by Mike Zale,
Ogden Town Supervisor
As we look ahead to 2024, it’s important to reflect on the successes of the past year and share a few of our goals for the future. In 2023, we achieved significant milestones here in the Town of Ogden, and I’m excited about the opportunities that lie ahead in the coming year.
We hit the ground running in 2023 as we officially relaunched the Mobile DMV here at town hall. For quite some time we advocated for the return of this convenient service for our residents and appreciate the collaboration with the Monroe County Clerk’s Office to get this done for the community.
A major focus was also placed on updating the 2012 Comprehensive Plan with a new vision for the future. Once completed, it will be a vital tool to ensure smart growth and development that maintains Ogden’s rural character while providing much desired amenities for residents. Thanks to help from our consultant, Bergmann & Ingalls, we are on track to complete our new comprehensive plan in the coming months.
Since taking office in 2022, we have seen tremendous post-pandemic business growth and development in the town. This trend shows our community is on the right track. It’s my goal to continue helping and supporting our local businesses, especially during these challenging economic times. Whether it’s small “Mom and Pop” shops or larger national brands, it is clear our efforts have made Ogden a desirable town to conduct business in.
Our Town of Ogden Building Department played a pivotal role in managing the surge in building applications, unveiling the Municity software to streamline processes for homeowners. This new amenity will be available later this year and will allow residents to apply and pay for permits and even schedule inspections online. Their diligent efforts also resulted in a number of revisions to the Town Code, simplifying procedures for residents. They will continue those efforts in 2024 and beyond.
We also made great strides in ensuring that our community remains a safe place to live, grow and raise a family. Our Ogden Police Department hired a new DARE officer, a new Animal Control Officer and two new police officers to fill the gaps left by retirement. They also launched the Ogden Police Explorer Program which gives students in grades 9-12 the opportunity to gain hands on career experience in law enforcement. Through careful budgetary planning, the board also approved one additional road patrol position. This ensures that our officers aren’t working shifts alone and better protects our community overnight, where we have seen an increase in crime such as car theft and DWI.
Additionally, I am very pleased to share we launched an Emergency Preparedness Team consisting of various local stakeholders to review the Emergency Preparedness Plan which serves as a guide for a wide variety of potential emergency situations. The town has strengthened its partnerships with the village, schools, fire district and EMS and will continue to do so through this strategic planning moving forward.
The Town of Ogden’s Parks and Recreation Department had another busy and fun year in 2023. They upgraded new gym equipment, installed a new playground at the Ogden Community Center and completed a new pole barn at Pineway Ponds Park. In 2023, we started to see resident participation in programs that were pre-pandemic levels and anticipate our programs expanding even more in 2024. It has been awesome to see so much community participation in the events and activities offered by our dedicated Parks & Recreation team.
In the fall of 2022, we expanded services to our residents with the launch of the Highways leaf pickup system. Now having completed a full year of service in 2023, the investment the board made in the equipment and process has proven to be something the residents greatly appreciate and value.
As nationwide inflation drove up the costs of essential goods, we made a conscious effort to show fiscal restraint in 2023. We were proud to pass a budget that provides the services listed above as well as the needs of each department to do so, while keeping the levy under the tax cap.
Looking ahead, our commitment to excellence remains steadfast. Public safety will continue to be a priority, with plans to hire additional personnel in the Police Department, Recreation Department, and Building Department. We will support the Ogden Farmers’ Library’s transition to a “Fine Free” model and continue our backing of the Spencerport Fire Department and Gates Volunteer Ambulance Service. We are also in the process of increasing tax exemptions for our veterans and expanding exemptions for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers.
Finally, I’m pleased to announce that after careful planning, this year we will install a new splash pad at Pineway Ponds Park. This new splash pad will replace our old one that has served the community well over the past 15 years. Even better, we will be using the remainder of our federal ARPA funds as well as a grant from Assemblyman Josh Jensen to completely pay for the project.
None of these achievements would be possible without the collaborative efforts of our strong, dedicated team at town hall – fellow board members, department heads, and staff. It’s truly an effort and I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together.
As we step into 2024, I wish everyone a happy new year, and I eagerly anticipate the continued growth and prosperity of our community.
