Hastings Mayor David Tossava gave a “State of the City” address Monday, saying 2018 was a good year for the city and he expected 2019 to be just as good.

 

Tossava pointed to several popular events that drew thousands and thousands of residents and visitors to the downtown; the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and the Barry-Roubaix Killer Gravel Road Race the largest of three bicycle races, bringing more than 3,000 racers to Hastings.

 

The 2018 Jazz Festival, the city and Thornapple Arts Council bringing more than 50 entertainers to perform free shows during the summer and the Gus Macker 3 on 3 basketball tournament, all contribute to make Hastings a destination city.

 

“All of these events take a lot of planning and coordinating between agencies and departments.  I would like to thank all those who are involved,” Tossava said.

 

In May of 2018, they started the first step in updating the City of Hastings Master Plan, and in 2019 will start the second step with completion by summer of 2019, he said.

 The five-year Parks and Recreation Plan will be also be completed this year. In 2018, the Hastings Police Department hired and trained five new police officers.

 

In the spring of 2018, City Manager Jeff Mansfield said he was going to retire in June of 2019. After a short internal search and interview, the council made Jerry Czarnecki the sole candidate for the post. A new clerk/treasurer was hired to replace Czarnecki and he was appointed Deputy City Manager to train under Mansfield for the remainder of his tenure.

 

The City of Hastings had almost 70 new addresses created in 2018, and leads the county in new home starts. Tossava pledged to continue the work on expanding and improving the wastewater treatment plant, develop a plan to improve city streets and infrastructure, and continue to improve relationships with neighboring jurisdictions.

 

Tossava asked everyone to do a little exercise.

Look into your car’s rear view mirror; that represents 2018, the past, he said.

“Keep 2018 in your rear view, remember it, refer back to it and learn from it.”

 

Then look ahead and see a wide-open clear windshield; that represents 2019, the future, he continued.

“The further we go, the clearer things get. 2019 looks very promising for the City of Hastings, and I would like to report that the State of the City is good!”

 

Photo: Hastings Mayor David Tossava looks down at his notes during his "State of the City" address Monday.