Letter to the Editor: Troup needs opportunity to complete what he has been successful in starting

As I drive around Quincy, I’m so impressed by all the street repair, construction and new development that I see happening here. I have lived in Quincy nearly all my life and cannot remember seen this much activity.

To be informed, I regularly watch and listen to the city council meetings online. I recently heard from those running to become mayor. I am most impressed with Mayor Mike Troup’s summary of 10 major issues being brought forth, which are as follows:

• Bringing target and over 67 other retailers to the Quincy area.
• Reporting sales tax of 24 percent, which is huge.
• The purchase of new two new fire trucks at $1 million.
• The City Council and the mayor cooperating with Police Chief Adam Yates to establish the Special Crimes Unit and in the license plate cameras that have proved to be helpful to that department.
• The City Council and the mayor taking strong leadership in continuing to pay into the Fire and Police pensions over 100 percent, which is required annually by the state.
• Mayor Troup also reported that, while in office, his administration reduced our city portion of real estate taxes. This is the first property tax reduction since 1979. No small accomplishment.
• The city is continuing to work on correcting years of neglect to our street repairs with the City Council doubling dollars to fill that need.
• The city is investing more than $10 million in work being done to our water treatment facility, the first significant renovation since 1957.
• City Hall is having a facelift in major work done at the cost of $5 million.
• Local tourism dollars have hit new records in Quincy in the past two years.

I cannot recall any previous mayor or City Council making such significant improvements to our community. I am so thankful for Mayor Troup’s leadership. I believe he and the council need the opportunity to complete what they have been so successful in starting.

Charlotte Tournear
Quincy, Illinois