The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
City works to address projects, staffing
Economic development is a 2023 focal point for Mayor Joe Sakacs
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Willoughby Western Lake County Chamber of Commerce hosted officials from its communities on Feb. 14 to discuss the “State of the Cities.” This is one in a series of articles detailing the speeches that were given.
Upon taking on the mayoral position for Wickliffe about a year and two months ago, Mayor Joe Sakacs said he has been working to address several matters.
“We were a skeleton crew and now we got almost a fully staffed service department, police department, fire department, building department and soon to be finance department, so that was one of the best things to be proud of,” Sakacs said.
The city has also addressed almost $2 million in road projects and Euclid Avenue is on the forefront.
“Euclid Avenue is tired and run down, and there’s a lot of private property,” Sakacs said. “We did a storefront renovation program to improve properties and help smaller, local businesses to make changes. In Wickliffe, all the parking lots are up front, so the four or five (businesses) that did change out their parking lots really did make a difference.”
Although a walking path may seem small, the Jindra Park walking path was yet another big thing the city addressed in 2022.
“Jindra had this asphalt walking path that was horrible,” Sakacs said. “People were tripping and it was breaking apart. Last year, they budgeted $90,000 and the asphalt company comes back, and it’s $290,000 because of the cost. We’re like, ‘This isn’t getting done.’ I had a conversation at a volleyball game with a local guy in cement and concrete. We walked through the park together, he hooked up with our service and he was able to get it done in half the price in concrete. It’s beautiful and it’s going to last a lot longer.”
As council did not renew the contract of the city’s economic director, the municipality is doing it internally and has put together a city development team.
“We’re out there with the businesses already, creating that relationship to let them know, ‘We’re here for you. We want to help you,’ ” Sakacs said. “It adds to business retention. We’re repurposing current buildings for new use, reducing vacant buildings. We have this vacant building violation and these fines are starting to double, and it’s giving these property owners incentive to start doing things with those properties instead of letting them deteriorate.”
MS Consultants did an assessment last year on the redevelopment of Euclid Avenue. Council, Planning Commission and the development team are working together to unpack the results of that.
“We don’t have Downtown Willoughby,” Sakacs said. “We have a two-anda-half-mile stretch of Euclid Avenue. We got about four different sections that we’re going to focus on. This is going to increase community pride and make it a better Wickliffe. We have great partnership with the schools. Myself and council president meet with them quarterly to share ideas and share information.”
Wickliffe will also be gaining Wickliffe City School District’s new K-12 campus this fall. The city is currently working to figure out ways to better the Rockefeller and Ridge roads intersection as traffic is expected to increase once the new school opens.
“The traffic there right now is ridiculous and there’s going to be three schools there, so it’s going to be even crazier,” Sakacs said. “I do believe we will be successful. I’m working with the schools on the best use of where the middle school and elementary school are. That’s the central hub of our town. That area has both commercial and residential opportunities, so that could be the game changer if done right.”
About five years ago, the city had a little under $4 million and now, its general fund is close to $7 million.
“The priorities are citywide, focusing on the roads — what we can see and underground,” Sakacs said. “Our service department has been fantastic addressing these issues so we don’t have problems in the future. I’m working with Willowick because we have that main pipe down the center.”
Council and the city’s directors remain committed to spending wisely and well, Sakacs said.
“We have so many things that we need addressed that have been neglected through the years like our golf course,” Sakacs said. “That’s going to get a facelift. Coulby Park — thousands come to that park yearly for homecomings, proms and weddings, so that courtyard is not up to its full potential. We’ll be replacing the fountain and other things in that area to improve the aesthetics, and take some pride at one of our staple parks of the city.”
Sakacs is seeking out grants for a possible amphitheater to have at Coulby.
“I don’t have Captains stadium, I don’t have shoreline Lake Erie, but a beautiful park and not everybody’s into recreation and sports,” Sakacs said. “I want to create an atmosphere for relaxing and socialization. I’m trying to get to where we have an event every weekend in our city.”
A new focal area in Wickliffe this year will be the Wickliffe Cemetery.
“The Lake County Land Bank was vital in the demolition of the (Provo House),” Sakacs said. “It was hiding the cemetery and now we’re going to improve the landscaping, the parking and memorial area.”
“We were a skeleton crew and now we got almost a fully staffed service department, police department, fire department, building department and soon to be finance department, so that was one of the best things to be proud of.”
— Wickliffe Mayor Joe Sakacs