Inaugural Speech
January 2008
I stand here today, physically and mentally ready for the challenge before me. I want to make Lebanon a destination community. A place where businesses will want to locate and where potential residents will want to live, work, and raise their families.
Lebanon is at the crossroads of growth and economic development and change is necessary if we want to continue to have the community atmosphere that we have all come to enjoy. We all must work as a team so that we can achieve the vision and goals that have been discussed during my campaign. Lebanon is a great community and I applaud Mayor Acton for his vision over the past 16 years. The challenge before us now is to promote this great community, plan for the growth that we know is coming to this area, clean up the city so as to make an attractive first impression as potential residents enter our fine community, and be fiscally responsible so that we can provide the best services possible to the residents of Lebanon.
During the first 6 months of my term, I will be setting priorities for the work to be done. My first plan of attack will be that of taking the Ball State University report to a gateway committee who will work to improve the entrances to our fine community. I will also complete the process of hiring a City Planner within the first 3 months of my term. During the first 30 days of my term, I will form a Citizen’s Advisory Committee that will meet with me on a quarterly basis for the purpose of improving the quality of life in Lebanon. I will also be making contact with corporations, developers, realtors and economic development individuals.
I will be meeting with groups such as the Chamber of Commerce, the Boone County Economic Development, Convention and Visitors Bureau, County Commissioners, Superintendent of our School, and Community Vision Committee with the goal of identifying the strengths and weaknesses, the opportunities and the threats of our community. With this information, we will be able to build a resume for Lebanon and I will be able to promote this great Community.
Planning for future growth is crucial. I will also work to bring a good mix of residential and commercial development to our community. I will also work to encourage a life science initiative in order to bring better paying jobs to the community. Annexation of key areas will also be an ongoing priority to this new administration.
In the next few days, I will begin the process with the help of my team, to make Lebanon a better place. We will lead this great community to a level that all residents will be proud to say that “I live in Lebanon, IN”. A place where we have great schools, parks where children can play and families can enjoy the outdoors, churches where you are free to have a choice in your belief in God, more choices in shopping and eating establishments, and where neighborhoods are safe. This is the challenge for this new administration and I’m confident that with the support of the residents of this great city, we will achieve these goals.
Written by the late Mayor John W. Lasley