COLUMBUS, Ind. — Mayor Jim Lienhoop of Columbus delivered his State of the City address Thursday morning at Donner Center.
The mayor pledged to continue work on the train issue, State Street improvements, Walesboro Industrial Park and the Riverfront development. He stated the city has granted 16 tax abatements to local businesses worth $100 million in order to continue economic development.
Lienhoop said the violent crime rate in the city is 25 percent of the national average, but property crime is 75 percent above the national average. Work continues on the local drug problem. Heroin-related emergency room visits increased 50 percent from 2015 to 2016, and are significantly up so far this year.
The mayor has appointed former Cummins vice president of communications of the North American engine business to lead the anti-drug initiative. The new community initiative’s three-part strategy will be prevention, intervention and treatment/recovery.
Donner Center was the host site for this year’s address and became a very important part of the speech. Lienhoop said the 70-year-old building is plagued with ADA non-compliance issues, an aging layout, structural problems, audio/visual shortcomings and a kitchen area that does not work. He told the audience there would be a study done this year on the viability of Donner Center. Depending on the outcome of the review, there could be a recommendation to demolish the community icon. Since 1947, the center has hosted community events, meetings, special events and kids activities.
