State of the Community 2007

   Once again, it is time to reflect on the actions and accomplishments of our local government.  During the past year we have continued to work on “setting the stage”.  Many decisions have to be made and many pieces have to be in place before growth and improvement can happen…it is an ongoing process.  The question then is, of course, if we’re setting the stage, when does the actual “performance” begin?  I believe it has.

   The “performance” also comes in increments just as the planning does.  Despite a slowing market, residential growth has continued in the community this year.  New extensions of sewer and water infrastructure are about to move from the planning phase to the construction phase which will open up many opportunities for commercial and residential development.  We have garnered increased interest from the real estate development community and with the increased availability of land for development, we now are set to take advantage of those opportunities…a plus for the future growth of our tax base.

   We need to continue to define ourselves as a community which will both benefit our citizens and attract new residents.  Our city staff and council have made many efforts to learn about what’s working to enable communities to thrive.  One major recurring theme is “quality of life”.  We need to be an attractive and vibrant community in order to be selected for business and residential investment.   People now express a strong desire for quality of life opportunities when seeking a place to live, and businesses look for a vibrant place to locate in order to attract and keep their workforce. 

   Carlisle is improving its quality of life with the development of the Scotch Ridge Center into a place for outdoor events and activities, the federal appropriation for future extension of the Summerset Bike Trail, and park improvements like the Lindhardt Park restrooms and the North Park gardens.  We are also providing access to new services such as a commuter ride share van to downtown Des Moines through DART, the Des Moines Area Regional Transit organization.   

   As a small community in a large metropolitan area, we need to make maximum use of regional resources to improve and grow.  More and more, a regional approach can provide the best use of tax dollars.  That doesn’t mean we sacrifice our identity as a community…indeed it can actually help us define ourselves and how we fit in the region. There have been several efforts in regionalism that have benefited Carlisle or will benefit Carlisle in the future. 

   Our participation in DART (Des Moines Area Regional Transit, or, the bus system) has already shown benefits, and those services will increase over time.  We have also participated in the State’s Great Places process along with other locations in Warren County and were selected as a finalist this past year.  That initiative has brought together many Warren County entities that are now talking and moving forward together.  The Warren County Economic Development Corporation has launched the Roadmap to Success, a new marketing plan that we believe will enhance the image and awareness of our quality of life and business climate in the region. 

   We are also a part of “Growing Green Communities”, a regional effort to plan for sustainable development and conservation of green space.  A very important regional effort underway in the metro area is “Yes to Destiny”, the proposed 1 cent sales tax initiative for Dallas, Polk and Warren Counties.  I would encourage everyone to learn about that proposal and support it.  It is a plan to decrease property taxes and also supply money to support regional and local quality of life facilities.  I feel it is a plan with an enormous amount of merit for our community and region.  80% of the rest of the state already has a local sales tax, and I believe  “Yes to Destiny” has the advantage of lowering property taxes, supporting quality of life and is extremely accountable to tax payers.  I would be more than happy to talk to anyone who wishes to learn more about the plan, and have already made contact on this issue with many groups in the community.  We need once again to participate in efforts that help us “set the stage” …and “perform”!

   It’s been a busy year and my compliments go to the city staff on their efforts.  Our community can be proud of the people who deliver services to citizens.  Many times those efforts are unrecognized because these folks are doing their jobs well and efficiently.  As an elected official, I fully realize it takes the dedication of our staff to make the community better and we are fortunate to have people serving us who truly want to see Carlisle improve and move forward. 

   I would like to take this opportunity to also thank people for the volunteer efforts that make our community great…we wouldn’t be “Carlisle…the Natural Choice” to live and work in without the folks who give generously of time and talent.  Two new volunteer advisory groups to the council are the Mayor’s Public Safety Policy Advisory Cabinet and the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee.  Both groups are getting a feel for community issues now, and I know will prove invaluable in the future in assisting with the decisions the council will be facing as we grow.  A special mention should be made in regard to our fire and rescue crew…they volunteer to commit to long hours of training and disrupted lifestyles to protect our lives and properties.

   Please feel free to contact me at ruthrandleman@aol.com or 989-3133.  I also continue to have my Mayor’s Coffee at Moe’s Joe Coffee Shop, 155 N 1^st St., the first Friday of each month 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.  This time isn’t convenient for everyone, so I welcome you to contact me at anytime with concerns or questions.  Also, we welcome folks to attend city council meetings to get an update on the issues and actions being taken to help Carlisle move forward.

Ruth Randleman 
Mayor, City of Carlisle