State of the City
Mayor Mat Faulkner delivered the State of the City at the Council Meeting on Tuesday, March 12, 2024.
Good evening. It is my privilege to present to you Searcy’s State of the City address as we reflect on the 2023 calendar year. I’d like to thank those who are joining us online as well as those who are present here in the Council Chambers.
Tonight, we are going to touch on a number of highlights, developments, and accomplishments from the past year, as Searcy is in the midst of a very exciting time in our community’s history.
But before we get into all of that, I would like to give credit and honor to those who have paved the way and laid the groundwork for the momentum we are currently experiencing. Thank you to those who have served this community for many years, those who have served in current and past administrations, our City Council, A&P Commission, our city department heads, personnel, and the numerous commissions, boards, committees, and all of those who have contributed to moving Searcy forward in any capacity. Growth and development doesn’t just happen overnight. Nor does it happen in a year. So, “thank you” to all of those who have contributed so much toward Searcy’s future. It is a joy and a privilege to work alongside you.
Searcy is known for our hospitality, our fantastic public events & festivals, our renowned private and public education institutions, our strong healthcare and financial resources, our engaging public art, and our commitment to preserving heritage and history. As you will hear tonight, Searcy has expanding industry, booming commercial development, and unique locally-owned small businesses that give our community character. But what we are most known for is our heart.
This was demonstrated at the beginning of last year, when there wasn’t a second thought to reaching out and helping our neighboring communities who were affected by the tornadoes. Searcy sent our people, our equipment, and our resources to Wynne to help them in a time of devastation. Many from Searcy also went to provide aid to Jacksonville, North Little Rock, Little Rock and the other areas who found themselves in the path of the destruction.
This response shows the character of our community. We are neighbors helping neighbors whenever there is a need. And this is also demonstrated daily through organizations like 100 Families, Daughters of the Other Side, Sparrow’s Promise, Imagine & Believe, the Child Safety Center, Mission Machine, Jacob’s Place, White County Domestic Violence Prevention… and the list goes on and on. Searcy shows love and compassion for our neighbors.
We are also committed to taking care of the heartbeat of this city, our personnel. On the very first day of 2023, the Council implemented raises for all city personnel. These increases were much needed and well deserved. Throughout the year, the Personnel Committee worked to create a step & grade compensation structure for all City Departments, including additional wage increases, which was approved and took effect at the beginning of 2024. Along with the increases and the step & grade program, the city also improved our longevity incentive program. These were significant steps toward demonstrating that our personnel, who serve our community, are appreciated and valued.
The City was also able to make some significant key hires and promotions enhancing our service to the community. In 2023, Todd Phillips was hired as the new Sanitation Department Director, Debbie Smith as the city’s new grants coordinator, and Damon Johnson as our new baseball and softball program director for Parks & Rec.
Andrew Bogan was promoted to Assistant Chief of the Fire Department. We created a designated drainage crew in the Streets Department promoting Jesse Galban to Drainage Crew Supervisor and Sammy Watson Jr. to Streets Crew Supervisor. Joe Hodges was hired in the Code Enforcement Department which enabled us to create a second Community Service crew. These positions are allowing us to be even more efficient and more effective as we care for the needs of our community.
We also created two new committees to add to the good work of the already established Personnel Committee and the Grounds & Equipment Committee. We created a Finance Advisory Committee to help offer guidance to the fiscal affairs of the City and we also created a Beautification Committee to identify opportunities to continue to beautify and enhance the appearance and presentation of our hometown.
One of the first efforts of the Finance Advisory Committee was to establish a Rainy-Day Emergency Fund and place $3 million dollars into CDs in our first year with the goal of building it to $6 million dollars over the next 3 years. This action is aimed to help protect Searcy from possible downturns in the economy or unforeseen emergencies. This committee also worked with our strategic financial advisors, Crews & Associates, as we worked toward implementation options for the #MySearcy Master Plan projects.
2023 was also a year we made great progress in maintaining and improving our facilities, equipment, and infrastructure. With the 1% sales tax made permanent, we are in a better position to make necessary repairs to aging facilities, provide needed vehicles and equipment to departments, and support the operational and maintenance costs of a growing community.
SANITATION
Last year we purchased a new horizontal grinder for the mulch center, including adding a boom truck and side arm loader, we also added several more new dumpsters, and an overhead loading truck to improve our sanitation services. Todd Phillips has overseen operational improvements to our sanitation department, streamlining recycling services, improving leaf & limb pickup, and enhancing customer satisfaction and response times.
PARKS & REC
Our parks & rec department has been very busy last year. We replaced the roof over the gym at the Carmichael Center, renovated the American Legion baseball field concession stand and restrooms, completely renovated the restrooms at Berryhill Park, installed baby changing stations to restrooms throughout our Parks & Rec facilities, and installed accessible doors at the Swim Center.
In mid-summer, we held the Grand Opening for the Courts at Berryhill providing 8 new pickleball courts and 6 new tennis courts. The courts have been wildly popular and are used by citizens and visitors of all ages. Plans were also developed for a new dog park and two new outdoor basketball courts at the Carmichael Center grounds and we look forward to seeing that project come to completion this year.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
We continued our preservation efforts of historic structures by completing the renovation of the Benjamin Clayton Black House where the Searcy Art Gallery is located. In addition, the historic American Legion Hall is currently in phase 3 of renovations through the aid of grant funds. The American Legion Hall was built in 1934 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This project is a collaboration between the City, the White County Historical Society, and Main Street Searcy.
SENIOR CENTER
In addition, the John E. Lightle Senior Citizen Center, occupied by the White County Aging Program, received two large grants that supported the purchase of two new air conditioner units, two Meals On Wheels trucks, a generator, and a new awning on the west side of the building that included an ADA compliant wheelchair ramp. The City replaced flooring, and three sets of double doors that are now ADA compliant as well as a new kitchen exit door, all of which make the Center more efficient to heat and cool and offer great programs and services to the seniors in our community.
AIRPORT
The Searcy Airport Commission began the process of rebranding and updating the airport name to Searcy Regional Airport to better reflect its capacity and regional services. Through a grant, the replacement of taxiway lighting was completed in July. Two new hangers were also completed last year with two more under construction. Three grants were awarded to the airport in the amount of over $1.2 million dollars. The airport has continued its growth in revenue, size, services, and commercial value.
COURTS & PROBATION
Through the diligent work of the White County District Court, Searcy Division and Judge Kennedy, there are opportunities to decrease fine payments through the City’s Community Service program. Now, with the ability for the city to manage two community service crews, we are able to make more progress on beautification and maintenance while providing an option for reduced fees. Our dedicated court administration continues to be a keystone in our court system. I would like to acknowledge our dedicated and knowledgeable staff for their service to our community.
STREET DEPARTMENT
Eight streets were paved in 2023, and plans for widening South Sawmill Road and Fuller Lane were completed and right-of-way acquisitions are underway, with construction of Sawmill going out to bid soon. Also, plans for widening and improving Davis Drive are being developed. A Floodplain study of all of Searcy was started in 2023 to update our flood maps. Plans were developed to improve sidewalks in the downtown area. Also, the sidewalks from downtown will extend to West Pleasure Avenue with sidewalks on both sides of the street extending west to Sowell Street. Construction is scheduled to begin on these projects in upcoming months.
ARDOT met with key City staff along with other community stakeholders to review areas of traffic concerns throughout the city. ARDOT agreed to conduct a study over the next 18 to 24 months. This will be the first time such a comprehensive study will be done with a community.
Since the purchase of the Bowerman Property in 2022 on Eastline Road, the City has been working diligently to relocate the Street Department, Sanitation Department, and Engineering Department to this location.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
38,569 calls for service were received by Searcy dispatch during 2023. These calls are a combined total for both police and fire.
The Police Department was able to acquire 18 new vehicles to replace their aging fleet, and acquire and install a MILO virtual training system through a De-escalation grant. The MILO system is a fully immersive training environment where the officers interact with realistic scenarios using virtual reality. The training is available to our officers and other police and public safety departments in our region. The simulator was installed in the Ahlf Junior High School Annex building.
The Searcy Police Department was also able to upgrade to fifty-six Tasers, fifty-six Axon Body Cameras and forty-one Fleet In-Car Systems. The upgrade was partially paid for by a grant from the Arkansas Department of Public Safety.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Fire Department was able to install a Safe Haven Baby Box at Central Station, providing a life-saving option for newborns and mothers in crisis. They also made improvements to their training grounds, and are in the process of rebuilding the engine on Fire Engine 1.
The Searcy Fire Department received 3,014 calls during 2023 which was more than a 12.5% increase. They saved more than $1.6 million dollars in property value and held 139 public education and community events.
WHITE COUNTY LIBRARY
In June of 2023, the City of Searcy entered into a Staff Funding Agreement with the White County Regional Library System which allowed city employees working at the library to become employees of the White County Regional Library System.
In July, the documents for the new Searcy Library renovation were signed and on-site construction began in August. The renovation involved substantial interior demolition that was completed in December and the construction of the new wall arrangements began around the first of the year and has now reached the point that finish paint is being applied. Exterior site construction will push forward this spring and everything is on track for an August completion date.
The new library facility will house a dedicated Teen area with a media room, studio space, and study rooms; a Children’s area with zones for all ages and a children’s program room; a main reading room housing the Adult Collection with Local History and study rooms; Exhibit Gallery; Computer Lab; Business Resource Area; large meeting rooms; demonstration kitchen, passport office; Notary Public stations; and a coffee shop complete with an outdoor patio overlooking the park.
PURCHASE PROPERTY
Through the help of ARPA federal grant funds, the City was able to acquire approximately 108 acres of property on South Main Street and an additional 59 acres adjoining it to the north funded through reserves to be used for the proposed new community center and sports complex. The purchase also included the lot east of the Black House which will be used to develop a small park.
Additional property acquisitions in 2023 include a new shop facility for Parks & Rec. on Veterans Blvd, and additional 2 acres extending the Carmichael Center property where the new dog park will be located.
MASTER PLAN
The public input phase of the #MySearcy Master Plan continued in 2023 led by the team at Crafton Tull. After receiving numerous responses to our request for qualifications to develop an implementation strategy, we expanded our design and consulting team to include Polk Stanley Wilcox, Crafton Tull, Councilman Hunsaker, and Crews & Associates. Our citizens were praised for their high level of engagement during the public input process which included a park system walking audit, multiple steering committee meetings, public meetings, and online surveys.
The Master Plan results were presented at a public meeting at the Carmichael Center in October, and in November, the City Council was presented with preliminary concepts, project budgets, and a funding strategy by our team of consultants.
In December, two bond issues to be placed on the March 2024 election ballot were approved by both the Searcy A&P Commission and the Searcy City Council to fund the construction of a new community center, outdoor aquatics facility, new baseball fields, improvements to the soccer complex and existing baseball and softball complex, and improvements to Berryhill Park, Riverside Park, and new trail connections and crossings representing the top responses from community input.
The two ballot issues were approved by voters in the March 5th election and the design process will continue as we work to implement the projects the community requested through the #MySearcy Master Plan.
DEVELOPMENT
2023 was one of our best years ever for building construction and development in Searcy. This included projects like Atwood’s, Bryce’s expansion, the First Security Bank Tech Center, Riser-Harness Ford relocation, Searcy High School’s Lion Arena, Texas Roadhouse, Tractor Supply, and Whataburger just to name a few. Code Enforcement permitted projects totaling more than $71 million dollars in development. In addition, 1,219 business licenses were purchased.
FINANCIAL OUTLOOK
The balances of city funds as of December 31, 2023 were as follows:
General Fund: $12,703,218.48
Street Fund: $ 2,621,313.85
LOPFI Fund: $292,454.65
Airport Projects Fund: $267,737.08
2014 8-Year 1% Tax Fund: $10,803,906.43
0.25% Fire Protection Services Tax Fund: $466,723.20
ARPA Fund: $125,557.29
Our revenues exceeded our expenses in the general fund by $4,039,104.55
…and we received nearly $4.5 million dollars in grant funds including state and federal grants.
With the addition of Debbie Smith as the City’s new grants coordinator, we are pursuing more sources of grant funding than ever before. We have recently submitted an application for a federal RAISE Planning grant worth just over $4 million dollars with intent to then pursue a construction grant of up to $25 million dollars.
In the words of our City Clerk/Treasurer, Jerry Morris, Searcy is in the best financial position he has ever seen since he has been with the City.
CLOSING REMARKS
If there is an overarching theme to our progress, it is that of unity and collaboration. This year we have strengthened our partnerships between the City and County, the Chamber of Commerce and SREDC, the A&P Commission, Main Street Searcy, Harding University, ASU Beebe/Searcy, Riverview, the Searcy School System, and numerous non-profit, civic, and community organizations. It is through these close partnerships and shared vision that we have accomplished so much.
…and our commitment and dedication to collaboration is not going unnoticed. Searcy was recently recognized as a Trendsetter City by Arkansas Business winning in the categories of Public Works for our approach to the #MySearcy Master Plan, as well as in the category of Diversity and Inclusion for the involvement of our Hispanic community members and El Puente who were instrumental in organizing the Cinco de Mayo Beats & Eats festival. We also garnered honorable mentions in the areas of Technology and Security for the Police Department’s MILO training system, and in the category of Education and Workforce Development for our innovative robotics and STEM programs.
Searcy also made it as a top 3 finalist at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism for the Henry Award in the same company as Little Rock and Hot Springs.
Additionally, Searcy found itself on the national stage as the Harding University Bisons claimed the title of NCAA Division II National Champions! What a historic year of accomplishments.
But our work is not done. There is still much to accomplish as we work hand in hand to continue improving services to our citizens, care for our neighbors in need, beautify our community, develop a qualified workforce to support our growing industry and businesses, improve our road system and alternative transportation options and infrastructure, and continue to enhance quality of life for all citizens.
There’s one thing that is apparent, we will keep moving Searcy forward, by working together, pulling in the same direction, and sharing a united vision. I still believe “together, we can do so much.”
Thank you and God Bless.