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from The Telegraph
February 7, 2008
Mayor touts Alton’s progress
Sandidge gives annual ‘State of the City’ address
By LINDA N. WELLER
The Telegraph
ALTON — One public office-holder who spoke on Super Tuesday was not campaigning for another term, but instead lauding his accomplishments during the past year.
Alton Mayor Don Sandidge, whose third — and reportedly final — term ends in April 2009, said in his annual “State of the City” address that progress continued in updating infrastructure, building the amphitheater at Riverfront Park and developing 21 Downtown lofts and the 84-apartment Alton Pointe.
The rest of Joesting Terrace public housing complex should come down soon, he said.
“We will probably complete (the demolition) the last week of February,” Sandidge said.
Sandidge addressed 36 members of the East End Improvement Association at its monthly meeting in the banquet room at Alton Sports Tap, 3812 College Ave., and answered questions for 15 minutes.
A member said earlier that the speech was open to the public.
One man asked the mayor whether the Robert P. Wadlow Municipal Golf Course still might be sold.
“It’s still a possibility; there still is a developer that is interested in it,” Sandidge said. “They wanted to bring a Wal-Mart there, but I told them I wanted a Sam’s. The woman didn’t seem to like that, and it went to Godfrey. I don’t want something that is going to hurt business here.”
The mayor said he does not believe the planned Wal-Mart Supercenter in Godfrey will affect Alton businesses negatively. He also said he heard a movie theater is coming to Alton Square Mall.
When asked whether he thinks the state’s new law banning smoking in public places will hurt businesses in Alton, Sandidge said he fears it could hurt them as the city ban in Springfield did, but he is waiting to see what happens here.
“It’s hurting everywhere,” he said.
Regarding other business mileposts, Sandidge said Imperial Manufacturing Group, which consolidated its U.S. manufacturing and distribution operations at Alton Center Business Park with 65 workers, now has nearly 100 employees.
Talks also are progressing with representatives from Kohl’s department stores, he said.
“We are in the final stages of that,” he said about the chain’s plans to build a store next to Home Depot.
Sandidge said the amphitheater may be completed in late spring, and the remaining two phases of renovating Riverfront Park should be finished within two years, including the pedestrian overpass, plaza, esplanade and boat landing.
The mayor related, department by department, what each had completed during the year, among them: Assisting 40 first-time homebuyers through the city’s Homeownership Program and expending $151,000 in grant money.
“We’ve had that program since I was elected mayor,” Sandidge said.
He said the city demolished 34 derelict properties and issued 615 building permits worth $32,299,684.
Sandidge said the Alton Fire Department recently received a grant for $22,135 from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation to replace all electric lighting in both stations with energy-efficient lighting. He said the new lighting system should reduce electricity costs by 40 percent at the Don Twichell Memorial Station No. 1, and by 25 percent at Station No. 2.
He said firefighters made 4,182 runs last year, 2 percent more than in 2006. Eight firefighters now are certified as hazardous materials technicians after completing 120 hours of training. The firefighters all belong to the Madison County Hazardous Materials Team, he said. All of the city’s firefighters were trained and certified last year as ice and cold water rescuers.
The mayor also said Alton was the first city in Madison County to fully comply with the federal National Incident Management System that allows it to receive Homeland Security grants.
He said Part 1 (serious) crime continues decreasing in Alton, down 1 percent in 2007 after dropping 7.7 percent in 2006 — a decrease of 25 percent since 1997. At the same time, the mayor said there were 14,745 adult arrests and 853 juvenile arrests in 2007.
Police continue conducting more foot patrols, 500 since last summer, and are enforcing the noise ordinance. He said police made 215 arrests for noise violations: 82 for loud noise, 46 for loud mufflers and 87 for illegal sound amplification.
Regarding infrastructure, the Public Works Department spent $223,330 of motor fuel tax money on curb, gutter and sidewalk improvements; $419,969 on asphalt; $502,972 on concrete; $48,371 to remove old asphalt; and $72,684 on brick street repairs.
He reported that Public Works spent the following amounts in each ward last year: $121,155, 1st Ward; $114,600, 2nd Ward; $239,087, 3rd Ward; $62,353, 4th Ward; $211,148, 5th Ward; $205,401, 6th Ward; and $128,340 in the 7th Ward.
Sandidge also touted the 16,000-square-foot expansion of American Water Works at Alton Center Business Park; completion of the $1.3 million realignment of Central Avenue near Saint Anthony’s Health Center; renovation of Alton City Hall; Downtown Streetscape improvements; and the brick street restoration on State and West Fourth streets.
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