Mayor Scott LeMay presented the 2021 State of the City message Jan. 25. He began the presentation with a video that documented achievements, accomplishments and other events that affected the city of Garland.
He talked about the effects of COVID-19 and the city’s successes in providing vaccines at the City Health Department facility, at events with Garland ISD as well as popup events. The mayor noted that 48,000 vaccines, including boosters, have been administered.
The major disasters in 2021 – the winter storm and the failure of the state’s power grid – proved that “Garland rallies during tough times.” LeMay praised the relief efforts of the fire and police departments, the city’s street crews, electric utility employees, water utility employees and others. He also said that important lessons were learned that will be helpful in the future.
The mayor said that the $423.7 million 2019 bond is still a top priority. Some of the projects are finished and others are nearing completion. And others are just beginning. Some of the completed projects include the Audubon Recreation Center renovations, park playground improvements, Transportation and Maintenance Operations facility renovations and improvements to the senior activity center.
Others will be finished this year. Some of those are the construction of the animal shelter and the police property and evidence building, construction of fire station No. 6 and the Walnut Creek Branch Library, Holford Park Recreation Center and the Embree Park splash pad.
Additionally, various street, traffic signal, sidewalk repair and drainage projects will be completed.
Some projects that are currently In progress are the downtown Garland renovations, IH 635 and I 30 improvement projects.
Several major business and residential construction projects are also planned. A few of those include the Rose Hill development, Future Foam facility, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and surrounding medical district. Another major project will be the demolition of the abandoned Wyatt’s Cafeteria building and the construction of a 155-unit residential complex in its place.
LeMay praised all city services departments as well. He recounted some of the accomplishments of city staff members in Neighborhood Vitality, Sanitation Department, Street Department, Water and Electric Utility department staff and others.
Another video listed some of the numerous recognitions received by the city.
The Make Your Mark Award was presented to the Emergency Management Department and the Garland Health Department.