Mayor James Snyder took the podium addressing that, “the city is in a state of correction.” Inside the Woodland Park Community Center sat a couple hundred chamber members wondering what that correction would be. Mayor Snyder went on to quote Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Synder and his team have put together a “strategic detailed plan that the Mayor, council and residents can rely on with a clear path and light for the future.” By no means does Mayor Snyder plan on not giving the residents of Portage a vision they can see and run with.
The Mayor made it clear that public safety is and always will be the priority of the Snyder administration. He plans to roll out more police officers in the coming months with the help of other organizations. Under the lead of Police Chief Troy Williams, the Portage Police department has arrested 15 people due to drug related activities in Portage. Mayor Snyder went on to say, “I have the utmost confidence in our department to rid our city of drug, gang and violence, even if we have to take care of one street at a time.” The Mayor had Police Chief Williams stand up and everyone acknowledged him and his department in making Portage a safer city.
The Mayor then moved his vision towards cutting costs in Portage. “Our plan to tackle these deficits is to concentrate on correcting the very way we think in city hall about fiscal responsibility.” The Mayor does not point the finger at residents for the reason for budget deficit but humbles himself by sharing that the leaders of Portage need to take responsibility. From leaving the heat on 70 degrees in a building at night when no one is in it to not paying for bars and restaurants recycling. It cost the city of Portage $50,000 to recycle for those businesses and the Mayor stated, “We don’t have the money to do that.”
The Mayor has made it a challenge to other departments to save money. Department heads have challenged city employees to think of ways they believe they can cut costs. The employee with the best cost saving idea each month will be rewarded. The Mayor shared that, “just yesterday an employee told me about an alarm system we pay for that we do not use at his department.” Mayor Snyder wants the chamber members, his staff and all residents to help identify inefficiencies in the government.
There is also the challenge of health in Portage, starting with the chamber members. Attending the meeting were members from the board of directors from the Portage YMCA and St. Mary Medical Center. The YMCA and St. Mary’s have joined together to help make a healthier Portage. They are offering monthly health screenings and resources to members of the Portage Chamber of Commerce to encourage healthier lifestyles. St. Mary’s had an area set up in the back for members to get there blood pressure checked and resources on what they can do if they are at risk. Part of the partnership between the Portage YMCA and St. Mary’s is that a full time nurse is on hand at the Portage Y. Nancy Simpson with the Portage YMCA said, “We wanted to offer specials to the chamber members to get the word out about all the different programs the Y has.” These programs include health and wellness, child care, swimming lessons and more.
Lastly, the Mayor spoke about jobs and job opportunities. Jim Fitzer, Portage Economic Development Director, has already begun securing new business opportunities for the town of Portage. These new businesses will be ready to produce new jobs in Portage. The Mayor said, “We are looking forward to future announcements soon.” Snyder and Jim have visited multiple businesses to talk about expansion and the possibility to add more jobs at their facilities. Snyder is involved in a new job commission and their goal is to create new job growth through the communities and to see Portage as a “job friendly city”. Snyder’s goal is to attract a full spectrum of business type from manufacture to high tech so that, “when we send our children off to college they might return home when they finish and have an opportunity for a great career right here in Portage.”
Mayor Snyder finished with this challenge to the chamber members as well as the residents of Portage, “Get involved.” He said, “If you’re not a member of the chamber, join. Get involved in the Portage Development Economic Corporation. Use your God given talents to make Portage great.”
As the meeting came to a close, you could find the Mayor’s business card on each table with his phone number and email address to contact him with suggestions to make Portage the greatest city that it can be. He invited anyone to meet with him at anytime if it’s in regards to bettering this city.