This will be a little like that, only just dealing with some of the things that have occurred in the City during the past year.

• The big issue two years ago when I was elected was the Police/Fire Pension deficit and the fund’s ability to tip Springfield into bankruptcy.  Now, after some reorganization of the Pension Board, some of their investment decisions, and the temporary tax that voters approved, we have the numbers headed in the right direction for the first time in a number of years.  In addition, City Council had made several promises to voters at the time of the tax election and we have kept every one of those.

• Led by Mayor O’Neal, the Council has opened up the decision-making process and has utilized several citizen-staffed task forces.  Not only does this give Springfield more voices at the table, but it enables voters to have a first-hand look at complicated issues and a deeper understanding of what City Council members have to wrestle with from time to time.

• In addition, we “borrowed” an idea from our neighbors to the west (Joplin, MO) and established a citizens tax oversight committee.  This group of citizens have access to all the numbers showing sales tax receipts from the state and then the various deposits of those funds.  In this way, citizens and voters can be assured that the City is using the tax revenues in the way we promised they would be.

• And speaking of Joplin, you can’t talk about 2011 with mentioning the tornado that hit our sister municipality to the west in May.  Once the tornado lifted, their first call was to Springfield and the message was simple, “We need help.”  And Springfield responded.  Within an hour, we had two collapsed-building rescue teams on the way to Joplin, followed by many, many additional firefighters and police officers (all of whom volunteered for the duty) during the next few weeks.

• Also, a tip of the hat to our Public Works personnel who also were detailed to assist in the clean-up in Joplin.  After Joplin administrators made the decision to clear the streets first, it was many of our PW folks who helped get the roads open again.

• And a heart-felt thanks to all the other City employees and City Utilities personnel who either volunteered through their jobs, through their churches, or other organizations to help our neighbors in Joplin.  I have heard several of the Joplin administrators speak about the outpouring of help from all over the country, but every one of them singles out Springfield for special praise.

• While we’re talking about disasters, Springfieldians raised over $54,000 to send to our Sister City of Isesaki, Japan following the huge earthquake and tsunami.  When we began the campaign to raise money, we were hoping for $10,000, with a stretch goal of $15,000.  The final total just blew us away and I don’t think I’ve ever been prouder of Springfield than when talking about how we reacted to these two disasters, one close and one half a world away.

• And to end up the year on a positive note, at our last Council study session of the year, our outside auditors delivered a glowing report of the way Springfield handled its money.  We have delivered the services we promised; we were able to pay down some of our debt; and we were able to put some additional funds back in reserves.  As City Manager Greg Burris has said on several occasions, “We operated a balanced budget without dipping into reserves, without using one-time money for operations, and without borrowing.”

• And the other positive item coming at the end of the year, Springfield was noted as the #3 City in the nation in job growth.  While our unemployment is still higher than we want it to be, we’re still far better off than many of our other similarly-sized cities around the country.  And we’re working hard to grow jobs here and to bring new jobs to the area.

• Finally, it’s been a lot of work on behalf of City Council, but especially the great team of people who work for the City of Springfield.  All of us should send a little thank-you their way whether

• we see someone repairing a pot-hole,
• we receive an answer to a question regarding zoning
• a police officer helps clear an accident from an intersection
• we hear a fire truck rushing to another medical call
• we get an answer to a Sunshine request
• we flush the toilet and it goes somewhere
• a relative arrives at the airport for a visit
• we take our grandkids to a park.

• Springfield is poised for another great year in 2012.  I look forward to the challenges, but also to the continued good news coming our way.  As the slogan at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce goes, “Every place should be like this!”