PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — With their sights set on transforming Presque Isle into the bustling hub of The County, city leaders are poised to rethink, re-evaluate and to do what it takes to revitalize the Star City.
City department heads and staff, on Tuesday at the Sargent Family Community Center, presented to the City Council their updates on prior goals as well as plans for the future. And despite the pandemic, most city departments met at least 95 percent of last year’s goals, planned long before COVID-19 shutdowns and restrictions..
Detailing accomplishments, department heads stressed how these initiatives tie into the city’s future success. Topping the list was a general consensus that improved digital messaging about what is happening in the city is key.
“These things, all the work you are doing, things that are second nature to you, the general public has no clue whatsoever,” City Councilor Craig Green said. “All they are doing is getting a tax bill and hearing the neighbors complain about whatever. But they don’t know the good that’s going on, whether it be the airport or the rec center or the library or the business community. All they ever see is if the ambulance goes by once in a while or the police car drives by and that’s most of their interaction.”
Green continued.
“I think making that connection with the community so they can know … and I think the level of satisfaction on their part will grow. But the second part of it is, there’s no sense in us running all these programs if no one shows up because they don’t know. They have to know,” he said. “So I really think you are on to something with social media interface with the public. That will produce great dividends and satisfaction from the community.”
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — February 24, 2021 — Presque Isle City Manager Martin Puckett tabulates city leaders favorites among an extensive list of future goals on Tuesday at the community center. (Kathleen Phalen Tomaselli | The Star-Herald)
Airport director Scott Wardell said the general aviation grant project is about 95 percent complete with a spring finish.
“That was actually a little over a $7 million project. We got our fuel farm replaced, got an underground tank removed, our tanks are [now] all above ground with brand new equipment,” Wardell shared at Tuesday’s planning session.
Wardell added that with the help of several city councilors, the relationship with United Air Service is much improved.
“We’re in a significantly better place based on the efforts of a lot of people,” Wardell said. “The United Air Service is in a significantly better spot.”
Looking ahead, Wardell said they will begin working on the interior design for the general aviation terminal.
Police Chief Laurie Kelly said her department’s biggest goal last year was recruiting.
“With a lot of research and number crunching and collaboration, we worked with the city … I can tell you within a month to six weeks of that happening because word was out — our specific department was down seven — we got four from other communities, Kelly said, adding that they are still down three, but there is a shortage of people in the career.
Parks and Recreation got quite a few things crossed off their list, Director Gene Cronin said.
The walking path is about 90 percent complete and will be finished up in the spring.
“That was a little over a $1 million project … it’s a nice addition to the Riverside Recreation area and we’re looking to do more,” Cronin said, adding that they recently hired an outdoor programmer. “We’re pretty excited about that and we’ll spend the next week or so developing a plan for the kinds of programs we are going to run over the next 90 to 100 days. We’ve got a guy with a ton of experience and a ton of ideas and now we need to support him with the infrastructure to run the programs.”
Head of the Industrial Council Tom Powers talked about the importance of mapping for the city’s high-speed internet.
“I know that’s going to be key,” he said.
City Manager Martin Puckett, explained that Tuesday’s meeting was one of several planned this year to discuss future directions for the city.
As part of Tuesday’s discussion, department heads and city councilors prioritized future ideas and topping the list included upgrading city hall, continuing regionalization efforts, high speed internet and GIS mapping, and airport marketing.
“Now I have a good list and some that I really want to add on from today,” Puckett said at the close of the meeting. “The new employee orientation, coordinated city-wide social media, … a welcome packet for new businesses, businesses at the beginning of council meetings. Great ideas guys. I look forward to more.”
The next goal planning meeting is slated for mid-March.
