(Batesville, IN) – Mayor John Irrgang outlined successes, projects, initiatives and challenges when he delivered his State of the City address Tuesday evening at the Gibson Theater in downtown Batesville.
Irrgang touted successes in the past year, including:
- The hiring of Brian Hardebeck as fire chief, and improved recruitment and retention within the department;
- The purchase of a new fire truck, a Pierce Enforcer PUC, brings a host of modern features and benefits;
- His initiative to improve communication with residents, including a monthly newsletter, the Mayor’s book club, and the return of the community partners meeting;
- The State Road 129 trail expansion;
- The opening of the Batesville High School Innovation Center and Batesville’s designation as a Ford Next Generation Learning community, and
- The redesign and rebuild of the Santa House by Batesville Middle School students, which was finished in time for downtown Christmas activities.
Irrgang also addressed current and future projects such as:
- Construction of Margaret Mary Health’s new hospital, which is set to open next year;
- The planting of over 1,700 trees across the city, in partnership with Batesville Community Schools and Wood Mizer, and
- Planned upgrades to State Road 46. INDOT is scheduled to visit Batesville this spring and conduct public meetings to outline recommendations to improve safety along the busy road.
The Mayor talked about potential future challenges, including potential state budget cuts that could adversely affect cities and towns.
Irrgang says, while the state spending plan and property tax reform legislation haven’t been finalized, city leaders want to brace for potential belt tightening, including the possibility of new revenue sources to ensure basic services are provided.
“If these budget cuts happen, and we cannot recoup the funds, we’ll always prioritize essential services, such as police and fire,” Irrgang said. “We’ll continue to be smart about our resources, like cross training our employees to handle multiple tasks.”
He warned quality of life projects such as Kids Discovery Factory and the Batesville Memorial Public Library Arts and Innovation Hub could be adversely affected, if state funds are diminished or dry up.
In addition, the downtown improvement implementation could be slowed down, according to the Mayor.
“We’ll do everything we can to minimize the impact, but we need to be prepared for potential adjustments,” Irrgang said.
He vowed that his administration will keep residents informed, and that city leaders will be transparent about their decisions, and why they are being made.
“By working together, by staying informed, and by supporting each other, we can ensure that Batesville continues to thrive and grow,” Irrgang said.
Following his address, the mayor shared some of the frequently asked questions his office receives.
The address was broadcast live on WRBI. You can listen to it on demand by clicking here.
