close to me. I don’t want to understate the challenges they face. But what is most heartwarming to me is what I see neighbor doing for neighbor. Our neighborhoods are the envy of any town and the assistance that we give each other is far more effective, and far more important, than what local government can do. Whether we’re blowing out a driveway after a Spring snowstorm, or helping someone build a network in their search for a new job. Maybe we’re helping a friend create a resume or watching neighbor’s kids while they go on an interview. Possibly, we’re taking the time to shop locally to support those who’ve invested in our city. It’s these little things that set Rogers apart. We saw this closeness after the devastating tornado that tore through our city and we’re seeing it today. Every day, I see something that makes me proud to call Rogers home.
When I look at the challenges facing our nation and our state, I must pause to truly comprehend the enormity. Rogers’ challenges, while much smaller, are in many ways no less significant in our lives. In 2010, we face a shortfall of some $300,000. We will likely encounter a similar deficit in 2011. We will have to make difficult decisions in our effort to overcome our city’s fiscal challenges. I promise you that the Council will be thoughtful in our choices and careful in our implementation of the solutions we choose, knowing that there is no way to avoid adversely affecting the lives of our citizens, business owners or city employees in some way.
When I consider all of the turmoil and compare it to the preparation and assets that Rogers has in place, I cannot stand here and tell you that the state of Rogers is good. That would be unfair of me as the state of our city is not good. It is exceptional. Don’t get me wrong - the city has difficult issues with which to deal and tough decisions must be made. Struggles that the economy causes for us all will continue for some time. Yet throughout and after these times of adversity, a better Rogers will emerge, more in touch with our neighbors, more in tune with our community, more efficient and more effective, and more vibrant than ever. It is because of people like you, who have done so much for our community, that I know Rogers will continue to be a city in which we are all proud to live and call home.
As I finish this state of our city address, I want to make one message very clear, because it isn't said often enough, loudly enough or with enough heart. Our City Council respects and appreciates the efforts made by the people gathered here and so many of our citizens, business owners and employee that aren’t with us tonight. You are our greatest asset. You are the ones that make Rogers exceptional. Without your accomplishments, we would be in a much more difficult place. Tonight, it is I who applaud your efforts. Thank you.
Thank you after election:
I want to thank the dozens of people that supported my candidacy through their donations and efforts. Without your help, I could not have succeeded. I also want to thank the thousands that voted for me. I am humbled at your confidence in me and I will do my best to do what is right. I will work to gain the confidence and trust of those that did not vote for me, as all too often our elected leaders forget that they represent everyone, not just those that share their political affiliation or viewpoints on various issues. This is particularly true at the city level, where party politics have no place. As I said while campaigning, this is about doing what is right first, then doing what is right for Rogers. Usually, but not always, will these two concepts align.
I want to give my public support to the many businesses operating in Rogers. You pay the lion’s share of our taxes without the benefit of a vote. Businesses are vital to the success of our city – especially the small, locally-owned businesses that are asked time and again to support local groups and causes. Few consider that the donations you make are funds coming directly from your family’s budget and often the only payback you receive is in the form of goodwill, not increased sales. I will work to insure you have a level playing field in our city and that you receive the thanks and respect you deserve.
Rogers is blessed with a number of charitable organizations that improve the lives of our citizens and livability of our city. At times, these groups have been taken for granted. That must stop and we, as a Council, must embrace these groups and avoid hindering their progress. The Lions, Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, Community Chest Foundation, Police Foundation and many others donate thousands of hours of time and over one hundred thousand dollars annually to our community, while asking for nothing in return. I thank you for your efforts.
The employees of our city are our greatest asset. Together, we can make Rogers a better community. I respect your expertise and I will give you the latitude you need to make decisions. As a former tank commander, I saw that competence grows with personal experience, not with overbearing oversight. Another tank commander from decades ago said it better. He said, “Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.” Those were the words of General George S. Patton. Few think of military leaders as people that inspire creativity, but many have been inspirational to me and I have taken their accomplishments to heart. Another quote from General Patton was "If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking." This statement is timeless and I encourage the Department Heads of our city to give our Council their opinions. I want to hear viewpoints that differ from mine. I want to hear the bad news and the good. I want honest communication. It makes for better decisions and it will make for a better city. During my tenure, no employee will be criticized for a differing opinion.
Given the economic climate, the decrease in state aid to cities, the stagnation of building and effects these factors have on our citizens, we will have a difficult road ahead of us and tough decisions will have to be made. Innovation will be our touchstone. Cooperation will be the standard and transparency will be our goal. We can make a difference in Rogers and we can guide our city to be a shining example of what a small city should be, but we will have to work together in an atmosphere of trust and engaging communication. Without these things, we will fail and failure is not an option. Together, we will move Rogers forward.
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My name is Jay Bunting and I am running for City Council. Over the past two years, Rogers’ citizens, city employees, business owners and neighbors have asked if I would run for City Council. Over time, the requests became more numerous, more determined and more distressed. That is why I am declaring my intentions early in an effort to afford the citizens of Rogers the opportunity to get to know my values, my vision for Rogers and my reasons for running for Council.