City News & Updates

Mayor Richard Stricks delivers the 2025 State of the City Address to Huntington City Council members on Tuesday, February 11.

Affirming a collective “duty to one another and to ourselves that we cannot lose sight of,” Mayor Richard Strick delivered his annual State of the City remarks to City Council members during Tuesday evening’s meeting.

“We know that life together is difficult. We know that self-government is challenging. We know the temptation of competing agendas. But we also know that we are up to the task of working together to leave this city better than we found it to our children and grandchildren.”

Referring to a reduction in the city’s workforce compared to several years earlier, the mayor noted how city staff continues to do more with fewer workers to serve the Huntington community. The city’s workforce was 177 employees in 2008. Now, there are 138 city workers.

“As we enter 2025, I will continue to be guided by a commitment to ensuring our employees have the tools, training and accountability to do the work well and go home safely at the end of their shift.”

This team commits itself daily to serving our friends, family and neighbors in Huntington, Mayor Strick added. He went on to accomplishments each city department achieved in 2024.

The Huntington Fire Department placed a new engine into service last year, giving it two reliable frontline trucks. Service calls increased slightly to 1,567, with about 70 percent of those being rescue and medical calls. Thirty-four firefighters completed training as HazMat technicians in 2024. And, HFD began designing a new Flaxmill Road station with architectural partners at Shive-Hattery.

The Huntington Police Department implemented new technologies, including the Flock Public Safety camera system, to strengthen investigations and solve crimes faster. The department partnered with Huntington County and the local school corporation to expand the School Resource Officer program. HPD also recruited a number of new officers, following through on its commitment to placing highly qualified officers in roles of public trust.

Public Works & Engineering Services overcame construction challenges and delays to keep major projects moving forward. Projects 7 and 8 in the city’s Long-Term Control Plan saw significant progress, while Project 9 was successfully completed. A Cottage, Park and Jessup neighborhood project first promised to residents in 1972 began last year. This project will mitigate stormwater issues residents have experienced there for years. The department also oversaw the paving of nearly five miles of city streets and alleys, supplemented by significant Indiana Department of Transportation grant awards it earned.

Community Development & Redevelopment continued to oversee strong economic growth throughout Huntington. The value of permitted construction projects in 2024 was about $30.9 million, a nearly 50 percent year-over-year increase. In addition, 52 new residences were permitted within city limits. The department also led efforts to establish a Destination Downtown Master Plan.

Adopted by Council in April, the Destination Downtown Master Plan document was essential to the Community Foundation of Huntington County’s successful $4.8 million Lilly Endowment grant application for downtown revitalization. The document also provides the framework for upcoming projects such as a City Hall remodel, improvements at Memorial Park, extending Huntington’s trail system and exploring the potential for a Drover Park community pool.

The Street Department maintains 95 miles of streets and 25 miles of alleys in Huntington. Street employees come in at all hours to ensure streets remain clear in inclement weather. The department also completes preventative maintenance such as crack-sealing streets and filling potholes to extend our roads’ lifespan. In addition, the department provides key services to city residents, including yard waste removal and large-item disposal.

City Utilities worked closely with the Street and Engineering departments to improve Huntington’s water and wastewater systems in 2024. In compliance with federal law, a crucial task last year involved compiling a service line inventory to identify lead and galvanized service lines connected to individual homes in our community. Water main surveys also led to maintenance and repairs that will save ratepayers nearly $30,000 annually.

Parks & Recreation unveiled a new inclusive park design at Drover Park in 2024 and worked with volunteers to install new equipment at Hier’s Park. The department assisted in completing a historic stone race preservation project at Memorial Park in coordination with Community Development and Engineering Services. In addition, a new trail connection opened between the university and Parkview Health’s facilities. A fully volunteer-led national Iwo Jima monument was installed at Memorial Park. Parks & Recreation’s SPARK program hosted more than 1,500 kids this year at its low-cost summer day camp.

After recapping last year’s achievements, Mayor Strick assured Huntington residents that 2025 will be just as busy and productive.

“My resolve remains to keep believing in and working for a better Huntington,” he said. “As the second largest city in Northeast Indiana, I’m not content. We can and will do better as we keep investing our lives in this community.”

Just some of the projects and initiatives that will be the focus of 2025 include:

• Finishing Huntington’s Long-Term Control Plan.
• Redeveloping Downtown through public-private partnerships.
• Continue planning for the Riverfork West industrial park’s second phase.
• Working with the local board formed to lead our south side grocery store efforts.
• Updating our Water Service Line Inventory.
• Rebuilding Division Street.
• Remodeling City Hall.
• Renovating Downtown streetscapes.
• Making major improvements at Memorial Park.
• Extending Huntington’s trail system.
• Exploring a potential community pool.