Logansport City Seal

advertisers

Looking ahead to a prosperous 2019

Last Updated on January 7, 2019 by cassnetwork

We’ve invited Logansport Mayor Dave Kitchell to share updates from the city in a monthly column on CassCountyOnline.com.

Logansport Mayor Dave Kitchell
Logansport Mayor Dave Kitchell

Recently I was researching some information when I came across the outlook for a new year in Logansport.

“This new year finds Logansport facing the future with faith and confidence. The city has made progress during the last 12 months,” it began.

“It looks like more work for more people. The only bottleneck is housing, a place to live for those who would choose Logansport for their home. Even in housing, the future looks better than the immediate past.”

Those words were written for the first edition of the Logansport Press – 70 years ago. If you’ve been around Logansport the past year, you could easily believe they were written to describe Logansport in 2019.

Our utility rates are down this month, and our unemployment remains stable at 3.7 percent – the state and national average. Logansport has an “A” rated high school. As in 1949, housing is a challenge because the inventory for sale is limited. But with 30 new homes coming on line through Crestline Development, market rate apartments at Logan Square and developers responding to a housing master plan that calls for up to 400 new residences, the future does look better than the immediate past.

In less than 18 months, the Cass/Logansport Economic Development Organization (CLEDO) has worked with the city to promote $135 million in economic development projects – all this without “chasing smokestacks” of potential mega plants that rarely are realized in cities our size. Our largest employer, Tyson Foods, has raised its payroll from $68 million to $82 million.

In the restaurant sector, The Fireside has reopened after a major renovation that is bringing droves of customers to Eastgate. Downtown, Shively’s Barbecue and Yesenia’s were welcomed in the past year, as was Marilu’s on Cliff Drive.

Near downtown in what once was the former Real Gas station, a Christmas tree shop opened last month.

Historic preservation is moving forward with the state’s approval of our fourth historic district. Meanwhile, one of the major structures in that district, the former Tipton home, is undergoing a major restoration.

Both Marsh stores have been sold and one is close to opening again after more than a year of being shuttered. A developer has signed a letter of intent to purchase the Logansport Mall and bring a more robust retail sector back to the east end. Another Dollar General opened on the north side of the city and both Zip Thrus have been sold.

We cleaned up river banks extensively in 2018 and paved several streets. Our parks and recreation department was recognized as the Quality of Life Award winner by the Chamber of Commerce.

Local residents participated in Logansport Reimagined and are beginning to see a fresh perspective of the city and the potential we have to further it even more in 2019. The #WeAreCassCounty campaign has drawn our community closer together in the face of adversities. Our people are proud to be Cass County strong.

As 2019 dawns, the words from the Logansport Press 70 years ago can resonate with us throughout the year: “There is no question that Logansport has what it takes. The problem is to get all the vision and force of her citizens harnessed and into a steam. Whit this achieved, there is no telling where Logansport’s growth and development will stop. Let us all think ahead and work ahead to a greater and a better city, not only in a material sense, but also from the viewpoint of recreational, cultural and spiritual development.”

Here’s to a better 2019 than we can imagine in Logansport, and a spirit that’s building a 21st century Indiana city we’re all very proud to call home.

As always, it’s a privilege to serve as your mayor. If you have a complaint, a comment, a concern or a problem, feel free to contact me at dkitchell@cityoflogansport.org.

Cass County Online