A Minute With the Mayor

It’s a new year and with everyone I like to look back at what has been accomplished and what the future has in store us as a community.  I think it helps put our goals and aspirations into perspective and gives us a springboard for moving forward.

2013 was a very busy year for Lyons as a community.  I would have to say the passage of the pool bond was our biggest accomplishment.  We have accomplished a lot as a community in the past but this has to be one of the most forward looking projects we as a community has achieved.  It has been exciting to watch the progress of the pool construction.  The pool house walls are up and the pool floor and sides are poured.  The cold weather has set construction behind schedule about thirty days but some nice weather will help them make that up.  I just love what the project represents – determination and commitment that we are here to stay viable as a community.

The other big project that got off the ground in 2013 was the city auditorium renovation.  The commitment by the council to devote funds to this much needed updating and the awarding of the $125,000 grant from the Nielsen Foundation started the year with a lot of passion and energy.  The gift of $170,000 from the Glissman estate was a wonderful way to end 2013 and really helped solidify the financial resources to make a real dent in what a renovated city community center should look like.  The plans are drawn up and the project is going out for bids as we speak.  We are looking at three phases of the project with each building on the other as funds become available.  As I told you before, when you start to renovate or change major components of a building, all existing equipment, wiring, plumbing, etc. must be brought up to code.  Many of the upgrades we won’t even see but they are now being required by state.  We are in the progress of applying for another grant that could double the amount of money we would have right away to spend on the renovation.  As I said, we have broken the project into three different phases and as money becomes available, we will move through those phases.  Many of the major infrastructure items and the large ballroom remodel should be completed by early summer.  Once that room is complete will move onto the old fire hall and renovate as finances allow.  This project is just another example that Lyons is committed to making this community a place to live, work and play for a long time to come.

We passed Keno in 2013.  This will provide an opportunity for the community to commit some of the proceeds to community and business development.  Brehmer’s Man

Lyons Mayor, Andy Fuston

ufacturing applied for and received another block grant from the state economic department to continue its expansion efforts and provide additional jobs here in Lyons at the end of 2013.  Business growth is a great stabilizer for communities.  Hopefully it will be a catalyst for additional business growth opportunities in 2014.  We partnered with Three Rivers Housing to set the foundation for some new housing opportunities.  Lyons has one of its own running for governor.  That was big 2013 news!  How many small communities can boast about that?  Good luck Chuck!  The city also completed its acquisition of electronic utility meters that are read remotely.  This might not sound that glamorous but it means that the households of Lyons have received upgraded meters in the last four years that are more efficient and will pay for themselves overtime by eliminating the meter reading costs that we use to pay for.  The Library was awarding a gold star rating by the library commission at the end of 2013.  This is a wonderful accomplishment for the Lyons Library and is just another feather in our cap as a community who is always finding ways to better itself.  Finally, our 2013 city audit went well.  It’s kind of hard to explain the details of how we did financially as a community this past year because of all the dollars in and dollars out from grants and project costs that we received and incurred over the year but the general fund broke close to even and the utility fund ended in the black.  That’s the best you can hope for in city government.

So all in all 2013 was a very exciting year for Lyons and 2014 should be a continuation of those successes.  The city has positioned itself for taking advantage of future opportunities that might come its way.  I’m sure as our two big projects come to fruition in 2014 more opportunities will pop up for us to look into and take advantage of.  The city has two big events it must address in 2014.  The first is its election time again for the mayor and two council positions.  This is an opportunity for interested community members to “apply” with the citizenry to help shape the future of Lyons government.  The primary will be in May with the general election in November.  It is a chance for you to affirm the job those currently serving are doing by reelecting them (if they decide to run) for another four years or to say we think it’s time for some new blood.  All I ask is that you vote when the time comes and that you vote for the best people you think will lead the city in the right direction the next four years.  Incumbents have until mid-February to commit and challengers have until mid-March to sign-up.

The second major decision we as a community will have to make in 2014, which is even more important than the first, is the school consolidation decision.  Do you want to consolidate with Oakland-Craig and Tekamah-Herman to make a county-wide school district?  There are both pros and cons to this debate which has already begun.  My fear right now, as mayor, is that this could be a major issue that will drive a wedge between community members.  I will have more thoughts about this issue in later articles but my hope is that this issue doesn’t slow down the community’s commitment to progress and moving ourselves forward.  More than anything else that happens this year, this school consolidation vote will directly impact the future of Lyons.

I’m excited about the possibilities and opportunities that are in store for Lyons in the coming year.  I hope you feel the same way.  2013 was a great year for us and I believe 2014 can be even better.  Everything we’ve accomplished up to this point has provided a solid foundation to build toward the future.  Let’s not lose our momentum or energy.  We’ve worked too hard to not to.  Well that’s it for now.  I hope some of those New Year’s resolutions you set are still intact!  Until next time, stay warm my friends!