We proudly present to you the City of Ellsworth FY 2012 Annual Report.  This report is created each year so that you and all residents of Ellsworth have the resources necessary to be informed and involved in your local government.  In this report, you will find useful information pertaining to times and locations of municipal meetings, annual budget breakdowns, Department Reports, City Council Actions and legislative representative contact information.  What we hope you will also glean from this report is the incredible year our city has had.

It is an exciting time to live in Ellsworth.  Our dedicated City Council and City Staff have continued to facilitate the growth and development that has moved our city forward in recent years.  This means supporting our local residents and businesses by increasing the efficiency of the services we provide them.  Because of the cooperative efforts of our residents and business owners, we have expanded the local economy while simultaneously reducing the burdensome costs of city services.  Over the past year we have created a better environment for the community in a litany of ways, including construction of a new wastewater treatment plant, improved road and infrastructure projects and plans for new recreational facilities for everyone to enjoy.  This has in part led Ellsworth to be included in the State’s Business Friendly Communities Program, which recognizes us as one of the best cities in which to own and operate a business.

While these improvements will benefit us all for years to come, our work is never finished.  We have many new and exciting projects planned throughout the community which will continue to benefit us all in the coming years, bringing new jobs and improved living and recreational standards.  Among these is the addition of a Jackson Laboratory facility to be located in the former Lowe’s Home Improvement building, the expansion of our services to seniors through a new senior/community activity center at the former Bryant E. Moore School facility, the expansion and relocation of Collier’s Nursing Home and the construction of the many planned recreational features for Knowlton Community Park.  Ellsworth will also gain statewide notoriety as our Fire Department has been chosen to host the 50^th Annual Maine State Federation of Firefighters Convention in September 2013.  This event will draw up to 10,000 firefighters and their families to our community, all of whom will eat at our restaurants, stay in our hotels, shop at our stores, and provide a boost to our local economy.  With all of these new projects in the works, next year is sure to be an exciting one!

I hope you find this report to be fun and informative.  It is the culmination of many hours of report writing, information gathering and editing as well as being a reflection of the hard work and dedicated efforts expended by our City Council, City Employees, Commission and Committee volunteers and local businesses throughout the year.  Most importantly it is a reflection of our community.  If you have any thoughts or ideas on how to make our community even stronger, please feel free to call or meet with us.  We are here for you!

Sincerely,

Michelle H. Beal
City Manager