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Mayor Brian Blad highlights infrastructure, public-safety investments in State of the City address
Summary
Mayor Brian Blad's State of the City emphasized projects completed in FY2025, including Optimus Skatepark (nearly $500,000, funded largely by ARPA and state contributions), a new 107-foot aerial ladder for fire, Flock Safety license plate readers, water-main replacement at Mountain View Cemetery, transit recognition and a citywide rebranding.
Mayor Brian Blad delivered the annual State of the City on Dec. 8, highlighting projects completed and planned in fiscal year 2025 and noting the city's financial strength.
Blad said the new Optimus Skatepark (7,000'8,000 square feet, including a 41-foot bowl) cost nearly $500,000 and was built without direct cost to local taxpayers, funded mainly by American Rescue Plan Act dollars and a $25,000 state contribution. He noted the Pocatello Fire Department took delivery of a new tractor-drawn aerial with a 107-foot ladder and that the department conducted a large-scale emergency exercise with the Pocatello Regional Airport to meet FAA requirements.
The mayor also pointed to city investments in public safety technology, saying the city implemented Flock Safety license-plate-recognition cameras and that staff report the system has been "invaluable" in solving crimes. He highlighted water-main replacement at Mountain View Cemetery (about 3,750 feet of pipe) and a rebranding effort intended to modernize the city's visual identity and improve public engagement.
Blad said Pocatello Regional Transit received the Idaho Transportation Department's Outstanding Public Transportation System of the Year award and framed the year's work as preparing the city for a smooth leadership transition. He closed by thanking city staff and noting the city's strong financial position going into the new year.
