Posted Thursday, February 17, 2022.

HUNTINGTON – In his annual State of the City address, Mayor Richard Strick applauded the efforts of city officials and workers, county leaders and community members who all work together for “a better Huntington.”

“We work best when we work together to solve the problems facing us. We work best when we focus on results instead of credit. And we work best when we continue to pioneer and improve the ways that we live together and serve one another,” he said.

Collaborative efforts focusing on economic growth and infrastructure improvements have created exciting progress on both fronts.

The 172-acre Riverfork West site under development in partnership with Huntington County United Economic Development is being built to serve as Huntington's next industrial hub and a source of good jobs to retain workers and attract new families to our community. Mayor Strick also reiterated his pledge to responsibly guide Huntington through the final phases of the city’s Long Term Control Plan, a federally mandated series of projects to eliminate combined sewer overflows that can cause pollution to spill into our rivers and waterways during heavy rainfall.

“We are nearly finished with designing the final three projects of the Long Term Control Plan and drawing up our financing plan for the projects. We are on track to keep that campaign promise,” Mayor Strick said. “We continue to work with our partners at Huntington County United Economic Development to support industrial investments in our community. We hope to celebrate a significant announcement regarding the new industrial park with you all soon.”

There is a real need for quality, affordable housing options in Huntington both currently and as city leaders look to future growth, the mayor acknowledged.

The mayor said he is “greatly encouraged” by a strengthened local retail environment. His remarks noted the private work done to redevelop the South Jefferson Plaza, new ownership at the Riverfront Plaza and the development of key retail spaces both downtown and across the city.

At the same time, the administration remains committed to working alongside the city’s partners to address issues of drug abuse and overdoses.

“I applaud the work our partners in county government who are doing their part to support addiction recovery,” he said. “Their bold investment in the O’Donnell Center in partnership with Parkview and the Our Lady of Victory Missionary sisters will greatly benefit our community in helping individuals and families take the steps necessary to get lives back on track.”

Mayor Strick thanked City Council members for their hard work on Huntington’s behalf and reaffirmed his commitment to providing the key information they need to make sound decisions about the city’s future.

“We may not always agree on the particulars of policy or investment, but I recognize that we share a passion for our city and the residents that call it home,” he said.

The mayor also drew attention to successes within each city department and looked ahead to new projects in 2022 and beyond.

• Under Chief Tony Johnson’s direction, the Huntington Fire Department took possession of a new fire engine, installed a Safe Haven Baby Box at the Etna Avenue station and leveraged federal grant funds to provide new radios to all city firefighters and township volunteers.
• Police Chief Chad Hacker’s retirement late last year paved the way for a successful transition to new leadership under Cory Boxell, a 19-year veteran of the Huntington Police Department.
• Public Works and Engineering Services Director Adam Cuttriss oversaw significant infrastructure investments in the South Jefferson Street water main replacement, Lindley Street culvert replacement and Roche Street reconstruction projects while securing state matching grant funding for street and alley paving in 2021 and 2022.
• Community Development & Redevelopment Director Bryn Keplinger oversaw 96 percent growth in the value of permitted construction projects in 2020 and sustained that momentum in 2021. 2021’s $35 million value of permitted construction projects nearly matched 2020’s $36.2 million total after averaging $17.4 million from 2017 to 2019. New single-family homes permitted in 2021 increased by 14 percent.
• Street Superintendent Tim Bischoff and his team in City Services maintained Huntington’s 95 miles of streets and 25 miles of paved alleys, working at all hours whenever needed to ensure our roads remain clear.
• City Utilities Distribution Superintendent Pat Maher and his team completed a four-year plan to clean and televise each sewer and storm line in Huntington a year ahead of schedule. Such proactive maintenance helps to lessen pressure on utility rates by identifying and repairing leaks and other issues.
• Parks & Recreation Superintendent Steve Yoder’s team enhanced the city’s 186-acres of public parks while providing creative new programming to engage people of all ages. Yoder and his staff oversaw the debut of a renovated splash park and managed 6,400 hours of volunteer service.
• Communications Coordinator Kevin Krauskopf assisted the Huntington County Health Department in relaying critical public health information to the community. 2021 also laid the groundwork for an overhaul of the joint city/county website in 2022 and the ongoing development of a mobile app for residents to request services, receive updates and report concerns.

“I am grateful to serve as the head of a team of leaders that continues to grow in their effectiveness as public servants,” Mayor Strick said.

Much of the credit for our community’s accomplishments belongs to the selfless work of Huntington’s health care professionals and educators. The losses suffered by Huntington families over the past two years due to the virus weigh heavily on his heart and mind, Mayor Strick said.

“If you know a doctor, a nurse, an emergency responder or a teacher – join me in thanking them for their service to our community in extraordinarily difficult and stressful times,” he said.

Mayor Strick delivered his “State of the City” remarks at two public events this month. The first address was held during City Council’s regular meeting on February 8. The second took place Wednesday morning at the Huntington Arts & Entrepreneurial Center in collaboration with the Huntington County Chamber of Commerce and Pathfinder Services.

The mayor will repeat the address at private events at the invitation of the local Optimists and Rotary clubs.