City Council President gives State of the City address
Eau Claire's City Council President Kerry Kincaid reflected on the past year and the upcoming projects and challenges for the city Monday night in a public address, bringing back a tradition from a over a decade ago.
The State of the City started by recounting the role and history of organized government, with Kincaid coming to the conclusion that "Eau Claire is a city that works."
In the address, which was presented during a regularly scheduled meeting in the newly remodeled City Council Chambers, Kincaid discussed the things Eau Claire was doing well. She noted the successful reconstruction of Hastings Way, the city's collaboration with surrounding communities and greatly improved water quality in Half Moon Lake.
Kincaid also looked ahead to the challenges the city will be facing in the coming year(s).
The median wage in Eau Claire lags behind that of the state and nation, Kincaid said, which could be improved by capitalizing on and encouraging the already strong healthcare, education and IT business here.
Kincaid also said the city needed to continue to find ways to help the environment and conserve energy and to improve the transit system in the city.
The city is also facing a high number of retirements in the last year and near future, which leaves an "unsettled" feeling in the government.
Kincaid said the announcement would be available on the city's YouTube page, or you can see the outline of the address in a PDF slideshow, available on the City Council's webpage.
