The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
STATE OF THEIR CITIES
6 western Lake County mayors gather for annual presentation
“We have an opportunity as mayors and local leaders to work together to address some of the issues that face us . ... ”
On Feb. 13 six western Lake County mayors shared the ongoings of their cities at the annual
State of the Cities Breakfast. The event was hosted by the Willoughby Western Lake County Chamber of Commerce and brought in the mayors from Eastlake, Kirtland, Wickliffe, Willoughby, Willoughby Hills and Willowick.
Each mayor had eight minutes to share their updates and plans with those in attendance.
Eastlake Mayor Dennis Morley delivered his speech first and touched on financial successes, as well as construction projects and community partnerships.
“When I first took over (as mayor), we had a $600,000
carryover. At the end of this year we had a $3.7 million carryover,” Morley said. He mentioned accomplishments like a raise in income tax revenue to due an influx of new businesses and more employees throughout the city, completing the Waverly Road Sanitary Sewer Project, and partnering with the National Eagle Foundation to fundraise for a camera by the eagles in Bruce Lee Park.
Some of the projects Morley said he is looking forward to this year include the construction of the YMCA Dream House in the city, the addition of two new fire trucks along with hiring additional safety personnel, and working on the Vine Street Corridor Project.
Kevin Potter, mayor of Kirtland, was elected in November and has been in office for almost 75 days.
He spoke on rising to meet the needs of the city and working with nearby communities in order to make the area stronger as a whole.
“We have an opportunity as mayors and local leaders to work together to address some of the issues that face us. By collaborating and brainstorming is how to help each other share equipment or even share services, and we have to think differently,” Potter said. “I believe that is what the public expects us to do.”
Potter said he and Kirtland City Council are working towards practical, longterm solutions for the city.
In his short tenure, he has brought in a new law director, implemented an employee vehicle policy, created an employee handbook and is anticipating subtle income and property tax growth as the city prepares to finalize its budget.
“The spirit of Kirtland is strong. The personality of Kirtland is strong. So, with that, I say the state of the city is strong,” Potter said.
Wickliffe Mayor John Barbish focused on the financial health of the city, reinvesting into the community and working towards being more businessfriendly in his address. “We ended December 2019 with a general fund balance or carryover of $4.3 million. That’s an increase of $150,000 for that year,” Barbish said.
Wickliffe Mayor John Barbish focused on the financial health of the city.
He does not expect to raise income tax or run any levies in the foreseeable future as the city works to solve its short-term cash flow problem.
Barbish said he is working to encourage residential and commercial construction and remodeling by offering tax abatements across the city.
“I will bend over backwards to help you if you are willing to make investments in the city and push for whatever tax abatement
is needed to make that project happen,” he said.
Bob Fiala, mayor of Willoughby, addressed what he considers to be the biggest threat to the city: social channels.
“I think I speak for all the mayor here when I say that we are getting battered daily by the uninformed people, the keyboard warriors, those folks that like to sit at their desk and criticize everything without having all the facts,” Fiala said.
While having lost six businesses in Downtown Willoughby last year, he is confident that the area is sustainable as nine new businesses started and there was significant renovations and relocations with Citizens Bank and Young’s Sushi.
Fiala said he plans to continue focusing on making the city an arts, entertainment and cultural district.
“We already have the entertainment down really well,” Fiala said.
“So we just have to add a few more pieces to it and I think we’re going to have a home run.”
Willoughby Hills Mayor Andy Gardner said that 2020 is a year of transition for the city as he and three new council members were elected in November.
He highlighted the city ending 2019 with a general surplus in excess of $500,000, new businesses having moved in and successes in safety services.
Looking forward, Gardner said this year is about the city’s master plan.
“We’re planning on capitalizing on both some opportunities for business development in the downtown and west end areas but also remind folks that we’re ‘Where the City Meets the County,’” Gardner said.
Along with that, he plans to improve city services by exploring yard waste options and reinstating the W.H.I.S.P.E.R. senior assistance program and hosting more recreational programs.
Rich Regovich, mayor of Willowick, focused on efforts to revitalize the city.
“We struggle financially every year because we don’t have industry, but we had some new businesses this year and some are still coming,” he said. Regovich emphasized making housing within the city appealing and affordable for young people and seniors and expressed excitement over renovating their lakefront area and the Vine Street Corridor.
“Willowick is a great city on a Great Lake,” Regovich said. “Now I just have to get you there.”
He also commended the collaborative efforts between the mayors present.
“We work a lot together,” Regovich said. “All the mayors up here have a good working relationship. I know some of you are new, but we encourage going forward and participation between cities and it really helps us in a lot of ways.”