Perrysburg Mayor Jody Holbrook made it official this week: He'll seek re-election in November.
Elected mayor in 1999 to serve the unexpired term of former Mayor Reeve Kelsey, Mr. Holbrook told members of the Perrysburg Area Chamber of Commerce this week about his plans to seek a four-year term in office.
“I love being mayor,” he said during the chamber's luncheon.
Mayor Holbrook outlined some of his accomplishments since his election and provided an update on some city projects. He noted that a portion of CSX Transportation's $250,000 donation for the city's parks and recreation program will be used to build a path for walking and inline skating around the edge of Rivercrest Park West. The cost will be about $140,000. “As soon as the weather cracks, we will bid it out,” the mayor said after the meeting.
The highlight of his mayoral tenure, Mr. Holbrook said, involves the purchase of a wooded area near the McKinley Woods subdivision.
Council has approved the purchase of about 18 acres at $3,000 an acre from Jerry Howald, who approached the mayor about the city obtaining the land, according to James Bagdonas, acting city administrator. The land will be maintained in its natural state and will be used as a park area.
Mayor Holbrook said people are asking him about the city's efforts to resolve ongoing differences with Perrysburg Township trustees over such issues as annexation. “It's ongoing,” the mayor said. City officials are trying their best to work out the differences, he added.