By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It was a pinch-hitter that delivered the State of the City message on Thursday at Memorial Hall.
Because of a COVID-19 infection, City Manager Jeff Cantrell was unable to present, so Mayor Jade Piros de Carvalho and Director of Public Information and Community Engagement Rebekah Starkey Keasling were available for questions, with Starkey Keasling handling the bulk of the presentation.
The biggest news from the presentation not previously reported on Hutch Post was likely the specifics regarding the reduction in crime in the City of Hutchinson recently.
"In 2019, Chief Hooper was hired and implemented our current crime reduction strategies, including citizen engagement and data based policing," Starkey Keasling said. "Looking at each subsequent year, there is a decrease in crime overall. If you look closely at 2021, every single month has the lowest crime rate for these years."
The final per capita crime rate for 2021 was 29.56 and, according to Starkey Keasling, no one remembers the last time Hutchinson had a rate below 30. This is a 41% decrease in crime since community based policing was implemented.
"If you compare 2018 numbers to 2021, we had 848 fewer citizens become victims of crime here in Hutchinson," Starkey Keasling said.
Starkey Keasling also highlighted the international certification of the fire department, the full time hiring of Dave Sotelo as Human Relations Officer, the repairs being made on the Woodie Seat Freeway and the long-term decision to be made soon in that regard and the vast number of potholes that were filled by city staff as part of the presentation, along with an update on the city's parks usage, which is up considerably thanks to the pandemic, much like it has been across the country. In addition, details were given on the now completed Apple Lane project.
Going forward, Starkey Keasling noted that continuing to upgrade the city's water infrastructure will be a priority, as about half of the city's water mains are more than 50 years old. Starkey Keasling also had good news on the ongoing Cow Creek drainage project.
"We now have coordination with the railroads, BNSF, K and O and Union Pacific," Starkey Keasling said. "We've come to an understanding with them as well as with the Hutchinson Correctional Facility. Late this year, engineering plans the required utility relocations of sewer lines and water lines adjacent to the property, so the excavation of the larger detention area can proceed."
Also coming up this year between the NJCAA tournament and the state fair will be the 11th Avenue eastside drainage replacement project. The projected cost of that project is just over $465,000.