Martinsville Mayor Completes 200-Day Plan
The mayor of Martinsville is touting the completion of her 200-Day Plan. Shannon Kohl, who is serving her first term as mayor of the Morgan County city, says the plan addresses a variety of issues, including safety, neighborhoods and economic development.
Kohl first detailed the plan during her State of the City address in March. She says every item in the plan has either been completed or was begun by the conclusion of the plan’s time frame, which was October 5.
In a news release, she thanked the city staff, the Martinsville City Council and residents for their contributions.
"While we have achieved a great deal since March, we have much more progress to make for Martinsville to become a strong, appealing and vibrant home for residents of all ages and business of all types," said Kohl. "With so many exciting initiatives underway and so much promise ahead of us, it’s time to take our activities to the next level in many ways. I look forward to outlining our next level approach and new initiatives in my 2018 State of the City."
Kohl’s office detailed some of the accomplishments achieved in each category. They include:
Safety
- Neighborhood Crime Watch is in play with significant citizen involvement to establish crime watch neighborhoods and citizen volunteers
- Ongoing firefighter training exercises include rescue scenarios and education
- The resurrected DARE program is in its second year with Martinsville Community Schools
- Active shooter drill with area law enforcement agencies was conducted in July at Tabernacle Christian School
- Operation Sheepdog drug stings and saturated patrols continue
- K9 Edo joined the Police Department, giving each shift a canine officer
- Firefighters will host annual Customer Appreciation Day during the Fall Foliage Festival
Neighborhoods
- Beautify Martinsville Days and Weeks have involved many volunteers cleaning up various areas of the community
- Annual strategic paving program has been created with Martinsville recently being awarded a $343,000 matching grant from the Indiana Department of Transportation to improve numerous roads and streets throughout the City; roads needing to be paved in 2018 already have been identified
- City’s Unsafe Building and Hearing Authority is very active addressing structurally impaired buildings and hazardous homes
- Code enforcement efforts have been ramped up addressing improperly registered vehicles, trash and other ordinance violations
- Work has begun to address facility needs for the aging City Hall, Street and Water Departments
- Quarterly bulk trash collection continues
- City pool functioned smoothly throughout the summer season
- Tennis courts in Jimmy Nash City Park have been converted to green space, with improvements being made to the Parks’ maintenance building, shelters #2 and #6
- Planning has begun for a future dog park
Economic Development
- City’s partnership with the Morgan County Economic Development Corporation continues to attract new businesses while retaining jobs; creation of a community advisory board focused on business development and revitalization will work in tandem with the Morgan County EDC
- Work continues to ensure Martinsville is well-positioned to benefit from the I-69 project with well-planned, controlled community growth
- Work is ongoing to create tax incentives as economic development tools as well as a five and ten-year Capital Improvement Plan for strategic purchases of needed equipment and assets
Communications
- City’s new Web site is under professional review with launch plans to be announced soon
- Comprehensive communication initiatives continue with mayoral messages, special events, news releases, social media activity
- Juvenile law enforcement instructional academy for MHS juniors and seniors interested in law enforcement careers is underway, thanks to a dual credit partnership with Vincennes University, Martinsville Community Schools and our police officers
- A second citizens police academy recently was completed
- Various Police Community Awareness Nights are underway for community members to meet with police officers in informal settings
Citizens Voice
- Mayor’s Youth Council meets regularly during the school year to help MHS students learn more about municipal government activities and provide great ideas for the improvement of Martinsville
- Expansion of Mayor’s special recognition spotlight on community’s veterans, including an upcoming fall breakfast in their honor.