The Oak Harbor mayor shared his hopes that his successor will prioritize the city’s community partnerships in a speech to the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce Thursday.
Mayor Bob Severns extolled the value of partners such as the chamber, the Rotary Club, the school district and Naval Air Station Whidbey Island to the city during his final state of the city address. After eight years as mayor — which were preceded by eight years as a city council member — Severns decided not to run for reelection.
“It’s been a privilege to serve,” he said.
Severns also praised Oak Harbor council members and staff for their work, saying that Oak Harbor performs more services than many other cities in Washington state.
The city provides water, sewer and garbage services, maintains streets, operates a senior center and marina and staffs its own police and fire departments. It also maintains a number of public parks, such as Windjammer Park, and operates an ongoing salmon recovery project.
“The city of Oak Harbor is a full service city,” Severns said.
The mayor said the city, which is over a century old, is looking into future infrastructure upgrades in some downtown areas as funding and opportunities arise. He added that road work on Whidbey Avenue is scheduled for this summer.
Reflecting on his eight years as mayor, Severns shared his pride over the city’s accomplishments and gratitude for the support he’s received from family and colleagues.
