Safety
Police:
Even with our rapid growth we have managed to remain a safe community. In order for this to continue, we must continue to support our police. The unfortunate series of national events, along with the increase of the cost of living in the Treasure Valley, has made it harder to recruit officers.
The addition of a north precinct will make it more efficient to improve response times and be in close proximity to our newest high school in north Meridian.
The addition of six school resource officers in the elementary schools gives students a chance to interact with the police on a daily basis and provides an officer on property in the event of an emergency.
Fire:
Meridian has experienced significant growth, and the look of our city has changed. Our fire fighters have to be prepared for a fire in new residential buildings much larger than we have had in the past. Since 2020 Meridian has added three new fire stations. These will help distribute our fire fighters throughout the community and reduce response times. As we continue to grow, we need to continue to look for innovative ways to get our first responders to the people in the most efficient manner.
Business Climate
With our population growing, I want to ensure that families living here have economic opportunity. When I was President and CEO of the Meridian Chamber of Commerce, I was fortunate to work with hundreds of small business owners in our town, and thousands of employees who make Meridian their home. I am acutely aware that small businesses are the economic backbone of our community. Therefore, I strongly believe in the need to promote a healthy business climate for our community.
Collaboration
The Ada County Highway District (ACHD), the Idaho Department of Transportation (IDT), and West Ada School District are key partners in maintaining and building a strong community. In both my role as President and CEO of the Meridian Chamber and serving on the City Council, I have worked with the leaders of these organizations to maintain open and productive communications. As the Treasure Valley grows, it becomes even more critical for our city to be communicating well, not only with partners within our city, but also with our surrounding communities.
It is crucial that the City of Meridian works closely with The Meridian Development Corporation, Meridian Downtown Business Association and neighboring cities.