[0:01] I'm Lakeville City administrator Justin

[0:02] Miller 2024 was yet another busy year

[0:05] for the city over the next few minutes

[0:08] this video will show you highlights of

[0:10] everything that happened over the past

[0:11] year I hope you enjoy

[0:13] it in 2024 the Lakeville Police

[0:16] Department introduced several

[0:17] initiatives focused on safety wellness

[0:20] and Community engagement our drone

[0:22] program including outdoor drones with

[0:24] thermal imaging and an indoor drone for

[0:26] tactical entry has already improved

[0:28] safety and efficiency

[0:30] the department also prioritize officer

[0:32] Wellness providing regular check-ins a

[0:35] peer support group and access to

[0:37] Wellness Resources meanwhile the

[0:40] addition of a support services liaison

[0:42] has enhanced our approach to mental

[0:43] health crises working alongside social

[0:46] workers to provide targeted

[0:47] Compassionate

[0:49] Care our City's liquor stores marked an

[0:52] incredible 90 years of service this year

[0:55] celebrating with a series of community

[0:56] events alongside this Milestone our fun

[1:00] raising efforts raised over $100,000 for

[1:02] local causes such as the local food

[1:04] pantries nature programs at Ritter Farm

[1:07] Park and the yellow ribbon program for

[1:09] veterans a big thank you to all who

[1:11] contributed this success is a testament

[1:13] to the strength of our

[1:16] community Lakeville welcomed its first

[1:19] six full-time firefighters in 2024

[1:22] further advancing our transition to a

[1:24] hybrid fire department with a full-time

[1:27] and paid on call crew we've seen

[1:29] improved responses times and enhanced

[1:31] care thanks to a safer Grant 15 more

[1:34] full-time firefighters will join in 2025

[1:37] helping us build a fully integrated team

[1:39] to serve our growing

[1:42] city this year we updated the economic

[1:44] development strategic plan setting clear

[1:47] goals for the next four years we also

[1:50] launched the rental registration program

[1:52] improving communication and emergency

[1:54] response for rental properties on the

[1:56] industrial front sweet Harvest Foods

[1:59] open to 360,000 ft facility Lakeville

[2:03] second

[2:05] largest our Public Works team completed

[2:07] major infrastructure projects including

[2:10] the Dodd Boulevard Road Improvement to

[2:12] enhance traffic flow from Cedar Avenue

[2:14] to Pilot Knob Road the central

[2:16] maintenance facility water tower was

[2:17] also repainted ensuring the longevity of

[2:20] this vital infrastructure additionally

[2:22] storm water improvements in the Foxboro

[2:24] area are advancing environmental

[2:26] sustainability protecting water quality

[2:28] and fish habitats

[2:32] Lakeville achieved an impressive 90%

[2:35] voter turnout in the primary election

[2:37] with 46% voting

[2:40] early human resources played a critical

[2:43] role recruiting over 250 election judges

[2:46] and ensuring smooth

[2:48] operations additionally in response to

[2:50] retirements HR successfully filled

[2:53] numerous full-time positions and hired

[2:55] over 150 seasonal employees to support

[2:58] city services

[3:02] 2024 was a banner year for Lakeville

[3:04] Parks and Recreation with numerous

[3:06] Milestones across our parks and programs

[3:09] Grand Prairie Park saw major site work

[3:11] completed in preparation for a splash

[3:13] pad playground and pickle ball courts

[3:15] with a partial Park opening schedule for

[3:18] 2025 after its reopening antlers Park

[3:21] set new records with 394 shelter and

[3:24] facility rentals including 74 the John

[3:27] henon Pavilion reservations for 202 5

[3:30] are now open memberships at the Heritage

[3:32] Center soared to over 1,500 patrons and

[3:35] many new programs the Ed Mako

[3:38] environmental Learning Center expanded

[3:40] its nature programming engaging nearly

[3:42] 2,000 participants Lakeville Area art

[3:45] center celebrated its first anniversary

[3:48] in the Fine Arts building with a 76.9%

[3:51] increase in participation including new

[3:53] camps youth programs and four public art

[3:56] installations as we close out 2024

[3:59] Lakeville stands poised for continued

[4:01] success our commitment to growth

[4:04] Innovation and Community will carry us

[4:06] into the next chapter together we are

[4:09] positioned to thrive thank you for being

[4:11] a part of this remarkable year

[4:15] [Music]