The City of Lebanon presented a progress report that filled the Cowan Civic Center last Tuesday evening.
The event included displays of city equipment, fire trucks and boats manufactured in Lebanon.
A highlight of the evening was a video state of the city message. After the video, Mayor Jared Carr took questions from city residents.
The video included discussion of the medical simulation lab that the city and area healthcare providers worked on. The city invested $1 million in the lab at the Lebanon R-3 School District's Robert W. Plaster Center for Student Success.
The video also covered economic development and mentioned new restaurants coming to town, including Jersey Mike’s, Pancheros and Culver’s. It mentioned that the city has completed the sidewalk along Bland Road from Walmart to Tower Road. Later this year, the construction will begin along Ivey Lane and portions of Beck Lane.
The city is also working towards connecting Ivey Lane via Elm Street to Nelson Park and Sports Complex, linking neighborhoods, schools and recreation.
Apartment developments are underway along Fremont and new subdivisions are under way across the city.
In the video, Carr mentions that one of the city’s challenges will be the future of the Boswell Aquatic Center. The swimming facility is more than 40 years old and renovating the current pool may only be a temporary solution. Carr said in the video that a new aquatic center would be a multi-million-dollar investment.
“Pools are expensive to operate, but they're also important to the community. That's why this is a conversation, not a decision that's already been made. Over the coming months, residents will have opportunities to weigh in both in person and online as we talk through options, cost and long-term sustainability solutions,” he said.
Another upcoming issue is renewal of the city’s transportation sales tax that funds road improvements.
“This funding allows the city to plan, not just react. We don't wait for roads to fail. We don't guess and we don't jump from project to project. Instead, we follow a dedicated street master plan that looks years ahead based on road condition,” Carr said.
In a question-and-answer session after the video, Carr was asked about empty buildings in the city and bringing in new businesses. He said the city’s economic development team works to keep the city ready for new opportunities.
“We try to position ourselves in a manner to where we're ready and we're prepared for anything that comes along,” he said. He said if a business contacts they city, they can help point them in the right direction for a location.
He was also asked about development in the middle school area. Carr said, “There’s been some conversation about a maybe a hotel coming in there.”
“That’s become kind of a hot spot in the community in recent years, with the addition of the Nelson Sports Complex. The middle school drives a lot of traffic on that side,” he said.
Carr was asked about the community’s schools and he noted the school district and city are separate entities, but do work together on some projects, such as the medical simulation lab and the Nelson Sports Complex where the soccer fields are on school property.
The City of Lebanon State of the City video is available to view on the city’s YouTube channel.
For more photos of the Lebanon Lineup event and more news, see Wednesday's LCR.
