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Local News

Hastings had a great 2016, looks forward to 2017

In his first “State of the City” address, Hastings Mayor David Tossava said “2016 was a great year.” He listed highlights and accomplishments by the city during the year, starting with the Thornapple Plaza’s first season with 30 plus performances and 6,500 people attending, and thanking Larry and Earlene Baum and the Baum Family Foundation for funding the city’s newest attraction.

 

The Barry County Roubaix Gravel Road Racev brought thousands of people into the city, as did the annual Jazz Festival. The Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament fielded 200 teams to play on city streets. City employees worked to improve the city; dredging the ponds at Fish Hatchery Park, repairing the Taffee Drain and performing routine maintenance of city infrastructure. “We are proud of our employees,” Tossava said.

 

Extensive East State Road repairs were completed by the MDOT, the Hastings City Barry County Airport finished an extension of the main runway and built two new hangers for larger aircraft, Tossava said.

 

The Hastings Police Department sponsored the second Hastings Police Cadet class, and the cadets raised $6,000 for needy Hastings students. The department also started an Ambassador Program to welcome visitors for special events in town and responded to 700 more complaints than last year.

 

Hastings/BIRCH Fire Department answered 560 calls in the year. Warehouse 80 was razed to provide more parking for Thornapple Plaza, also funded by the Baum Family Foundation. The city finances are in great shape thanks to Clerk/Finance Director Tom Emery and a required appraisal of Hastings properties is complete, Tossava said.

 

In 2017, a Safe Routes to School effort will get underway as will a plan for bike routes in the city and continued improvements at Fish Hatchery Park and Riverside Cemetery. The mountain bike trial on Hammond Hill will be finished, the Veterans Memorial at Tyden Park will be completed by Memorial Day, and the Riverwalk may be extended to Wal-Mart.  2017 is the year the city plans to build a new emergency services building.

“The State of the City is good,” Tossava concluded.

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