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As 2023 nears an end, there has been much to recall regarding city operations in Winchester.

On Tuesday, Dec. 12th, the meeting of the Winchester City Commission at Winchester City Hall featured such a discussion.

City Manager Mike Flynn discussed strategic directives, active projects, and ongoing administrative projects.

“I appreciate the opportunity to update the commission on the projects that we’ve got”, said Flynn. “[We want to] not only update the commission, but update the general public as well on the things that we’ve been able to do over the course of this past year. It’s pretty great!”

Under the category of strategic plan directives, several categories were identified: infrastructure, quality of life, parks and recreation, housing, downtown, prioritizing a safe city, and education and workforce training.

The city commission identifies strategic plan directives as priorities for the next ten years.

“All of those we have touched [on] with the projects that we’ve been doing”, Flynn added. “That bodes well for you as a commission…because you’re keeping your promises to the folks that you represent.”

Regarding active projects, Flynn listed various actions that have been taken.

They are Town Branch sewer repairs at Maple Street and Broadway Street, the Fulton Road extension, Vaught Court storm sewer improvements, Fifth Street roadway and stormwater improvements, stormwater asset management, the Eugene Gay Splash Park, the Public Works salt building, a fire department multipurpose building, Lincoln Street improvements, improvements to the high side of Main Street, the Seventh Street alternative route project, and Winn Avenue stormwater improvements.

While all benefit the residents of Winchester via infrastructure, they also fit into categories as described in the strategic plan directives.

For example, the Eugene Gay Splash Park benefits Winchester-Clark County Parks and Recreation while both the Lincoln Street improvements and Seventh Street alternative route project – among others – enhance safety.

As expected, much work and investment has gone into developing the different projects, including the Town Branch sewer repairs.

“When we finish, we’re going to have spent nearly $3 million dollars on improvements for that Town Branch sewer”, Flynn said. “We’re thankful that we got the ARPA funds to do that.”

Indeed, not least, Flynn brought up different administrative projects.

“These are things that [staff] has been working on all year long”, Flynn said.

They include a cost-of-service study.

“That cost of service study outlines our revenues and our expenses and what we need to do in order to remain above or at par with the needs of our community and the services that we provide”, he noted.

Other areas identified as administrative projects include a compensation study, financial audit, insurance renewal, reviewing employee benefits, changing over phones for City Hall as well as the city’s police, fire and public works departments; a local road safety plan; implementing Safe Haven Baby Boxes; and creating a World War II and Korean War memorial.

The latter two are slated for further development and implementation, with the World War II and Korean War memorial to be located on East Broadway Street.

Flynn concluded by stating that the city staff involved in different projects were highly worthy of compliments.

“I wouldn’t trade any of them because they’re committed to the city”, he said. “I see it every day, and they want to do a good job, and they want to serve the citizens of this community.”