FULTON – Mayor Deana Michaels yesterday, Thursday, February 24, live streamed a State of the City address to recap 2021 and what residents can expect for the remainder of 2022.
Michaels began by talking about the challenges the city has faced, including the pandemic.
“We will need you – the community – to be positive and optimistic that our future is bright and that our future is now,” Michaels said. “With that being said, I am proud to announce that in 2022, we will invest nearly $1 million to pave [Route] 481 and improve sidewalks along 481 and the Route 3 corridor using state funding dollars.”
She also said a list of neighborhood streets are also slated to be paved this year, and the city will be taking down rotting trees and nuisance tree stumps.
To address sidewalk improvements, she is proposing a program, Save Our Sidewalks (SOS), which would also install sidewalks in the school area, specifically around the high school.
Michaels also said the city will invest nearly $1.3 million received through state funding to start phase one of a shoreline stabilization, parking lot improvement, improving drainage, and a new fishing overlook point near the Davis Standard Plant, with the goal to support the city’s manufacturers.
Other items Michaels said the city will be doing this year include:
- Invest over $250,000 for a first time home buyers program
- Expand Parks and Recreation programming to include a summer mixed martial arts program, Songs at Sunset, weekend food truck and concert series, new and improved Tunes in June, Flavor of Fulton Food Festival, Fulton home show, instructor-based programming, and an iRacing league.
Michaels said the city has demolished three out of five blighted properties and plans on the last two within the next few weeks; has sold four vacant properties to the Fulton Community Development Agency for their housing program; and there are five vacant properties committed to be included in a “multi-million dollar legacy cities restoration grant.”
“We are committed to our neighborhood cleanup, and we will continue our Block Blitz program, and continue to address blighted areas,” Michaels said. “The safety and well-being of our community remains a top priority. I am proposing to our Fire and Police Commission, to our Common Council, to our Police Department, and to our Fire Department to make a commitment to the safety of our community and to outreach for those who live in, work in, and visit Fulton.”
Michaels also said the city plans to:
- Request more programming from the police department
- Address the city’s parks, saying they have applied for grants to improve equipment, ADA accessibility, sidewalks and signage
- Ask the community to help bring about community gardens throughout the city in place of vacant city lots
- Ask the Common Council to invest in the development of Sharp’s Pond to become a nature preserve with benches, a gazebo, picnic tables, various flower gardens, little libraries, and a birdhouse garden
- Create a Cannabis and Hemp Advisory Council to address the legalization of marijuana and to create policy to support the safety and well-being of the Fulton community
“The pop-up of illegal gift shops, candy shops, and more, are and will continue to be part of the drug issue if we do not address it now,” Michaels said. “I am committed to exposing the truth to what is happening around us and eradicating illegal behavior that compromises the health and well-being of [Fulton].”
She also said the Downtown Revitalization Initiative projects have now “finally kicked off.” The first project underway is the Huhtamaki $2.1 million transformational project, including new sidewalks, roof, equipment, and beautification efforts. The DRI contributed nearly $500,000 to the project.
Another project, a new fast and casual restaurant, is also underway; bids are being drawn up for the second phase of the multi-use trail; and the city will be using part of the DRI funding as a grant program for small businesses.
Other downtown improvements to be made include:
- A reimagined marina
- A downtown guide project
- Electric vehicle chargers
- New signage
- Improved lighting
- Broadband enhancements
Michaels said the city also plans to invest in businesses on the west side.
She then said the city will begin the redesign of Veterans Park in March; the city will invest in new signage, new sidewalks to the riverbanks and a new stairwell leading to the Towpath multi-use trail – all planned to be in place before Memorial Day weekend.
Moving on to Memorial Day, she said the council is working with the Memorial Day Salute Committee to bring back the parade. She said the weekend will include a Memorial Day display at the War Memorial, a parade, a watchfire, veteran flags to line the streets, a carnival, music acts and fireworks.
Michaels also said the city is in the planning phase of a new Lake Neatahwanta revitalization effort with the collaboration of the Town of Granby.
“Finally, I am thrilled to unveil today a two year project in the making – the final master plan of the former Nestle site,” Michaels said. “These plans allow us to effectively market to developers and to build on the momentum of a strong DRI investment in that area.”
She showed four posters with four different options of what could be done with the area.
“Fulton, this plan shared tonight is how we move forward and build our future together,” Michaels said.
Another live streamed video of the mayor’s introduction of the address can be found here.
missing or outdated ad config
A whole lot of wishing for a city with *no money*