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Government

Rock Island - State of the City

WVIK News

Last year was a good year for the city of Rock Island, but there's still a lot of work to do. That was the message Monday from Mayor Mike Thoms during his annual state of the city address to a joint meeting of the Kiwanis and Rotary clubs.

Along with bringing in new business and new jobs, he says the city made a point of welcoming its new residents.

"We had an open house for refugees and immigrants down at Century Woods. Once again bring them the resources they may need to be successful. Trying to make them feel welcome and productive in the city of Rock Island."

Overall crime in the city fell 9 per cent compared to 2017, and violent crime dropped 35 per cent.

Financially the city is solid, but Mayor Thoms says Rock Island needs to do better in the future, or there will be cuts, maybe even for core services.

"The city of Rock Island is known and has a great reputation for snow removal, as an example. We may have to reduce the number of snow routes so it won't be as quick and efficient as it is now. I'm not saying we're going to do that but those are the things you have to look at. "

Changes in garbage pickup, or even closing a fire station are other possibilities.  

The mayor says the city also will not borrow any more money for major projects, like the new police station or the Walmart site on 11th Street, unless it's a revenue-producing project. 
 

A native of Detroit, Herb Trix began his radio career as a country-western disc jockey in Roswell, New Mexico (“KRSY, your superkicker in the Pecos Valley”), in 1978. After a stint at an oldies station in Topeka, Kansas (imagine getting paid to play “Louie Louie” and “Great Balls of Fire”), he wormed his way into news, first in Topeka, and then in Freeport Illinois.