Mayor’s Message

It’s been a mild winter with very little snow to shovel and warmer temperatures here in the valley. Surprisingly, we are at 102% of normal for the Hobble Creek snow basin. This is impressive, and I’m confident we will be in a good place for the 2025 water year.

Our Public Safety dispatchers helped deliver three babies by relaying instructions over 911 calls. In each case, the fathers were on the phone taking instructions until our Firefighter/EMTs arrived. When a dispatcher assists in a delivery, they receive their “Stork Pin.” From August 2024 to March 2025, we issued 3 Stork Pins.

Our dispatchers work hard to provide 24/7 coverage to help our community in a variety of ways. Last year, we answered over 48,500 calls. Of those calls, 8,558 were 911 emergency-related, while just over 40,000 were administrative in nature.

In 2024, our Fire Department responded to over 1,600 medical calls, 352 fire calls, and 16 structure fires. Our Police Department handled over 10,100 officer-initiated contacts, 6,130 traffic stops, 749 traffic accident investigations, and 784 arrests (including 164 DUI and 143 drug-related). Both our firefighters and police officers are expertly trained as first responders, enabling them to assess situations and assist in a variety of ways.

On August 20, 2024, one of our officers responded to a 911 call at the construction site of the new SHS. When he arrived, he found an adult male who had fallen and impaled himself on a rebar. Our officer applied pressure on the wound, slowing the bleeding until our EMTs arrived. On September 16, 2024, one of our officers responded to a motorcycle accident. The motorcyclist was critically injured. A military veteran (first on scene) stopped to help and used a belt as a tourniquet on the man’s leg. Our officer arrived and replaced the belt, which slowed the bleeding until the EMTs arrived. The quick actions of the Good Samaritan and our officer saved the motorcyclist’s life. We appreciate our Public Safety department, their dedication, and teamwork.

With spring upon us and summer approaching, we are gearing up for many fun citizen-involved activities. Bike with the Mayor, the Annual Art Ball, and the kickoff of the Summer Reading Program at the Library are in May. Art City Days is in June, then Movies in the Park and the Summer Concert Series, with more to follow. The website and social media are the best ways to find details on upcoming events.

—Mayor Matt Packard