Danish Consul General Jesper Kamp was Keynote Speaker at annual address
On Friday, Sept. 27, many Solvang elected officials, businesspeople, and residents gathered at the Craft House on Corque to hear Mayor Mark Infanti give the State of the City award. The audience was also treated to a keynote speaker — Jesper Kamp, who is the Danish Consul General for Silicon Valley and spoke of the business relationship between the U.S. and Denmark.
Another dignitary was Air Force Lt. Col. (Ret.) Alvin Salge who stepped down as commander of the VFB Post 7139 in Solvang earlier this year after a long tenure. He was given a proclamation during the luncheon (one that was read in the Solvang City Council meeting four days earlier).
Solvang Mayor Mark Infanti read the proclamation, which stated that Salge “has exemplified courage, selflessness and unwavering commitment during his service in the United States Air Force, defending the principles of freedom and democracy that we hold dear,” and “has served as a beacon of inspiration by community involvement, leadership roles, and volunteering efforts” for Solvang.
Infanti summed up by proclaiming that day Friday, Sept. 27, as “Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7139 Alvin Salge Day,” in Solvang.
Salge spent a distinguished, highly-decorated 20-year career in the United States Air Force, during which he served as a Weapons Systems and Electronic Warfare Officer in F-4 Fighter Aircraft. Lt. Col Salge flew over 200 combat missions in Vietnam, and spent tours in Germany, Iran and at staff positions in Hawaii and at the Pentagon.
After Salge’s presentation, the program went to the keynote speaker Jesper Kamp, who is Denmark’s consul general to Silicon Valley, an appropriate choice for a city known so well for its Danish heritage.
Kamp stressed the friendship the two countries have had for decades and how it benefits both sides.
“Denmark has been the strongest ally to the U.S. over the years,” he said. “It’s amazing how the nations have worked tirelessly to maintain this.”
Throughout his presentation, Kamp pointed out ways the U.S. and Denmark have worked hand-in-hand and how Denmark has assisted this country. Examples, as he pointed out in a graphic on the screen, include internationalizationof Danish research and education, helping companies scale globally, navigate technonlogical opportunities, and introduce innovative Danish solutions to the U.S. market.
As his next slide said: We are part of a bigger picture … and of a bigger team.”
“These show what can happen when two nations come together in friendship and cooperation,” he said. “As we navigate the challenges of the 21st century, let’s us continue to build on the successes of the past, and what we can create in the future.”
After Kamp’s address, it was time for Mayor Infanti to give, of course, the State of the City for Solvang. Before his speech, however, Infanti called Kamp back up to the podium. Infanti told Kamp he was into woodworking and then gave Kamp an oak platter as a gesture of appreciation.
“I was able to laser the name ‘Solvang’ onto it in the hopes it will remind of our little town you spent some time in,” the mayor said as he gave the platter to an appreciative Kamp.
Infanti began his address by listing the city staff and explaining what they do. He then noted it was a small staff and that there is another list of employees who work for the city
“Those are contract calls,” Infanti said. “Those are the things that we don’t have enough staff to do. So we have to go out and get contracts to get certain things done.
“And so, I wanted to make a point that we are handling our city the best we can, and we still don’t have enough people to do everything we need to do.”
Infanti also pointed out the city finances this past year, noting that revenues surpassed expenses by $354,961, there was cause for concern.
“Expenses are going up, but revenue has not,” he said. “Shortly that’s going to be a problem.”
To that end, Infanti put in his endorsement for Measure E-2024, the city measure in the Nov. 5 election that would raise the Transit Occupancy Tax (TOT) from 12 percent to 14 percent.
Infanti went on to listed some of the projects the city looked to complete in 2025: Alamo Pintado road repair and various sidewalk and asphalt repair. Also, he mentioned new businesses he’s expecting. There are two hotel on Mission Road expected to open soon, as well as an apartment complex on Copenhagen, a combo market/deli/coffee shop on Mission, and a Medical Clinic/Cancer Center on Windmill.
Oh, and Infanti also mentioned the apartment complex on “Site C,” the lot on the corner of Alamo Pintado Road and Old Mission Road. That polarizing project is known as Wildwood.
After Infanti’s address, City Manager Randy Murphy took the podium to answer city-related questions from the audience. Among them:
- Asked the timeline for the Alamo Pintado Road repair, Murphy said it would be up for reveiw in January.
- When someone asked where they could find out about new project being built, Murphy said there was a page on the city website (cityofsolvang) that shows what works are in progress.
- One audience member brought up the permitting process from local builders and how its causing a lot of builders to abandon Solvang because it’s a slow process. “Codes are definitely antiquated, and previous regimes failed to update them,” he said. “How are going to keep people building in this town?”
Feature image: U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. (Ret.) Alvin Salge (center, holding proclamation) poses with (from left) Art Kaslow, Alejandra Sanchez, Jeff McKeone, and Solvang Mayor Mark Infanti after being honored at the State of the City on Sept. 27. Photos by Mike Chaldu
