Northwood State of the City notes lower crime, higher revenue

By: 
Kelly J. Kaczala

         Economic development, increased revenue, declining crime and infrastructure were among some of the highlights in Northwood Mayor Ed Schimmel’s State of the City address.
        “We begin 2022 with yet another positive balance sheet due to mostly stable general revenues and income taxes,” according to Schimmel. “Our income tax collections were up $500,000 last year, and we were able to take in $650,000 more than we spent, and our reserve balance, which is close to $16 million, is at levels unlike other communities our size in Northwest Ohio.”
 
Public Safety
        The city has witnessed its 10th year of declining crime largely due to investments made in the 24 member police department.
        “Access to transparency is a benchmark to our policing efforts and all of our dispatch logs and our police reports can be accessed by going directly to the police department’s web page ( www.northwoodpolice.com),” according to Schimmel.
        The 39-person strong Fire/EMS Department, under the leadership of Fire Chief Joel Whitmore, continues progressive outreach efforts with residents to decrease runs and fire events within the city. Still, the department responded to more calls for emergency service in 2021 than in 2020. Chief Whitmore was given authority by city council to consult with neighboring communities concerning the establishment of a joint EMS/Fire District.
        The city also recently hired Jeff Zahradnik as the new police chief.
 
Neighborhoods
        Expanding housing opportunities and making meaningful neighborhood refinements remain a consistent initiative, as the city receives the greatest benefit when residents both live and work in the city. Northwood’s daytime population multiplies exponentially but many employees drive home elsewhere.
        “The Northwood 2.0 we strive to build timely public-private sector partnerships to expand our housing opportunities similar to those built with Cleveland-based Summit Builders that are currently building a $28 million, 110 unit residential village project at The Enclave,” said Schimmel.
        The city is currently creating an online economic development portal, www.growinnorthwood.com that will be a one-stop site for the marketing of these key development projects and initiatives.
        Northwood is consistently refining its zoning online permitting system to help these projects move at the speed of business. Residents and developers can access this system through the city’s website, www.ci.northood.oh.us. The city issued a record number of permits last year, many of which were issued and filed through this system. There were 343 permits in 2021, up from 300 in 2020.
 
Infrastructure
        The city’s infrastructure is stable and being continuously improved, according to Schimmel.
        “Last year, we completed $650,000 in road resurfacing, curb or sidewalk projects on streets or portions of streets, including Dalling Road, Eden East Drive, Revilla Drive, Sheffield Place, Skagway Drive and Beachcraft Drive.
        Last year, The Enclave, a $5.8 million redevelopment project of the old Woodville Mall site, began and includes the construction of a 1,950-foot new boulevard, named Main Street. This project will include all new utilities, streetscaping and decorative lighting. This project is half completed and should be fully completed by the end of this summer.
        Northwood was also the recipient of the largest state capital budget allocation in Wood County history, with $1 million awarded to help fund a community center that will be located at The Enclave. Construction of the community center should begin this summer.
        In addition to the $1 million grant, the city received a $50,000 grant to help construct an ADA accessible fishing dock at Ranger Park. The dock will be completed this year.
        Northwood was also awarded a Federal State Routes to Schools grant in the amount of $161,000 that will fund the construction of new sidewalks along parts of Wise Street, LeMoyne Road and Woodville Road aimed at student safety to and from the Northwood Schools complex.
        Because the city’s prime corridors are the face of the Northwood community, 2022 will witness a continuation of an Oregon Road improvement process that began three years ago with a pedestrian connectivity and road improvement project working in coordination with the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments, Ohio Department of Transportation, Wood County Engineer, and Owens Community College. This year should witness the creation of a special improvement district with the aim of beautifying the corridor with amenities like lighting, landscaping and the addition of sidewalks. These elements and public investments, when coupled with the recent zoning code updates and economic development incentives, should help to increase property values and continue the marketability of Oregon Road property. Some of Wood County’s largest and most productive businesses are located along Oregon Road and these improvements will allow residents and employees to move along the corridor more efficiently than ever before.
        “And most especially, we continue to remain in contact with Northwest Water and Sewer District in developing cost effective solutions in providing water and sewer services to you,” according to Schimmel.
       
Priorities
        The city has set in motion a community generated vision to redevelop Northwest Ohio’s first mall and refined programs to advance its economic stature and improve quality of life by addressing pedestrian connectivity and traffic flow issues along major thoroughfares like Oregon Road.
        Like the City of Oregon, pedestrian connectivity is important, according to Schimmel.
        “To advance this amenity, we are currently working with Oregon and other communities on an ambitious connectivity plan that will link our two planned Town Centers to key destinations and potentially to The North Coast Inland Trail. Stay tuned to good news to come on this front,” said Schimmel.
        The city continues to make progress and refinements in the Town Center also known as The Enclave, a mixed use “age-in-place” neighborhood that will include the 1,950 foot Main Street Boulevard, complete with realm amenities like decorative lighting and pocket parks.
        Along Main Street will be a $5.5 million community center that Columbus-based M&A Architects are working on.
        “We worked closely with residents with an interactive survey to plan this Center’s programming and we still continue to work with area organizations in the development of a shared services plan,” said Schimmel.
 
 
Incentives
        This year, there will be the creation of a Special Improvement District, working closely with businesses and property owners along Oregon Road with the aim of beautifying the corridor with amenities like lighting, landscaping, and sidewalks. These elements and public investments, when coupled with the recent zoning code updates and economic development incentives, will help to increase property values and continue the marketability of Northwood. Some of Wood County’s largest and most productive businesses are located along Oregon Road, and these improvements will allow residents and employees to move along the corridor more efficiently.
        Other important initiatives completed last year by the city, or the city continues to work on include:
        •Proactively working with commercial property owners along Woodville Road on the city’s façade grant program. The program was vital in helping Prime Thyme Eatery to occupy and reinvent the former Anna’s Restaurant property;
        •Worked with developers to build a non-conventional looking $4 million Dollar General at the intersection of Wales & Tracy Roads. The city updated the commercial zoning code to require all projects to provide for improved building and site aesthetics;
        •Adopted a property maintenance ordinance to help address property blight and reduce the number of vacant buildings;
        •Made tactical improvements to the city’s infrastructure. Last year, the city completed $650,000 in road resurfacing, curt or sidewalk projects. Driving in Northwood means less flat tires, as over 80 percent of the roads have pavement condition rating of B (80/100) or higher, according to Schimmel;
        •Creating an ADA-accessible fishing dock at Ranger Park.
 
       
       
 
 
       
       
       
 
        

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