Tyler promises more jobs and accessible Prairie Creek beach in Muncie IN State of the City.

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN - Mayor Dennis Tyler promised 1,000 more new jobs and millions more in capital investment while the beach at Prairie Creek Reservoir will be accessible to those with disability during a dramatic State of the City address on Tuesday.

 Talking to nearly 100 members of the Muncie Rotary Club, Tyler emphasized his people approach to government by building a strong public safety force that protects those in need while assuring leaders of Muncie's business and industry his dedication to make Muncie a better community.

 "I love this community and enjoy what I am doing," said the mayor, after six and a half months in office. "I love what you do for this community in giving back."

 With help from  Ball State University student Chris Myers, Tyler used a Power Point presentation from his iPad to show what his administration had accomplished in just a few months.

 But it was the latest economic development report that had the crowd interested as Tyler said there was specific interest in the old Borg Warner complex on Kilgore Avenue and German investors in Muncie on Tuesday talking about another development project. 

 So far, the administration has helped the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce economic development program create 100 jobs in 2012 with $3.2 million in payroll and $30 million in capital investment. A good example was the recent Spartech plastics manufacturing plant add 32 jobs with a $20 million investment.

 Look for some more news about Muncie's economy, Tyler said, next month as the community continues to grow.

 The other remarkable project will be building a new bathhouse and beach area at Prairie Creek that will be fully accessible to those with disability. Architect Robert Taylor, who help save the historic Randolph County Courthouse, is designing a new facility will the first of its kind in the Midwest.

 Muncie is under a mandate from the U.S. Department of Justice to make public facilities accessible to those with disabilities. Tyler spent time talking about other ways to make public facilities accessible, adding a workshop will be held Wednesday at Open Door Community Services to help others comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

 The mayor also gave some time to his top priority of maintaining public safety, whether it is law enforcement or fire protection.

 Muncie just received a $4.5 million federal grant to keep the Muncie Fire Department at 110 firefighters, which include hiring seven more than currently on the department. 

 And the mayor also reopened two neighborhood fire stations and made them safe havens for victims of crime besides restoring first response medical calls to the fire department's duties. More than 1,600 medical calls have been in six months, Tyler said, saving countless lives.

 "You cannot put a price on that," said Tyler.

 And the mayor said pointed out how more than 65 public safety officers had been lost in the last 20 years while the city grew it boundaries and added more people.

 In all,Tyler said the community was moving forward and government was working with others to improve the economy and make Muncie attractive for new employers and their employees.