City leaders and the business community came together Thursday to bury a horrible year and look optimistically toward a better one.

“We’re back in person,” Derrell Hartwick, president and CEO of the Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber, told the more-than 100 luncheon attendees to a rousing round of applause at Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn. “Can I get a little excitement from everyone?”

The luncheon was an opportunity for Mayor Steve Widmyer to showcase the city’s vision in his State of the City address.

Widmyer recounted the year that was by looking back with solemn reflection, giving healthy praise to the city’s employees — particularly Coeur d’Alene’s public safety workers — as the departments scrambled to provide essential services to residents in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I want to start out by giving our thanks and gratitude to all the frontline healthcare workers who worked so very hard for the health of our community,” Widmyer said. “They saved lives.”

He then lightened the mood by recalling some of the more contentious events that shaped the political landscape of 2020 — namely, masks. The crowd erupted in laughter as he shared letters from concerned citizens opposed to the city’s short-lived mandate.

“‘Take your masks and shove them where the sun don’t shine,’” one letter read. “‘Have a great day!’”

Widmyer’s keynote then focused on the projects the city advanced during the pandemic, including the Altas Waterfront Park project, the new Huetter well and construction of the fire department’s boat house.

He also highlighted the city’s urban renewal agency, ignite cda, and Envision Coeur d’Alene, the long-range vision for the city’s future.

Hilary Anderson, community planning director for the city, explained the comprehensive plan’s development before teasing future town hall meetings to collect more community input, possibly as early as next month.

“Our great city of Coeur d’Alene and the people that work for you help make it a community that we love,” Widmyer said. “We live in a great place, certainly not without its challenges, but they are challenges we can work through together.”

Hartwick told the Coeur d’Alene Press the event, which is usually held in January but was postponed this year due to COVID precautions, was an important step to move the city forward.

“Looking toward the future,” Hartwick said. “That’s what today’s all about. We’ve come over this hurdle as a community. It’s brought everybody together and looking forward to the future.”