Mayor Chasity Wells-Armstrong reflected on her second year as mayor by delivering an uplifting state of the City address to a large crowd on Thursday, April 25, 2019. She acknowledged the challenges she faced when she took office on May 1, 2017 and explained how she developed plans and strategies to overcome them. As she took office there was no Police Chief, Fire Chief, Economic Development Director, or City Planner. These positions being vacant stalled progress for the City. “I did not succumb to the many challenges and neither did the people; particularly, the Department Heads who stayed.”, stated the Mayor. “I decided to fight for the City of Kankakee and to fight for each and every one of you.”

Mayor Wells-Armstrong also focused on the future and the goals she has put forth in her Kankakee Forward agenda. Kankakee Forward includes a commitment to creating economic and operational efficiencies, enhancing public safety, modernizing governmental processes, and addressing racial inequity. To accomplish this agenda the Mayor looked for expert leaders to fill vacant positions; hiring Fire Chief Damon Schultz, City Planner Mike Hoffman, Economic Development Director Frank Koehler, and Community Development Director Barbi Brewer-Watson. On May 6 the Mayor will proudly appoint a new Police Chief with the support of the Council.

The evening ended in celebration of Alderman Baron’s 32 years of public service for the City of Kankakee. Surrounded by his family, friends, and fellow colleagues the Mayor honored Alderman Baron by giving him a key to the City. This was the first key awarded under her administration and was a fitting way to celebrate Alderman Baron’s years of commitment to the community. To view the whole state of the City address and the celebration of Alderman Baron please visit the City of Kankakee website at www.citykankakee-il.gov or on the City’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Here are just a few of the accomplishments mentioned by the Mayor.

• Reduction in gun violence
• $200,000.00 Safe Routes to School Grant
• Grant received to update technology at Fire Department
• Reduction in property taxes
• New Businesses opening – Tractor Supply, U-haul, Pizza Hut, Turn Key, Berkots, Hemenover Construction
• The equalized assessed value for the City grew
• Passed balanced budgets for past two years

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The City of Kankakee was founded in 1853 and is the county seat for Kankakee County. The City is located on the Kankakee River which has been recognized as one of the cleanest in the state of Illinois. The City of Kankakee is dedicated to protecting, building, and nurturing the community they serve while enhancing lives. For more information on the City of Kankakee please visit their website at www.citykankakee-il.gov.
 

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