Centralia Mayor Bryan Kuder went through each city department to note 2024 improvements along with a look ahead to 2025 in his State of the City Message delivered Wednesday before the Centralia Chamber of Commerce at Castle Ridge.
Kuder also noted the completion of the city’s new comprehensive plan last November to guide the city’s future for the next five years.
“We’re looking at what we can do better. Our infrastructure, our roads, our sidewalks, our bike paths, our water treatment, our sewer, our housing, our business retention, our youth retention. That’s what we were wanting to look at, what we’re doing good, what we’re doing bad, and what we can improve. Essentially, this comprehensive plan will do that.”
Kuder notes the plan was developed with the help of community and business leaders.
The Mayor noted the Centralia Fire Department handled 2,157 calls including 90 fires last year. Improvements included new lockers and 15 new radios. The fire chief’s former vehicle has been replaced with the old truck to be converted into a brush truck. 831 fire hydrant tests were completed during the year along with 6,400 hours of training. The department is working to improve the city’s fire rating from four to three which would save everyone on insurance costs.
The Centralia Police Department handled 25,000 calls for service in 2024. Kuder noted police cars have been equipped with 1st medical response tools including AED’s.
“We provide the police department with the tools they need to get that first response emergency medical equipment in use. When the fire department shows up, it’s a greater chance of survival.”
Kuder said the department’s tasers have been replaced with the new tasers having 10 probes instead of just two allowing them to be deployed multiple times. He noted the department’s community outreach including a rape prevention program that has also been opened to Kaskaskia College and Stop the Bleed to train more on initial first aid response. Kuder noted 190 children took part in this year’s Shop with a Cop with $25,000 raised to complete the annual program.
Kuder reported 246 code violation tickets were issued in 2024.
The Centralia High School trades classes are scheduled to complete a house they are building on a city provided lot early next school year. He reports the home will then be sold with money going into building a second home. He’s reached out to Kaskaskia Collage to participate in a similar program.
State of the City audience dining at Castle Ridge. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Kuder reported more than $3-million in street improvements were completed last year including Gragg Street, Sunset Drive, Sycamore Street, East 7th and Perrine with use of federal, state, and local MFT funds. The state completed $5.2-million in improvements to Route 161 from James to Pleasant. Work planned this year includes Orchard Drive East at a cost of $300,000, patching of Clearlake Drive and 8 to 10 miles of summer oil and chip maintenance. New sidewalks are planned from Jordan School to Edgebrook Drive as part of a Safe Routes to School grant.
Work has just been completed on a five year plan to refinish all of the city’s water towers. The work will not have to be completed for another 20 years. Kuder reports the city is currently looking for grant money to replace the 25,000 foot waterline on Jolliff Bridge Road that serves Kaskaskia College and the Centralia Correctional Center that has been the subject of numerous breaks.
With replacement of a boat dock at the Point on Raccoon Lake, Kuder announced the old dock will be refurbished and placed along Levy Road on Lake Centralia giving fishermen a safer site to fish.
Kuder reports the city’s recreation department is reopening with baseball, softball, and T-ball being the first offerings this summer.
2024 marked a new city website that for the first time allows residents to pay their utility bills on line.
The Centralia Animal Control Facility impounded 460 animals, including 175 cats, in 2024. 317 were adopted and 91 returned to their owner.
Kuder says he’ll be working to make Centralia a tourism destination.
“With all the different events we have and in conjunction with Amtrak, to kind of schedule our events around Amtrak is just an idea. Bring the people from outside, stop, do our events, get back on a train and go home.”
Kuder says the city is also working with Amtrak on a $500,000 grant to improve the Centralia Amtrak station. It will include ADA compliance, parking lot improvements, and additional lighting.
Kuder said the city’s biggest project, the new $32-million water treatment plant, has construction well underway with the 6-million gallon a day facility to be completed next year. He noted EFI of Centralia is heavily involved in the construction project.
Kuder closed the program by thanking members of boards and commissions and city staff for a job well done.
