By Brian M. Boyce
TERRE HAUTE — In a speech about the good, bad and ugly facing Terre Haute in coming years, Mayor Duke Bennett maintains a lot of optimism.
“Ten to 15 years from now, you won’t recognize that area between ISU and Union Hospital,” Bennett told a group of about 20 citizens at Fuqua Elementary School on Wednesday evening.
Bennett’s speech was part of his “Neighborhood Summit” series, engaging the public in the city’s affairs.
Bennett spoke optimistically of the Terre Haute Innovation Alliance and Rural Health Innovation Collaborative, both of whom seek to network the university and healthcare communities with economic development.
Another bright spot for the region is the potential at Terre Haute International Airport.
“The airport is more than an underutilized asset,” he said, describing his vision for its use as an industrial park.
And with the city projected to lose about 20-percent of its budget in the next three years because of property tax restructuring, those are important areas to grow.
“It’s going to be ugly. That’s all it’s going to be,” Bennett said, explaining the closure of Vigo County Public Library branches and other municipal facilities are only the beginning of needed cuts. “It’s going to be very difficult over the next few years.”
In the meantime, Bennett said the city is doing what it can to keep the budget on track.
“I think it’s important to have transparent government,” he said in front of a PowerPoint presentation detailing the city’s budget.
As of April 30, the city was 3 percent under budget for 2009, coming off last year when it finished 5 percent under 2008’s budget, he said.
The city took on no additional debt last year and began 2009 with about $7.1 million in the general fund.
“We have some cash, but we’re not cash-rich by any stretch,” he said.
And one of the areas in which the mayor feels Terre Haute has advanced is in law enforcement and fire protection.
Recent additions to the city’s police department include the Street Crimes Unit, a school safety specialist, a bicycle patrol, a fourth K-9 unit, a serious accident investigator, an additional medic to the Special Response Team and a restructuring of the department’s investigative unit.
And the results, he said, are telling.
In 2008, the THPD received 55,405 calls and made 8,891 arrests, 1,345 of which were felonies, he said.
The departments have also switched up the manner in which arsons are investigated.
“We have a serious problem with arson in this community,” he said, noting 53 cases last year.
Under the new system, arsons are investigated by the Terre Haute City Fire Department so work can begin immediately, he said.
Last year the fire department launched 1,345 fire runs, 7,122 EMS runs and 5,553 EMS runs with transport, he reported.
Bennett will continue to host “Neighborhood Summits” throughout the city, and encouraged citizens to call his office with questions.
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
