| By Neil Johnson, reporter/anchor, Big Radio |

In his first annual ‘state of the city’ address since taking the helm last year, Janesville City Manager Kevin Lahner spoke on some of the city’s biggest upcoming plans, and about new leadership in the city’s top administrative positions.

In a 15-minute talk, Lahner called the recently approved Woodman’s Sports and Convention Center project ‘transformational’ for the city. And he touted some smaller projects coming up, including a full rebuild planned this year to the aging Palmer Park wading pool.

Lahner also called to retiring Janesville fire chief Jim Ponkauskas, pointing out Ponkauskas’s 30 years of service. He underscores how longtime administrative retirements like Ponkauskas’s embody a change in top leadership within several city divisions.

Lahner’s remarks came Wednesday at a breakfast held by Forward Janesville. It’s the first of a series of quarterly talks Lahner plans to deliver to local business leaders.

The city says JATV Media will re-broadcast the event Thursday at 10:30 a.m. and will continue airing the broadcast throughout the month on Charter Channel 994. A recording of the event also will be available on JATV Media’s YouTube channel.