The Mayor Addresses Tyler’s Challenges and Successes

TYLER — The city’s aging infrastructure including water, wastewater, street maintenance and drainage, drew the attention of Tyler Mayor Martin Heines Wednesday. In his State of the City address the mayor said the heavy rains have pointed out needs in these areas. He said those issues are being studied and addressed.

There were also may positive notes, including the city’s low property taxes. The tax rate is 22 cents per $100 valuation. The mayor said is the lowest in the state among cities with more than 16,000 residents.

Mayor Heines also focused on two new projects. One is the Innovation Pipeline. The mayor said this will provide a variety of tools and services to foster creativity and promote small business development.

And there’s the Mayor’s Mentorship Achievement Program. This is a business mentoring program that connects community leaders with high school seniors in the Tyler Independent School District. Community leaders mentor the seniors through their last year of high school and first year of college, providing critical guidance and support to students transitioning into post-secondary education.