Mayor Elumbaugh releases State of the City address

STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS

Over the past nineteen years, I have had the honor of serving as mayor of this great city. I am deeply thankful for the opportunity and I never take the responsibility lightly. Batesville is a community filled with dedicated citizens, strong leadership, and a shared vision for progress, and it has been a privilege to serve alongside all of you.

First, I would like to recognize the many city employees who serve our community every day across numerous departments. Your professionalism, dedication, and commitment to public service are the foundation of our city’s success. Mayors from across Arkansas often comment on how progressive and vibrant Batesville has become. I always remind them that these types of communities are built through teamwork, and it is the hardworking and dedicated employees of this city who make that forward progress possible.

I would also like to thank the eight members of the City Council who serve alongside me. Your leadership, thoughtful decision‑making, and willingness to work together continue to move this city forward. Because of your efforts, Batesville continues to grow as a community that values both economic development and quality of life.

Our partnerships throughout the community are also essential to our success. I would like to extend a special thanks to the Chamber of Commerce CEO Crystal Johnson and her team for their continued work promoting economic development and recruiting new industry and retail to Batesville and Independence County. In 2025 alone, the Chamber welcomed 27 new businesses and celebrated 36 ribbon cuttings, including nine expansions, relocations, or major economic development projects.

I would also like to recognize Main Street Director Maggie Smart and her team for their continued efforts to make downtown Batesville a vibrant destination. Their work includes bringing the Levitt AMP Concert Series to downtown. If you have not attended one of these free concerts, I encourage you to bring a lawn chair and join us. It is a wonderful example of community gathering and downtown vitality.

Infrastructure continues to be a top priority for our city. Communities that neglect infrastructure quickly find themselves falling behind in economic development opportunities. Batesville has made strategic investments in wastewater infrastructure and is currently constructing a new water treatment plant and intake system that will ensure a reliable water supply for generations to come. I want to thank the citizens of Batesville who supported the refinancing of bonds to make these critical improvements possible.

Riverside Park continues to undergo a major transformation. Construction is currently underway on the event center, pickleball courts, tennis courts, and a new skate park. While the skate park itself is complete, it remains closed temporarily due to surrounding construction. I know our skating community is eager to use it, and we appreciate your patience. This summer we will begin construction on a splash pad, an inclusive playground, new restrooms, and a pavilion. These improvements will create a park that truly serves all members of our community.

Economic development in Batesville remains strong. Over the past year, the city issued more than $70 million in building permits. This includes new apartment developments and retail projects such as the new Sonic location and the construction of Slim Chickens. In June, LaCroix Precision Optics broke ground on a new facility that will bring 107 new jobs to our community.

Additional investments continue across the city. White River Health is constructing a new oncology wing, and LifePlus has opened its corporate headquarters in the former Citizens Bank building downtown. Main Street has also welcomed several new restaurants, adding to the growing vibrancy of our downtown district.

The Batesville School District recently opened its new Performing Arts Center, an incredible addition that will benefit students and our community for years to come. We also celebrated the ribbon cutting for the Greenway Trail expansion along Main Street, which features new landscaping, benches, antique-style lighting, and trees throughout our historic downtown. This project has already been widely used and provides residents with a safe and enjoyable space for walking, biking, and spending time with family.

Last April, our city experienced a major flooding event that required our employees to closely monitor river levels and install floodgates along the levee system. I want to once again thank our city workforce for their dedication and willingness to work under difficult conditions to protect our community.

For those who remember, our flood walls were constructed in the mid‑1980s following the catastrophic 1982 flood that caused millions of dollars in damage and threatened much of our community. Those investments have continued to protect Batesville to this day.

Last year, Josh Morrison with the Veterans Affairs Office, along with several local veterans, presented a proposal to the City Council to establish a Veterans Memorial Park at Riverside Park. The council unanimously approved the proposal, and fundraising efforts are currently underway to make the project a reality. I encourage our community to support this meaningful effort by purchasing a commemorative brick to honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans.

In September, the new roundabout at the intersection of 20th Street and Meyers opened. This project has greatly improved traffic flow and safety in the area and will also serve as an important connection to a new mixed‑use subdivision on the former Batesville Country Club property. This development will include residential and commercial opportunities that are greatly needed in our growing community.

In the fall, Lyon College opened the Bad Boy Football Stadium, and I had the pleasure of attending the first game played at the new complex. It is an exciting addition for the college and our community.

While we celebrate many successes, we also recognize the people who have dedicated their careers to serving our city. This past year we saw several retirements, including Brenda Headrick after more than 20 years as water clerk, Lori Pierron after eight years in accounts payable, and City Clerk Denise Johnston after 34 years of service. Denise was not only a dedicated employee but also a close friend who encouraged me to run for mayor many years ago. Her contributions and love for this city will never go unnoticed. We wish all of our retirees many happy years ahead.

Sadly, we also lost four valued city employees this past year: Tim Collins from the Landscape Department, and Marcus Jackson, Randy Palmer, and Jeff Owens from the Parks Department.  

Tim worked in our Cemetery Landscape Department for 8 years on and off while battling health issues.  He fought a good fight and was a hard worker who was also known to be a true friend, loyal and honest.

Marcus was with our Parks Department for a little over 3 years and when he wasn’t at work, he spent a large amount of his time as the Founder and Director of Laborer’s Academy and Ministry Inc.

Randy served the city for forty years and was loved by everyone who knew him. Jeff was also a dedicated employee and a close friend. The work they helped accomplish in our parks and community will continue to benefit our citizens for generations to come. Their legacy will always remain part of Batesville.

Last week, we lost another former employee, Earl Jay Wood.  Earl Jay was a 27-year veteran who worked in our Sanitation Department and retired in 2020.  He was a great asset to the City of Batesville and we are fortunate that we still have two of Earl Jay’s sons working with us and carrying on his legacy of hard work.

As we look ahead, we also recognize the challenges that cities across the country are facing. Inflation continues to impact local governments just as it affects families and businesses. Costs for insurance, healthcare, equipment, and public safety vehicles have risen dramatically. Police vehicles that once cost around $30,000 now exceed $50,000 today, and a replacement tower fire truck would cost nearly $2 million.

Despite these challenges, sales tax revenues remain solid, and this administration and City Council will continue to carefully manage our resources and make responsible decisions that protect the long‑term stability of our city.

Batesville continues to grow, invest in its future, and build a community where people want to live, work, and raise their families. None of this progress happens by accident. It happens because of dedicated employees, engaged citizens, strong partnerships, and a shared belief in what this community can accomplish together.

As we look to the future, I remain confident that the best days for Batesville are still ahead. By continuing to invest in our infrastructure, support economic development, and protect the quality of life that makes our community special, we will ensure that Batesville remains a vibrant and thriving city for generations to come.

And while we celebrate the progress we’ve made, we must also remember what truly makes Batesville special. It’s not just our buildings, our businesses, or our parks—it’s our people. It’s the pride we take in our community, the willingness to help our neighbors, and the belief that when we work together, there is nothing our city cannot accomplish.

Batesville has always been a city of strong values, hard work, and determination. And as long as we continue to move forward together—with that same spirit—there is no limit to what the future holds for our community.

Thank you for your support, thank you for your commitment to this great city, and may God continue to bless the City of Batesville.