In his first State of the City, Mayor Sheldon Neeley highlighted the importance of unity and teamwork in his administration’s achievements so far and in continued efforts to move the city forward. He has initiated what he calls a three-point plan: prayer, planning and partnership. A 30-minute address was broadcast on television and presented to Flint City Council on Tuesday Dec. 8.
Neeley highlighted the city’s proactive response to a wide range of issues including limiting the spread of COVID-19 by declaring a state of emergency eight days in Flint before the first COVID-19 case showed up in Genesee County and appointing medical advisor Dr. Lawrence Reynolds among other measures, picking up more than 2 million pounds of garbage dumped in Flint as part of the fight on blight which he said was “everyone’s fight” and instituting important protections as part of the city’s commitment to equity during his first year in office.
Neeley said COVID-19 hit us all hard, and we lost Ruben Burks and Dr. Nathan Burtley, as well as family, co-workers and friends. Yet, he said he was proud of the work accomplished in Flint because of a team effort.
“I am proud of the work we have done here and the work we have accomplished together,” Neeley said. “Prayer planning and partnership — together, even 6 feet apart, anything can be accomplished. If we unite our efforts, if we unite our strength, if we unite our thinking, we can win. The state of our city is strong and we will get stronger the better we work together.”
He also highlighted a commitment in 2021 to infrastructure needs. The top priority will continue to be on repairing the city’s water infrastructure and moving forward on projects that will safeguard the city’s drinking water now and in the future.
Another infrastructure priority will be the city’s roads and developing a plan that will allow for major investment in repairing local roads and installing new speed control measures.
“I will do everything in my power to make this community a better, stronger, more vibrant place to live and to build for the next generation,” Neeley said.
Neeley highlighted the success of his operational audit, which found the need to come into compliance with several multi-million-dollar grants, identified the need for a coordinated 2020 Census effort (with the city of Flint response rate now being at an all time high of 99%), discovered the financial audit was woefully behind schedule and met the Dec. 31 deadline and found that the city had budgeted for at least 14 additional police officers that had not been hired.
Neeley thanked Flint Police Chief Terence Green, saying he was exactly what the community needs at this time. According to Neeley, a new contract offering a pay increase and including modifications to help with healthcare was the first important step toward renewing the morale of the Flint Police Department and is allowing the city to hire new officers, giving them a competitive wage.
Along with hiring more police officers, the department has also launched a special unit to target violent crime, which has resulted in more than 100 felony charges, more than 70 impounded vehicles and more than 90 guns seized. Neeley also ordered an immediate end to all gun auctions by the city of Flint.
“We have to stand together as one united community. Let’s not be torn on the idea of a better, stronger Flint.”
Noting that under his leadership the city of Flint has never shut off residents’ water for lack of payment and the administration has restored more than 600 customers, Neeley declared water as a human right.
Under Neeley’s leadership, the city of Flint has made important progress on several water infrastructure projects, including construction of a new chemical feed building, securing a secondary water source and rehabilitating water reservoirs.
Alongside that work, Neeley has been working to make water more affordable and accessible in Flint. The city of Flint started restoring water to residents as part of its proactive response to COVID-19 more than two weeks before the state ordered such action, and the city of Flint created a Water Payment Assistance Fund to provide up to $225 in assistance to help low and moderate-income families pay their water bills.
“We’re the only community in Michigan to create a water payment assistance fund to help residents pay their water bills during this difficult time.”
Neeley also announced the city is undergoing a water rate study to determine how to make water more affordable to residents.
“We understand water is a human right, and we will continue to push forward, to press forward, to make sure that every resident can afford water that they trust.”
Neeley announces new investment in local roads, speed control measures in 2021
He announced his administration in 2021 will plan to invest millions of dollars into repairing the city’s local roads and installing new speed control measures.
“Moving forward we will be spending millions of dollars making sure our local roads in our neighborhoods and speed control elements will be done to make sure we can enhance the quality of life in our residential areas.”
Working to repair the city’s roads is a part of the mayor’s overall commitment to the city’s infrastructure needs in 2021. The top priority will continue to be on repairing the city’s water infrastructure and moving forward on projects that will safeguard the city’s drinking water now and in the future.
Investing in local roads has historically been especially difficult for the city of Flint because of the need for matching funds that the city simply doesn’t have.
Neeley said the city will use a triage approach to fixing the city’s streets, investing first in the local roads that are in the worst condition.
Beyond fixing the street surfaces, the city also will be investing in speed control measures. Neeley has met repeatedly with members of the Traffic Taming Task Force and received important data from them that highlights the need for speed control measures in the city.
“With limited resources, we have found creative ways to find dollars through our partnerships and our initiatives to be able to get local roads repaired that haven’t been done in more than two decades.”
Neeley said economic development and economic growth; economic diversification for our community, will be the stabilizing factor that takes us into the future. For that reason, Khalfani Stephens; economic development director for the city, was recruited to spark the city’s economic development and growth.
“A spirit of positivity, a spirit of unity, must be given for us all to come together. When I asked for your vote, I told you I will work every day towards unity. I am proud of the work we have done here and the work that we accomplished together.”
