“Montgomery – Always Moving Forward”
By Chris Dobrozsi
HAPPY SPRING!
The City of Montgomery is truly a special community, and I am honored and humbled to be serving in my 16th year on City Council. I am blessed to serve with my other Council Members and with the incredible staff, serving the residents of the City, by always making a decision by answering the simple question, “What is best for the City of Montgomery?”.
One of my favorite quotes comes from Walt Disney: “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths”.
Montgomery is a premier residential community, and the role of City Council, working with City Staff, is to keep moving forward to ensure that the City remains as such for generations to come. We are fortunate to have incredible City Staff and engaged residents that allow City Council to focus on moving forward and not get entrenched in the daily issues that many other cities are facing.
To ensure the great City of Montgomery is the premier community of choice in the future, City Council/Staff is moving forward focused on the following strategic initiatives that are included in the City’s Five-Year Strategic Plan:
- Mental Health Awareness/Education – a new path for the City is going where few municipalities have gone before, creating a Mental Health initiative, focused on education/awareness that includes hosting a mental health fair and education sessions. In addition, the City has partnered with Care Solace to provide a central hub for all mental health needs.
- Comprehensive Community Plan – currently in progress. This plan will guide development/redevelopment for the next 20-25 years and will set the framework for a Zoning Code update.
- Hopewell Cemetery – exploring development of a columbarium to bring alternate after-life options to the community as well as creating an ongoing revenue stream to fund the perpetual maintenance costs.
- Safety Center Building– beginning process for the renovation/expansion to create additional space and improve efficiencies to align the 1996 building with current needs of our police and fire service professionals.
- Succession Planning – Having created a great culture and bench strength, the City is well positioned for the several upcoming retirements in fire, police, and other key city positions.
- Montgomery Quarter – continuing the momentum, the 128-room Hotel Rambler will welcome its first guests in the fall. Phase II, which includes an additional 239 rental residential units, will break ground by year end.
- Vintage Club is completing the development with the addition of 24 attached/detached single-family homes, offering a unique opportunity for empty-nesters to stay in the city.
Having City Council and City staff focused on these critical strategic items ensures Montgomery will continue moving forward and remain the premier community of choice for generations to come – ensuring best-in-class city services (police, fire, recreation, public works, etc.), infrastructure, parks, amenities, connectivity and opportunity for citizen engagement. I ask that each of you continue to do your part in moving the City forward by engaging with others in open, honest dialogue and by bringing your special talents to the table to create “Community.”