Once again Thursday evening, a capacity crowd of citizens turned out at Veterans’ Park outside Globe City Hall for Mayor Al Gameros’ annual State of the City Address – the fourth address he has delivered on the city’s condition, accomplishments and vision for the future.

Among the topics in Gameros’ review were an increased city budget and revenues; the ongoing replacement of Connie’s Bridge and the completed Cottonwood Bridge project; the adoption of updated fire and building codes; the planned replacement of the city’s water meters through a WIFA Water Conservation Grant; plans for a new fire station where the old medical building now stands on Ash Street; revitalization of the pueblos at Besh Ba Gowah Archaeological Park, a project that has received funding from the Freeport McMoRan Community Investment Fund; the City’s partnership with Gila County to restore the Michaelson Building on South Broad Street, which when finished will include a downtown visitor center and a business incubator; and a feasibility study of repairs to the McCormick Wash tunnel as a flood control measure, for which the City received $100,000 in funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.