Mayor delivers State of the City address

Costilow said his first year proved more rewarding than he imagined

Amherst Mayor Mark Costilow said his first year in office proved more rewarding than he could have imagined.

“Working with the citizens of Amherst, city employees and staff, contractors and city council has been a pleasure,” Costilow said. “Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your mayor. The state of our city is strong.”

For example, the city building department issued commercial building permits for more

than $7 million in new construction, and 11 new homes in 2016, Costilow said, adding the Preserve at Quarry Lakes subdivision is set to add 100 new homes.

“It is predicted that there will be more new housing starts this year than last,” Costilow said. “Existing businesses are growing and new ones are coming to Amherst. There were 14 new businesses in town last year. Our historic downtown district is thriving. Downtown building occupancy is near 100 percent.”

Financially the city operated in the black in 2016, he said.

“Stating the city’s finances in simple terms, we have more money in

the city’s bank account today than there was one year ago,” Costilow said.

The revenue accounts of sewer, water and electric are stable, he said, adding residents receive reliable service with some of the most affordable utility rates in the area.

He contracted with Courtney and Associates to complete an electric rate and capital expenditure study, and he will share the results with council soon.

“The city is striving to continually improve utility services,” Costilow said.

Utility poles were numbered and located on GPS for more efficient emergency repairs, he said.

And an AMI utility metering system begins this year to allow utility billing that is more timely, consistent and accurate.

The utility and service workers saved the city

money through waterline replacements on Route 58 and Spring Street coordinated with a street resurfacing program.

And improvements at the wastewater treatment plant expanded holding capacity of raw sewage during high flow events, he said.

“Those are great examples of doing more for less and saving the city dollars,” Costilow said.

The city adopted a pothole repair policy of fixing a pothole within two working days after it is reported.

Also, the city is considering longer-lasting pavement materials and buying a Durapatch machine to improve the street program, he said.

Even though council already approved a street repair program and Bramhall Engineering is preparing the bid packets,

Costilow said, money saved because of a mild winter may enable a second round of road resurfacing projects.

He praised the safety service forces, adding two police officers intend to retire this year. And one officer is deployed overseas, he said, due to return in early 2018.

A Wireless Emergency Notification System operates in the city, he said, and allows the police department to contact residents if an emergency situation happens in the neighborhood. Sign up on a website at www.amerstpolice.net.

The WENS system was used to notify residents in a neighborhood where there was a burglary, he said.

He encouraged residents to vote for the fire renewal levy on the May 2 ballot.