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Mayor  touts  growth  in city; Judge receives humanitarian award

Larry Mulligan delivers fourth State of the City address.

Middletown Mayor Larry Mulligan steps down from the podium to applause Thursday evening after delivering his State of the City speech at the Pendleton Art Center in downtown Middletown.

Staff photo by Pat Auckerman Middletown Mayor Larry Mulligan steps down from the podium to applause Thursday evening after delivering his State of the City speech at the Pendleton Art Center in downtown Middletown.

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By Jessica Heffner, Staff Writer Updated 2:23 AM Friday, April 1, 2011

MIDDLETOWN — Even with critics standing just outside the doors chanting for his removal, Mayor Larry Mulligan focused on the positive.

During his fourth State of the City address Thursday night, Mulligan’s message was one of optimism. In the thick of the Great Recession, Middletown has grown.

New projects such as Greentree Health Science Academy, SunCoke Energy and the Pendleton Art Center — the location of his address — are coming to fruition. Smaller but significant additions of new restaurants and a daycare are adding to the city’s success. Meanwhile, he said the city’s Cincinnati State branch campus project is moving forward.

But none of these, Mulligan said, would be possible without partnerships and the relentless work of city administration and elected leadership.

“It’s an honor to attend these groundbreaking and ribbon-cutting ceremonies and see the excitement of future opportunities for Middletown,” Mulligan said. “Yes, momentum is building in incremental steps.”

Partnerships will remain important, he said, as Middletown works through the issues of balancing state cuts with pressing issues such as repairing roads and sewers.

Before his address, the AFL-CIO held a rally against Senate Bill 5 and Mulligan’s support of some portions of the bill. Middletown police stood watch at the Pendleton’s entrance and were dispersed among the crowd. People at the rally, chanted “Hey, hey, ho, ho Larry Mulligan has got to go,” led by Councilman A.J. Smith.

Mulligan said he did not hear the calls. “Everyone is entitled to their opinion,” he said.

Smith said while he respects the mayor’s office, “I disagree with him. It was a peaceful protest.”

Nancy Peterson, who said she may be “a bit biased” because she’s known Mulligan “since he was a little guy” said she found the speech inspiring. “I think he did a good job without ignoring the pressing concerns.

“I’m excited we have this kind of energy in the city.”

Mayor outlines challenges

Middletown has had its share of successes in 2010, but the mayor warned it faces new challenges this year.

During his State of the City address Thursday night, Mayor Larry Mulligan said partnerships and community activism have helped bring projects such as Greentree Health Science Academy, the new Veterans Administration clinic and the Pendleton Art Center to reality.

These accomplishments were made in the face of adverse economic conditions and loss. Last year saw the deaths of Councilman Jim Armbruster and Public Works employee Jabin Lakes.

“With those heart-breaking moments, the people of Middletown responded not just as a city but as a community,” Mulligan said. “It is in the spirit of community that we see vision and hope in the future.”

But in order to keep the momentum and reach that promising future, Mulligan said Middletonians must not forget the city’s financial reality.

The city is facing more than $1.5 million in state funding cuts over the next three years due to reductions in the local government fund. The future of Ohio’s estate tax — another major revenue stream — is uncertain. A renewal of the public safety levy is needed or else the police and fire departments will lose 15 percent of their funding.

These items, coupled with city revenues on par with levels a decade ago, mean there is no easy fix, Mulligan said. Rather, he said, there will likely be “much deeper” cuts in Middletown’s future.

“The challenges and realities that we as a city face are no different than what a business or a household faces. We must live within our means,” Mulligan said.

“We must be prepared for changes and open-minded in evaluating our options.”

Wall receives award

An example of volunteerism and continued work for the betterment of the community was embodied by Judge Mark Wall. He was named this year’s recipient of the Robert “Sonny” Hill Jr. Humanitarian Award on Thursday.

He is the fifth recipient of this award, named after Middletown’s first black mayor and a City Council member of 12 years.

Hill’s widow, Patricia Hill, said she recalled the deep “love and respect” her husband had for Wall, who has been with Middletown Municipal Court since 1994.

Often Patricia Hill could remember her husband waking early in the morning in a hurry to get to the courthouse because “he had to help Judge Wall.”

“He always said Judge Wall was one of the nicest men he ever met and Judge Wall was always willing to help anyone who came before him,” she said.

Wall said he was honored to receive this award in Hill’s name.

“In a conversation with Bud Rossi I once remarked that Sonny was the best politician I had ever met and those of us in public service could learn from him,” Wall said. “He was a problem solver — not a problem maker.”

Audience finds inspiration

Many of the people in the audience during Mulligan’s address said they found his words both optimistic and realistic.

“I thought it was a very positive but realistic portrayal of our finances,” said Sam Ashworth. “As long as we stress the positive that means we are moving forward.”

John Peterson, who also attended Mulligan’s first address four years ago, said he was surprised by how much the city has accomplished during that time.

“I thought it was on-target, upbeat and was a great address,” he said. “It’s been a team effort.”

Ginger Bruggeman, senior associate for the United Way of Great Cincinnati — Middletown Area, said the speech was “inspiring just knowing all the great things coming.

“It’s making a statement about the future of our city and the power behind it.”

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