Portage mayor touts staff, accomplishments; says moving into year of courage
NWI Times
Feb 15, 2018
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/portage-mayor-touts-staff-accomplishments-says-moving-into-year-of/article_3536d0cf-8759-5612-9eff-fe77fd6bdc56.html
PORTAGE — Mayor James Snyder touted the accomplishments of his administration, praised his staff for their work and took subtle digs at other elected city officials during his State of the City address Thursday.
Snyder also told the crowd at Woodland Park that 2018 would be the "year of courage." The luncheon was sponsored by the Greater Portage Chamber of Commerce.
"Portage and its people have a way of working through struggles, seeing the very best in people and always coming out on top. 2018, the year of courage, will be another year that these successes take place," he said.
Snyder said the past year saw private business projects, such as the Holiday Inn Express, Hooters and Promenade at Founders Square, getting "sticks in the ground."
He praised state Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Ogden Dunes, for her "ingenious" sand replenishment legislation aimed at helping battling erosion at the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk and announced the upcoming addition of Dombey Lake into the city's park system to provide critical infrastructure to attract "new, good, young families" to the city.
Snyder said the project he's most excited about is the Central Avenue West Project to be kicked off this year, which will be "a mini caricature of Meridian Road north of Indianapolis" with a lighted trail.
He also praised Mike and Mary Martinez for their efforts in raising money for the construction of Hannah's Hope Playground at Founders Square Park, named after their daughter.
"Because of your tragedy, because of your commitment, because of your courage and because of your Hannah, you have made Portage a better place," he said.
He also recognized mother/daughter duo Rosemary and Jessica Garneski who, last month, tackled a suspect in the theft of Jessica Garneski's car earlier in the day.
"There are just some cases we couldn't solve without the courage and tenacity of the Portage people," he said.
He called Portage High School student Kaylee Adams a "Portage star and pioneer," introducing her to the group. Adams won the first women's state wrestling championship.
"Kaylee, Portage is proud of you, your courage and your pioneer spirit," he said.
Snyder's speech was also peppered with subtle remarks about his continuing battle with the Democrat-dominant City Council/Utility Services Board.
Snyder told the audience his team will lead and "has looked past the derision and divisiveness." Speaking about the creation of a general services department, he told the group that inclusion of the utility department was "stalled because of the council take over of the USB."
He also told them the city will have the "courage to see past petty politics."
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