By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
If there was a word for 2020 it would be collaboration, said Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll as he presented his 12th State of the City address at the City Council’s Jan. 18 meeting.
Through the annual address, Poll reflects on the past year while taking a look at the future.
“We did not see 2020 coming,” Poll said. “No one did.”
But despite the challenges faced by many, the residents of the City of Wyoming came together to help each other.
“Our community stepped up together,” he said. “I could spend an entire evening highlighting the ways in which we worked collaboratively to overcome challenges and create a brighter future for all who live, work and play here in Wyoming.”
As the state went into lockdown, businesses were forced to close their doors — some permanently — and employees who could worked remotely did. But cities like Wyoming, Poll noted, are not able to shutdown and the Wyoming City staff “without missing a beat” developed a response plan to ensure the safety of residents, business, and visitors.
Due to social distancing, many activities did not take place and others were moved to virtual. More than 2,400 people participated in virtual programs, Poll said, adding that the Wyoming Senior Center staff has worked with Senior Meals on Wheels to prove more than 6,800 senior meals and in a drive-thru format for personal care items.
Poll noted a number of other successes:
More than 78 percent of the residents self-responded to the U.S. Census, which was nearly a six percent increase over the 2010 U.S. Census. Through in-person follow-up, the city had a 100 percent participation once the 2020 U.S. Census was completed.
At the November presidential election, 65 percent of the registered voters in Wyoming cast ballots with more than half of these ballots being absentee. That is a 420 percent increase in absentee voting over the last presidential election.
The city’s Department of Public Works added more than a mile of new waterman in two separate projects and repaired more than 40 waterman breaks including repairng a major water transmission line in just nine days so that more than 230,000 West Michigan residents could receive clean water.
In 2020, the city issued more than 580 building permits at a value of more than $105 million in construction.
The Wyoming Planning Commission reviewed more than 40 projects such as the new residential development with multiple buildings to businesses near Burlingame and 60th Street and another new resident developments that included the addition of single family, multi-family and dedicated senior living homes.
Restoration of the Burlingame water tanks
More than 14 miles of streets were resurfaced.
The city celebrated the grand re-opening of Ideal Park and began construction work to improve Jackson Park.
The city invested more than $663,000 in Community Block Grant funding with more than $140,000 spent on housing rehabilitation programs and support services and $79,000 spent on additional public services to prevent homelessness.
The Wyoming Housing Commission participated in a venture with developers to help complete applications to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority which lead to the Housing Commission passing eight resolutions to help increase affordable housing options in Wyoming.
The Department of Public Safety assisted the City of Grand Rapids during several protests. The police responded to 28,500 calls for service and fire responded to about 6,500 calls for service in 2020. Public Safety also responded to 900 calls for confirmed or suspected cases of COVID.
As the city looks toward the future, Poll said the city will have to consider how to maintain its current financial stability.
“Today, our city is in a solid financial place, but we cannot rest on those laurels nor rely on this to continue to grow,” Poll said. “We have to anticipate our future growth and the corresponding future needs of our community.”
Wyoming must continue to address its community needs, such as the staffing of the Department of Public Safety which is understaffed compared to other similar sized communities, Poll said.
“The council and I will be working with city staff to evaluate financial options we hope to bring to residents for review in the coming months,” Poll said.
Poll said there are many exciting events set to take place in 2021:
The hiring of the city’s next deputy city manager
Working with local developers and continuing to identify the right tenant for the Site 36 property.
Additional retail development along 28 West as the city welcomes nearly 400 new residential units on the site for the former Studio 28
Approving the city’s new master plan
Continuing to work with the cities of Kentwood and Grand Rapids and The Rapid in the Division United study to help the growth of the Division Avenue corridor.
Poll encouraged residents to get involved and mentioned that there were openings on several of the city’s boards and commissions such as development, community enrichment and others.
“Let’s make 2021 a year where we ll are commit to be involved and be informed,” Poll said.
