Looking forward to 2014
IN THE CITY
by Martin Puckett
There is no doubt that 2013 has been a challenging year for municipalities.
While the Star City continues to balance the budget, there are some terrifying stories about cities on the brink of financial ruin. We have had to face some difficult decisions as a community to be fiscally responsible that will continue to win us excellent marks from the auditors. We have had the tough discussions to evaluate services and determine the right fit. The discussions have been transparent and painfully so. We have considered positions, repairs, equipment, services and contracts. Add to the list regionalism, partnering, consolidation, and a myriad of acronyms- we continue to be innovative and try to redesign ourselves. Not to make light of a serious issue, but a fitting city mascot could be the ancient Greek mythological creature, the Phoenix.
We continue to concentrate on our core principles and focus on ways to overcome our challenges. We have constructed a five-year strategic plan to guide us in the right direction. While the raid on revenue sharing shook the columns of our organization, we keep our eyes to the future and recognize the great things happening around us. Here is my list of things I am looking forward to in the upcoming year:
The IBU Biathlon Youth/Junior World Championships- I love this event! The volunteers really know how to put on a world-class event at the Nordic Heritage Center for these young athletes who will be the next Olympic stars.
World Acadian Congress- a celebration of Acadian heritage sound like fun? How about 50,000 visitors and $30 million in economic spin-off? I am sure Puckett will become the original surname of Paquette for this event.
The new Rec Center- Presque Isle has a long history of cultivating a healthy life style, a strong sense of community and quality recreation programs for our youth. The new facility will be multigenerational and offer even more activities. In case you haven’t seen our demographic trends, we need to invest in our youth and retain and attract young families more than ever.
Increased activity in the downtown- the Presque Isle Downtown Revitalization Group is busier than ever and is doing a great job promoting the downtown. The downtown has a lot to offer and I thank everyone for their continued investment. An artesian and farmers market is in the work for the spring.
The Calendar of athletic events- I am looking forward to cheering on, participating in and volunteering for 2014 events. I can’t wait until to see all the nutty runners come out for the UMPI spring runoff during a snowstorm and see the cyclists whiz by during the triathlon. Start slow and taper off? Indeed. Not an “athlete” you say? Stand by the finish line and see the determination, camaraderie, and people of all shapes and sizes giving it their all; it is inspirational.
The Turner Memorial Library- When the renovation is complete, we will have an awesome state of the art facility. Stay tuned for the open house.
Martin Puckett is Presque Isle’s deputy city manager. He can be reached at 760-2780 or via e-mail at mpuckett@presqueisleme.us.
