Bell focuses on achievements of last two years in State of City address

Toledo Mayor Mike Bell delivers the 2012 State of the City address during a Rotary Club of Toledo meeting at the Park Inn in Toledo. THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY Enlarge | Photo Reprints

Toledo Mayor Mike Bell used his third State of the City address Monday to tout his administration’s achievements over the past two years — from balancing a stretched budget to promoting economic development — while also laying out goals for the future.

Portraying himself as a man of action, Mayor Bell recounted his administration’s successes in coming to terms with a large budget deficit in 2010 without resorting to tax hikes, mass layoffs, or major service cuts. He said the city has hired police and firefighters, and he intends to continue that trend to make up for retirements. He said his goal is to push the ranks of city police officers to 600 by the end of his term.

Mayor Bell also praised his administration’s economic development efforts, including the use of $7 million in grants for cleanup projects for the historic Jeep Parkway site, the downtown Madison building, and demolition of the former Playbell Rubber facility in the warehouse district. He made reference to the city’s sale of East Toledo’s Marina District and The Docks to a Chinese-owned firm, and said he looks forward to development there in the future.

Responding to concerns from residents about the condition of city streets, the mayor announced plans to invest $59 million in street repairs over the next two years. This would be done by taking on additional debt, which the mayor said the city has been able to pay down during his tenure. The mayor said he wants to see 18 to 25-year-olds in the city working on these infrastructure projects and he has been talking with contractors about getting them to hire young people.

The mayor also championed the merger of fire services with the Village of Ottawa Hills as a success, along with the privatization of trash collection services.

“There were a lot of naysayers who told us that it was impossible,” he said of the Ottawa Hills merger. “It worked out perfectly for both sides. It was a win-win.”

In addressing troubles within the city’s Department of Neighborhoods brought to light by The Blade, the mayor acknowledged some practices were not to his liking. However, he said the department is being cleaned up and new leadership has been installed. He said a report on the city’s own investigation of the department will be released this week.
“I’m not pleased with what I found. In fact, I’m extremely disappointed,” he said. “But what I’m trying to do is actually right this ship.”

Looking to the future, the mayor said he will pursue further regional cooperation efforts, including the creation of a regional water authority, and a joint economic development area for northwest Ohio. He also signalled optimism for the area’s economy going forward, highlighting the soon-to-be-opened Hollywood Casino Toledo, the rebounding auto sector, and improving income tax returns.

What Toledo needs now is for more people to take on a positive attitude about the city, he said.

“This is an unbelievable city,” he said. “This is a city on the move. We’re going to do some great things. We just need to keep believing.”