Casper calls 2016 ‘year of the citizen’ in State of the City address
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IDAHO FALLS – Mayor Rebecca Casper spoke about the accomplishments of the city during her annual State of the City address Thursday, Jan. 15. She also touched on her goals and upcoming initiatives for the city this year.
Casper said she, along with Ammon Mayor Dana Kirkham, are one in purpose this year calling 2016 “the year of the citizen.”
During the speech, held during a City Council meeting, Casper spent time talking about regional energy production, water conservation and a more community-centric Idaho Falls Police Department.
Four council members took the oath of office during the meeting: Thomas Hally, David Smith, and new council members Michelle Ziel-Dingman, and John Radford. Radford was sworn in by his sister Judge Michelle Mallard.
Prior to the meeting, a community open house was held to honor outgoing City Council members Mike Lehto and Sharon Parry.
Former City Council president Mike Lehto served for 16 years and said he’ll miss the people he’s been privileged to work with.
“We’ve accomplished a lot, got a lot of things done, and it’s bitter-sweet to be moving on, but we’ve got a good group of council members to soldier on,” Lehto said.
Former Councilwoman Sharon Parry served the city a little over eight years. She said the city of Idaho Falls has a lot to offer, and is an amazing place to live.
“My most memorable moment on the city council in Idaho Falls would have to be working with the LGBT community to make sure what I believe are rights to employment and housing and being fair in that.” Parry said. “That was the hallmark and also the downfall for my political career, but it was the right thing to do.”
Some of the major accomplishments touted by Casper during the meeting were:
An excellence award given by the American Council of Engineers to the city for its water treatment facility.
The road completions on Hitt Road and Sunnyside road this last year, and the widening of Pancheri. She also mentioned the installation of the traffic light on Hitt Road and 25th allowing drivers to turn left out of the Target parking lot.
Idaho Falls Power was honored as a reliable public power provider. The power company had a successful year and paid off a 30-year bond, which provided a decrease in power rates this year.
Casper announced the approval of a U.S. Department of Energy grant where the city will receive one million dollars for its power grid modernization program. An improved power grid means improved power delivery and a better value for the rate payer, she said.
The Idaho Falls Regional Airport was recognized for its training excellence. With a new air service and terminal expansions, the airport has made great strides and increased the number of passengers served by 12 percent.
Casper said the airport is financially stable and operates in the black without assistance from tax dollars.
The mayor also expressed high hopes for the implementation of small modular nuclear reactor in the desert outside of Idaho Falls in the coming years. Pioneered by Oregon-based NuScale Power, the new reactor model would help bolster the Idaho Falls power grid.
Casper said it’s exciting to be at the ground level of this operation.
“One up and coming nuclear project has the potential I believe to change to world,” Casper said. “It’s exciting work, many eyes throughout the country, even eyes throughout the world are watching our progress on the MSR project.”
If this technology is realized, Casper said, the community will reap the benefits and success in energy production and power reliability.
Finally, Casper reminded attendees that Idaho Falls was recently recognized in the top five ranking cites for achieving work life balance and the state of Idaho was ranked fourth in the nation for a positive growth trend.