2022 New Smyrna Beach State of the City Address.

Written by Kristen Schmutz

Belden Communications News

On Monday, October 24, 2022, the 2022 New Smyrna Beach State of the City address, held at the Brannon Center at 105 S. Riverside Drive in New Smyrna Beach, featured a social event before the annual address began promptly at 6 p.m.

New Smyrna Beach residents, staff, local government officials (from New Smyrna Beach and other municipalities), along with County and State representatives were all in attendance to hear New Smyrna Beach Mayor Russ Owens deliver a speech regarding the State of the City for New Smyrna Beach. In previous years, Mayor Owen delivered his speech, accompanied by graphs and charts showcasing different aspects of every department within New Smyrna Beach, but this year's address was different.

This year, Mayor Owens and the other City Commissioners opened the address by announcing the retirement of Zone 2 Commissioner Jake Sachs, talking about the devastation left behind by Hurricane Ian a few weeks ago, and how New Smyrna Beach is hurting because of the unprecedented flooding event during the storm. 

“City teams and our citizens realized this was an event like none other,” said Mayor Owens. “As waters rose overnight, first responders began taking extraordinary measures to reach stranded and scared residents and deliver them to safety. Even citizens were out boating or kayaking around neighborhoods helping and checking on others. We owe City staff, first responders, and neighbors our appreciation for their bravery.”

Throughout the address, Mayor Owens recognized: Jeff and Page Gehis, Owners of the Garlic, with the "Heart of Smyrna" award for their many years of contributing to the community; Kaye Walker received the "Citizen of the Year" for being an advocate for those in need among her many other hats; and Sally Gillespie, Co-founder of the Residents Coalition, was honored with the first-ever "Key to the City" for her dedication of time and effort over the years to New Smyrna Beach

Mayor Owens went through many different words to describe the state of New Smyrna Beach delving into the resiliency, unity, division, civility, and ever-changing nature of New Smyrna Beach; Ultimately, he closed the address by stating the State of the City is what the residents want to make it by staying involved and engaged. 

"The state of the City is whatever you make it, whatever impact you choose to have on the world around you,” Mayor Owens said. “What is the state of the City tonight? The state of the City is up to you!" 

Click here to watch the recorded State of the City Address.