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E-Mail:
benroyden@livingston.net
As always, it is my
privilege to report to you on the operation of our city
during the past fiscal year.
The City of Livingston, as you will see in the detailed
information contained in this report, continues to exhibit
solid growth in all departments. From an economic point of
view, retail sales continue to expand, as is evidenced by
our long trend of increases in sales tax collections.
Unemployment trends continue to decline as both new
businesses are opening and various existing businesses are
expanding or undergoing renovation projects. |
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Ben R.
Ogletree, Jr.
Mayor
of Livingston |
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Our very capable
Livingston Volunteer Fire Department, which renders an invaluable
service to our community, is adding a third building on State
Highway 146 South that will serve as a fire substation to allow a
much quicker response time to the southeast part of Livingston and
Polk County.
The city administration continues to be proactive in efforts to
improve or demolish substandard buildings. Under orders from the
City, 49 property owners have made arrangements to comply with
ordinances to clean up, repair or demolish unsightly or unsafe
structures this past year. One structure was demolished by the City
after the owners failed to comply with Council’s final orders.
Also in the area of dealing with unsightly or unsafe structures, the
City adopted a revised sign ordinance that requires signs to be of
an acceptable design and size, and kept in good condition. In the
near future you will notice the removal or renovation of many
unsightly signs that are out of compliance with the ordinance.
By far the largest project affecting the Livingston/Polk County area
is the construction of the $30 million addition to our hospital
facility, Memorial Medical Center – Livingston. With this latest
investment in our community, Memorial Health System of East Texas
has invested about $60 million in new facilities to bring a high
level of healthcare to our area. While the City has assisted in this
project, the real dollar investment has been made by Memorial Health
System of East Texas, headquartered in Lufkin, which is a non-profit
entity charged with providing healthcare to the East Texas area. It
is important that those of us in this area realize that this
tremendous benefit has come our way without any support by local
taxes and without our having to support a tax-funded hospital
district. The impact that this new facility has had on our community
cannot be underestimated as we continue to see numerous new medical
office buildings being constructed for the medical specialists who
are relocating to our area.
I continue to be grateful to our city employees, our management
staff and to the members of our City Council for their selfless
commitment and involvement, which is always directed to make the
City of Livingston a progressive, efficient and prosperous place for
us all.
Yours truly,
Ben R. Ogletree, Jr.
Mayor |
