Happy March, Avoca! As we begin to see signs of spring and look ahead to a season of growth and activity, I’d like to share a few updates from City Hall.
During my first six weeks, I have been focused on learning more about our priority capital projects, listening to resident concerns, and reviewing service and property-related matters across the community. My goal is to build a strong understanding of our policies, procedures, and current initiatives so we can collectively strive for excellence in service delivery. This includes strengthening communication, both internally and externally, improving processes, and ensuring our daily operations run smoothly and efficiently.
A key initiative moving forward is increasing transparency and working closely with our city staff and elected officials to proactively share information that is relevant and important to our taxpayers and residents. From infrastructure planning and budgeting to beautification efforts, public safety coordination, and service improvements, our objective is simple: ensure you know what is happening, why decisions are being made, and how they impact you.
I encourage you to visit the City Council page on our website, where you can access agendas, minutes, and council packets. Soon, we will also be adding links to recorded meeting videos produced by Marne Elkhorn, which air the day following each meeting on local access channels. Additionally, I prepare memo's for action items in the packet that further explain the background behind recommendations to the council. Providing convenient access to all this information is one of the ways we are strengthening transparency and keeping you informed on your schedules. Open communication builds trust, and that remains a top priority.
I would also like to offer a friendly reminder about a few City of Avoca ordinances that help maintain the safety and appearance of our neighborhoods. Our nuisance regulations address excessive weeds and grass, accumulation of debris or junk, unsafe or deteriorating structures, and inoperable vehicles visible from public areas. These standards are in place to protect property values, promote public health and safety, and preserve the pride we share in our community. Our approach is always education first, and we sincerely appreciate residents who take proactive steps to help keep Avoca clean, safe, and welcoming.
To stay connected, please visit the City of Avoca website, follow our official social media pages, sign-up for the Avoca Alert System, and download the Avoca App if you haven’t already. The app is one of the easiest ways to receive updates, announcements, and important alerts directly on your phone. We are committed to meeting residents where they are and making information accessible, timely, and easy to understand.
As we move into the spring season, I would truly enjoy the opportunity to connect with you in person. Please feel welcome to join me for our second Community Coffee Social on Saturday, March 7th, from 8 AM to 9:30 AM at Brewed Awakening. Whether you have a question, a concern, or simply want to visit, I look forward to the conversation and the chance to listen. I'll also be at the Golf Course Clean Up immediately following - join us if you are able to help!
I also encourage you to mark your calendars for two meaningful community dates:
Wednesday, April 22 – Earth Day, and
Friday, April 24 – Arbor Day,
when we will host City-Wide Clean Ups and community plantings. These events are a wonderful opportunity to work side by side in caring for our community and celebrating local pride. More details will be shared soon.
Thank you for your continued engagement and commitment to Avoca. I look forward to seeing you soon.
Shawnna L. Silvius,
Avoca City Administrator