The New Year incites in many the need to identify and set goals, and Elizabethton officials are no exception.
Numerous projects will continue to completion in 2016, while others are still in the planning phases.
One example is the project underway to establish the West Elk Avenue development district using Tax Increment Financing. If these policies are approved by city and county officials, City Director of Planning and Economic Development Jon Hartman expects to see growth and development, as have resulted from TIF districts in Kingsport, Johnson City and Bristol. He said his goal for 2016 is to focus on the economic development partnership between the city and county, hoping that it may culminate into getting TIF policies approved for use as a business incentive tool.
City Manager Jerome Kitchens agreed, saying that by working with state and local developers, he wanted to keep the development project moving. “We want to strengthen the local economy with jobs and opportunities,” he said.
City officials have many ambitions for infrastructural improvements to build upon the success of 2015. The East Side Waterloss Project is now complete, and similar utilities projects are just beginning on water and sewer lines elsewhere.
“In sewer lines, we have a problem with water leaking in, where with the water lines we have a problem with water leaking out,” said Director of Engineering Johann Coetzee. “In this coming year, we are going to focus on investigating sewer lines and reviewing them for infiltration.”
The Burgie Street sewer line replacement project is nearly complete as well, which was a major project in 2015. Coetzee said the Utilities Department has begun work to examine sewer lines and also to inspect water tanks.
The staff of the Parks and Recreation Department’s goals are a continuation of successes this past year.
Since the Tweetsie Trail ribbon cutting, a few improvement areas have been identified, though Parks & Rec Director Mike Mains said it has been hugely popular overall.
Kitchens said the city plans on completing safety improvements along the trail at major road crossings — including McArthur Avenue, Hudson Drive and West G Street. He also said a city goal is to complete the Linear Trail.
Mains said other ambitions of the Parks and Rec department are to create a sports complex, dog park, skate park and disc golf course, but added that these projects will take community support and financing.
“What we face a lot of times is addressing current needs and facilities maintained,” he said. “I hope the county will partner with us on that and that private business leaders or citizens will see the positive aspects of these things and team up to make this happen.”
These types of partnerships are common in other communities, Mains said, and through research and education about the importance of recreation, he hopes to accomplish these goals as a community.
“One of the main things we want to accomplish is to continue to increase the special events and community promotions that we do — that’s key to having a successful Recreation Department and makes a better way of life for all of us,” said Mains. “We came a long, long way last year with Covered Bridge Jams and different community events, and we want to continue to provide the community with the services they want.”
Another area that has seen significant growth from community support is education and development in city schools. Director of Schools Dr. Corey Gardenhour said his primary goal for 2016 is to keep parents informed about the positive happenings within the school system. In January, he said they plan to launch a parent portal that will significantly improve parent access to school information.
Improving academic achievement, especially in reading for kindergarten through 3rd grade, is also a top priority, Gardehour said. “We want students to be reading on level by 3rd grade, and we’re working hard to meet that goal this year,” he said.
In 2016, the new band room, music room and classrooms in the old band room at the high school will be open for students. The new softball complex will also be open for use.
The school system is also updating its branding and seeking community and organizations to help mentor students to be career-ready.
“We want to increase awareness of the positive impact the school system has in the community,” said Gardenhour. “Our attempt with the new brand is to make Elizabethton recognizable. The brand helps us promote our values, and we want people to see that it’s something the community has worked on and to make sure they know who we are.”