State of the City is strong, leaders say

By Amanda Rogers

Mansfield Record

City leaders reported Mansfield is healthy and thriving at the State of the City on Thursday night.

“The state of our city is strong,” said Mayor Michael Evans. “We are blessed. If anybody asks you about Mansfield, Texas, you tell them we are Mansfield Strong.”

Held at the Dr. Jim Vaszauskas Center for Performing Arts, the annual State of the City address invited the public to hear presentations from the mayor, City Manager Joe Smolinski and Mansfield Economic Development Corp. executive director Jason Moore. City departments also set up booths in the halls to answer citizen questions.

Evans touted the city’s recent investment in road repairs, the water treatment plant upgrade and expansion, upgrades to the emergency operations center, the new police department being constructed and plans for a new animal shelter. He also shared the updates to several parks, including McClendon West, Gertie Barrett, Katherine Rose and the Skinner Complex.

The mayor was joined by council members Julie Short, Casey Lewis and Todd Tonore to present several awards. Stevie Dawn Carter of The Fleetwood Project was named Individual of the Year, Mansfield Mission Center was awarded Community Group of the Year and Flying Squirrel Coffee Co. earned Business of the Year.

Smolinski shared that new homes in Mansfield are selling for an average of $203 per square foot and that there are 5,200 more single-family homes “in the pipeline,” along with a mixed-use development on the west side of the city.

Moore explained that the MEDC is actively seeking advanced technology, aerospace, biotech and IT businesses, along with corporate services and next level retail and restaurants. He said that the council is considering putting a change on the ballot to let voters decide if the MEDC’s half-cent sales tax can be used for more uses, such as professional and amateur sports fields, tourism and entertainment facilities, stores, restaurants and convention facilities.

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