Last night I had the honor of standing in for the Mayor while he was out of town.  Below is the message I delivered at the New Year's Eve countdown prior to the midnight fireworks. We have a lot of great people who put a great deal of time and energy into the First Night celebration.

On behalf of the Mayor and my colleagues on Springfield’s City Council, I wish you a Happy New Year.

First Night is a great example of how a public and private partnership can work.  Private merchants and sponsors partner with the Urban Districts Alliance to put on this great evening.  And, as our Downtown area has grown, so has the First Night Celebration. 

The City of Springfield is proud to have been involved in First Night from its beginnings.  Our Parks Department now handles the fireworks that we will see shortly, aided by the Fire Department; Police Department personnel are here insuring the safety and security of our families visiting downtown. 

 Just east of the Hammons Park, there is a new parks area taking shape.  The Commons at Jordan Valley is nearing the end of Phase I and, hopefully in the future, First Night activities will expand to include that space, including the new Sister Cities Plaza, as well.

It’s certainly no secret that 2010 has been both a tough and an interesting year.  However, as we celebrate the arrival of 2011 in a few minutes, we can also celebrate that we live in a city that has balanced our budget without lay-offs, without using one-time money, and without dipping into reserves.

So, again, let me thank the Urban Districts Alliance for putting this celebration together and, on behalf of the City of Springfield, Iwish you a very Happy New Year.

Thank you.