Letters

Ipswich City Residents —

I have lived in this community my whole life and have been a member of the Ipswich Fire Department for over 40 years and the Ipswich Ambulance Service almost that long. I am currently a member of the Ipswich City Council and have been for a few years. Being a member of the City Council can be gratifying when looking at what has been accomplished, and it can also be difficult at times when making decisions because of the small community and having friends and family.

During my time on the City Council, we have been very active. Being a bedroom community to Aberdeen, it is so important to keep our community moving forward if we want to keep our population and continue to grow.

Over the years I have had the pleasure of working with LeRoy Kilber, our current mayor, not just on the City Council, but with most organizations in our community. While serving on the City Council over the past several years, many projects have been completed under his leadership. The time, effort and workmanship that LeRoy has put ino these projects to help make sure they are successful takes many hours and dedication. LeRoy has always gone above what is required as Mayor.

Under his leadership the city has completed a major water project (4.9 million) along with a major sewer project (3.4 million) which leaves our city with an infrastructure program good for many generations to come.

The City of Ipswich was also a major player and contributor to the Fitness Center and Tiger Post. I believe the Tiger Post is one of the best projects completed along with our water and sewer projects. This program has been operating since 1999 and is a major plus to keep our community growing.

We have recently started work on a new park with a basketball court, ice skating pond, warming house, bathrooms, picnic area and lighting which is almost completed.

Ipswich has always had a safety issue for kids crossing Hwy. 12 for football and track practice during the school year, the Tiger Post almost daily for swimming, along with many other kids south of Hwy. 12. We have applied for and received a grant to put a 10-foot sidewalk from the school tennis courts going west to the Tiger Post and north to the swimming pool. This path should make a much safer area to cross when completed.

We are currently remodeling the city office which will make it more customer friendly, along with the needed space. Most of the planning and work is being completed by our city personnel and mayor.

The City Council implemented a vehicle and machinery program several years ago in which we trade our most used equipment every five years. This program give us new equipment with minimal repair bills. We have recently purchased a new ambulance along with several pieces of new equipment which makes our service the most modern service available. The City Council also sent two EMTs to paramedic school which has enhanced our emergency service.

We are in the process of replacing a four-inch sewer line which pumps sewage out to the lagoons. The old line was put in many years ago and collapsed. We are replacing it with an eight-inch line. Work will start when the ground thaws.

The past Monday at our City Council meeting our financial worksheets showed we have over 1.7 million dollars in the bank. This figure includes $500,000.00 set aside for emergency purposes and money set aside for the water and sewer programs. Several years ago, legislation was passed to allow a 1.5% growth tax which the city could add on your property taxes each year. I believe we have declined this growth tax every year since it was passed.

The City of Ipswich under Mayor Kilber’s leadership is moving in the right direction. If you drive around this community of less than 1,000 people and look at everything Ipswich has to offer and all the projects that have been and are being completed, we have so much to be proud of. The last thing I would like to dwell on is how young our community is becoming. If you look at the Fire Department, Ambulance, Development Corporation, Tiger Post, Golf Course, Trail Days Board, and the many businesses that opened the past several years, they are all packed with young energetic people.

Keep Ipswich Moving Forward! Support LeRoy Kilber on April 11, 2023.

- Sincerely, Mike Hammrich