[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 56 (Thursday, April 2, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                 TRIBUTE TO GARDNER MAYOR CAROL LEHMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 2, 2009

  Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to rise today to 
honor Gardner, Kansas, Mayor Carol Lehman who is stepping down this 
year after serving for 20 years as mayor. Before being elected mayor, 
Carol served two years on the City Council. During her time as mayor, 
Gardner has grown and prospered, no doubt in part because of the wise 
and stable leadership that Carol provided. Through it all, Gardner 
retains all the charm of a Midwestern small town, with the advantages 
of being a short drive from Kansas City.
  I would like to read into the record Mayor Lehman's recent farewell 
message to her community. In this message, I know you will see the 
affection and devotion she feels to Gardner, and will understand how 
much all of us will miss her common sense, humor, and leadership.
  It doesn't seem possible I'm writing my last Mayor's message--20 
years have gone by in a flash. The advancements we've made in the last 
20 years are too numerous to mention, but some do stand out as 
milestones in our story of growth and change.
  When metro dialing became available in Gardner, we weren't ``out of 
town'' anymore and homebuilders started making their way down 1-35. 
When McDonald's came, we surely thought we had arrived when every child 
in town could have a happy meal--in their own backyard! New 
subdivisions began popping up and both the City and the School District 
realized they had many challenges facing them. The excitement of 
Country Mart locating in Moonlight Plaza, as our first ``big'' grocery 
store was only surpassed by Price Chopper becoming a Gardner presence. 
The construction of TradeNet in Gardner was the first new industry we 
had seen in years. And finally the arrival of Wal-Mart assured more 
sales tax dollars would be staying in our community!
  By adding the departments of Community Development, Public Safety, 
Finance, and Parks & Recreation to our City Administration team, a new 
era of professionalism was established. Some noteworthy accomplishments 
include: designating Hillsdale Lake as the City's water supply, 
building the new water treatment plant and the new wastewater treatment 
plant, the expansion of City Hall, donating land to Johnson County for 
our new library, partnering with our veterans to build Veteran's Park, 
forming the Economic Development Corporation with the help of local 
businesses, enhancing the Gardner Greenway Corridor and walking paths, 
creating the Downtown Enhancement District, Christmas in the Park, 
widening Center Street, working on future plans of the BNSF Intermodal 
Logistics Park and anticipating in the future revenue it will generate 
in our city, county and state, Gardner's fabulous Sesquicentennial 
Celebration, building Plum Creek Public Safety Station #2, annexing 
nearly 5,600 acres and experiencing the population explosion--from 
4,380 in 1989 to approximately 18,000 today! Most recently, the 
announcement of a 1.1 million square foot warehouse building in Gardner 
with the promise of 200 jobs is great news for the City and its 
residents.
  I can vividly remember an event that occurred on my birthday in June, 
2005. The results of our park sales tax question came in with a 
resounding Yes, passing by 72%! That was a birthday present to 
remember! Citizens are now enjoying our fabulous Gardner Aquatics 
Center and beautiful Celebration Park. The passage of that ballot 
question emphasized to City leaders how important quality of life is to 
our families and it also told us that Gardner wants to enjoy leisure 
time closer to home.
  The influx of new citizens and young families has been exhilarating--
they have continued to bring, to their new ``home town'', high 
expectations, and an enthusiasm and brightness which will light Gardner 
for years to come. It has been heartwarming to see the blend of new and 
long time citizens in our churches, neighborhoods and civic 
organizations--working together to make Gardner a quality community.
  In the last 20 years, there have been bumps in the road, but with 
each challenge we have been fortunate to have the right people in the 
right places to guide and advise us. With each disappointment we have 
learned much, pledged to do better the next time and approached the new 
day with optimism.
  Gardner has been blessed with a succession of forward thinking City 
Council Members and Planning Commissioners. For many years now, the 
City Council has planned for the future, embraced growth and change and 
kept the mill levy steady, while at the same time earning the city an 
A2 bond rating. Together, with a visionary staff whose expertise, 
professionalism and creativity rates among the best, Gardner has 
handled our explosive growth well and we will be ready for whatever the 
future brings.
  I cannot adequately express to you what an honor and a privilege it 
has been to be your Mayor, and I humbly thank you. Gardner has always 
been a town of wonderful people; if I am certain of one thing as the 
torch is passed, I know the future shines brightly for this town and 
its residents.

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