A Minute With Lyons Mayor, Andy Fuston

January 15, 2016 Leave a comment


Welcome to 2016! It is exciting to think about what the New Year is going to bring you. There are all sorts of possibilities and opportunities that could come knocking. You just have to decide whether you’re going to answer the door or not! The city is the same way. I’m excited to see what opportunities will come knocking on our door this year.

As mayor, I think one of the most important responsibilities of city government is to keep people excited about living in their community. Improvement in the city’s infrastructure is one way to keep folks excited and positive about their town. I believe 2015 definitely hit the mark with the new pool and remodeled city community center. Those two projects created a lot of buzz for and pride in Lyons. The conversion of the old JC building lot into an outdoor theater was another project that, although not solely a “city project” but city property, also ranked right up there as a contributor to the heightened spirit of Lyons.

But that was 2015! I believe we can do the same in 2016.  First we are waiting to hear about the grant proposal we submitted last fall regarding improvements for lighting on Main Street. If the city is awarded the grant, it will provide a much needed boost to the downtown infrastructure. It will certainly help the curb appeal of Main Street as well as increase the illumination quality of the lighting provided now. If awarded, this would consume a big chunk of the city’s energy for the year. These big projects always do. We are however up for the task if it comes to be. I can’t wait to hear what the outcome is going to be.

The city council will continue to keep an open mind moving into 2016. We are currently looking at the possibility of utilizing more solar power technology for the city. We are always looking at ways we can partner with other entities for new housing or businesses.   Much will depend on location and funding but it is an area we’ve been willing to explore.

The city has taken measures to keep Logan Valley Manor from falling into disrepair this winter because we are hopeful good things are in store for that building in 2016. I feel confident Lyons will continue to prosper in 2016. We will continue to prosper because we have creative, innovative and motivated individuals living in and around Lyons who wants to see us grow stronger and more relevant. We are blessed with a wonderful school system that not only cares about the students they are educating but about their place within the fabric of this community. We have a manufacturing business that continues to be an international presence in the world. Our small business community, anchored by a strong banking base and business/farming advocacy group, are adept at creating opportunities for them to be successful. We are a prosperous community in so many ways. The excitement is in the journey. We might not know yet what form that prosperity will takr in 2016 but I can tell you the people of Lyons, including your city government, are going to work hard to make it the best year yet! Take care and I’ll talk to you soon.

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A Minute with the Lyons Mayor

November 18, 2015 Leave a comment


A Minute with the Mayor

November 2015

Welcome to back to standard daylight time! Hopefully you are used to it being dark by 6pm. It’s certainly not the easiest thing to get used too. I’m ready for bed by 9pm!

The November council meeting was a fairly light one thus I was home in time to be in bed by nine! Our top agenda item was approval of the city’s health insurance plan. After looking at our options, the council decided to change plans that will actually save the city over thirty thousand dollars this coming year. Health care costs, as everyone knows, continues to rise and the city isn’t immune to the squeeze those increased premiums puts on the city’s budget. The council is working to find a balance between the city’s responsibility to its employees and fiscal responsibility to the tax payer. We will continue to evaluate our healthcare coverage to make sure we are meeting employee needs and getting the entire bang for our buck that we can.

We have a plan for the south road at Brink Park to secure it. We are going to rework and pack the bank. We will then add concrete rip rap along the shore line of the lagoon to stabilize the bank. This should help prevent anymore eroding from occurring long that drive in that area. We were still having some water leaking above a couple of big windows in the community center. We had the roof guys out and we hope they’ve fixed the areas on the roof that had been leaking. Our new baler should be here the first week in December. It will help us be more versatile with our recycling efforts. We are still waiting on the $87,000 reimbursement from the grant we were awarded.   All the “Ts” are crossed and the “Is” are dotted so that money should be coming sometime soon.

I know there are a lot of questions and concerns swirling around Logan Valley Manor.  There is still a lot of legal wrangling going on between the owners and creditors. Not sure when all of that will be cleared up. Until that time, not much that can be done about its future. The city council did decide to turn the electrical and heat on to make sure we don’t have ruptured pipes over the winter. I am optimistic that good things are in store for Logan Valley Manor. We just want to make sure the weather doesn’t make things worth there.

Burt County passed a 2% lodging tax which will affect the camp ground. Rates were adjusted slightly to help cover that tax increase. On a good note, we finally got the final reimbursement from the $375,000 community center grant. The $187,500 will help replenish the city coffers that were spent on the project to begin with. Good news indeed. We continue to wait to hear on the street lighting grant we applied for. We are hopeful we will hear from them by the end of the year.

If you missed the grand opening of the Main Street Theater, you missed a really fun evening. It’s just amazing to me when the front of that building comes slowly down to the sidewalk and street. What a feat of ingenuity! Looking at the building you would never know there wasn’t a building behind it. Bill Hedges movie on the history of Lyons that premiered was exceptional. I thought I was watching a PBS special. Looking at where Lyons has been and how it came to be what it is today inspired me to keep working to make Lyons a better place. It made me realize that the people of Lyons may come and go but the spirit of what Lyons is continues throughout the generations. Thanks to everyone who has made these projects possible. You’ve helped make Lyons an even cooler place to live!

Finally on a personal note, I just want to give a shout out to my dad, Ron, who turned 75 on November 17th! I know my wife and my mother won’t give him all the credit for making me who I am today but he sure deserves a lot of it! I have been so blessed to have been raised by a man who cares so deeply for his family. I couldn’t have asked for a better dad to mentor, counsel, teach, and advise me throughout my life. I am proud to be called Ron Fuston’s son! Happy Birthday dad! Here’s to many, many more!

That’s all I have for now. Enjoy the crisp fall weather. Good luck getting all those leaves raked up! I know I’ll need it. Take care and talk to you soon.

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