(La Porte, IN) - La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody emphasized things like growth during his 6th annual State of the City speech last night.
He said growth in areas like jobs and new housing have been identified as key for local governments to survive reductions in revenue beginning next year from statewide property tax reductions.
Dermody pointed out new housing, for example, continues to go up in various areas of the city like it has the past few years and more is planned in the future to modernize an aging housing stock and draw additional residents.
One of the upcoming housing projects involves a developer receiving a $1 million state grant with help from the city to go toward construction of over 40 affordable new homes on separate parcels. Dermody said the condition of streets remains a priority with six miles of road over the past 30 days being crack sealed to extend the life of the pavement.
Other highlights of the speech included the 39 North Conservancy District and promises being kept by the city to improve water flows and capacity in exchange for the city annexing that area last year. He said the work required to improve the water system is on schedule and now includes two new water towers to be erected instead of one as originally planned.
Dermody said more new development for the annexed area has lined up to start building once the improvements has been completed. “We can’t wait to share more updates soon,” he said.
He also cited other successes like La Porte placing second for best small town in the Midwest from USA Today, return of the La Porte Invitational college prep basketball competition in early January and over 23,000 rounds played this year at the city’s Beechwood Golf Course. He ended what was about a half hour speech by saying “no” cannot be an option in fully realizing the city's potential.
“We will continue to do right by you, the residents of our city, to make La Porte all that we know it can be,” he said.
