Message from Mayor Kapszukiewicz
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I want to congratulate Governor-Elect Mike DeWine and Lieutenant Governor-Elect Jon Husted. I placed a called to Mr. DeWine and spoke to Mr. Husted, and expressed my sincere desire to work on our shared goals. I look forward to working with them.
I was pleased this week to present Toledo City Council with a proposed
2019 operating budget
that continues our deliberate strategy to add more police officers to the street and keeps a mindful watch on spending.
The size of the police force has already increased from 602 police officers when I took office in January to 635 officers today.
As we end 2018, I am proud to report that the city of Toledo will come in under budget, and there are not too many governments in this country that can make that boast.
Toledo’s rainy day fund balance increased from slightly more than $1 million five years ago to more than $17 million today.
The proposed 2019 capital budget will be presented before the end of 2018, and it is my hope that both budgets will be approved in January.
Toledo’s economy
continues to improve
as evidenced by the record high income tax revenue estimated at $184.3 million for 2019. That is good news but we still have work to do to make sure we meet our infrastructure and safety needs next year and into the future.
We are proud of our accomplishments in 2018. These accomplishments include, but are not limited to, the first unanimously passed balanced budget since 2013; increasing the size and diversity of our police force with approximately 40 graduates and another 40 potential new officers; resurfacing more miles of roads than any year during the past two decades; creating a bike share program; securing funding to clean up the long-blighted former Champion Spark Plug site; helping lead a neighborhood coalition to save historic St. Anthony Catholic Church from demolition, and placing pressure on gun manufacturers to be more responsible.
Also this week, I want to thank TPS Superintendent Romules Durant,
Dayton
Mayor Nan Whaley, and Dayton-Montgomery County Preschool Promise Executive Director Robyn Lightcap for engaging in a discussion with community leaders in Toledo on how Dayton was able to implement a prekindergarten system in a relatively short amount of time. Dayton went from having no pre-K to having a pre-K system for all four-year-old children within three years. Dayton took bold, proactive steps rather than admiring and studying the problem for years. Toledo needs a multifaceted approach to creating a more educated, more hopeful, more impact-oriented community with a plan that caters to our future.
I want wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving. I am thankful for my family, our community, and the amazing support I have received this year from all Toledoans.
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The city of Toledo Department of Neighborhood and Business Development hosted the annual luncheon for the homeless and under-housed Thursday. Hundreds were served wonderful holiday turkey dinner at
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Banquet Hall.
The luncheon is an annual event for homeless and less fortunate people throughout the city. The luncheon is provided by the Neighborhood and Business Development Department, local retail stores, the business sector, and community partners such as homeless service providers, food banks, and food kitchens. Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral donated use of its space and provided volunteers to assist with the luncheon.
Participants also visited a mobile health clinic and saw health and wellness service providers for health screenings and service referrals.
Paul Mitchell The School Toledo
provided 103 free haircuts and 20 free manicures. Renhill Group handed out job applications.
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Former Mayor Carty Finkbeiner was the 2018 Homeless Luncheon Honoree. The homeless luncheon was his idea and began under his administration.
Mayor Kapszukiewicz extended his thanks to former Mayor Finkbeiner.
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Streets, Bridges, and Harbor - Ice and Snow
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Streets, Bridges, and Harbor crews started treating bridge decks at 6 a.m. Thursday. Some employees were assigned to run main routes for snow and ice. Crew members also continued leaf collection during the inclement weather this week.
They continued on snow and ice operations through Thursday evening until midnight.
There was also a bridge-icing and problem spot monitoring crew working from midnight until dawn.
At the start of the 2018-19 snow season, the city had 23,793 tons of salt on hand with another 24,000 scheduled for delivery on about Dec. 3. The city also has 30,000 gallons of brine and 7,000 gallons of Aquasalina. The city used 42,597 tons of salt last season. Forty plow trucks are needed to cover 33 main phase routes and five bridge routes with at least six trucks as backup. Toledo currently has 45 trucks available for snow and ice operations with another 30 out of service for repairs.
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2018 Blade Holiday Parade
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Don't miss the annual Blade Holiday Parade at 10 a.m. Saturday,
Nov. 17
in downtown Toledo. Starting on corners of Summit and Jefferson Streets, bring the family and enjoy giant balloons, local marching bands, clowns, floats, and much more. Be sure to stay for the full parade as Santa will be making his debut for the holiday season! Visit
bladeparade.toledoblade.com
for more information.
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Toledo International Film Festival
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The Toledo International Film Festival,
Nov. 16-18
at The Ohio Theatre
& Event Center
, is a community-driven event that celebrates cultural diversity and international understanding.
Tickets for each film include food samples and exciting programming — all for about the same price as a regular movie ticket.
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Presented by the Ohio Theatre & Event Center in partnership with Welcome TLC and a host of local community partners and restaurants. Visit
ohiotheatretoledo.org/tiff
to learn more and to buy tickets.
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Toledo Symphony
"Christmas at the Peristyle" will be 3 p.m.,
Dec. 1
at the Toledo Museum of Art Peristyle Theater. Kick off the holiday season with Christmas at the Peristyle! The Saturday matinee will feature sing-a-longs, the talented Toledo Opera Chorus, the Children's Choir of Northwest Ohio, members of the Toledo Symphony Youth Ensemble, and a special visit from Santa. It will be fun for the entire family! More info at
toledosymphony.com
.
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Toledo Police Abandoned and Forfeited Vehicle Auction.
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The Toledo Police Department will hold its fourth abandoned and forfeited motor vehicle auction of the year at 11 a.m., Saturday,
Dec. 8.
The auction will be held at the Toledo Police Impound Lot, 198 Dura Ave. All vehicles will be sold AS IS (without any warranty) and all sales are final (there are no refunds for any reason). Most will have a salvage title. There will be approximately fifty (50) cars, trucks, and motorcycles.
A list of vehicles scheduled for auction will be placed next week at
toledopolice.com
.
Terms of the sale will be cash or check. No third party checks will be accepted. Those paying cash will receive their title at the conclusion of the auction. Successful bidders paying by check will receive their titles by certified mail in about four weeks. The full purchase price for the vehicle must be paid upon completion of the auction. All interested buyers MUST REGISTER at the auctioneer’s trailer. The registration process will start at 9 a.m. A picture ID is required. There is no charge to register. Locksmiths will be on site.
The Vehicle Impound Office can be contacted 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday or 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at 419 245-3399 to answer any additional questions.
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By The Numbers
(
year-to-date
)
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60,512
potholes filled
355
water main breaks repaired
1.4 million
feet of sanitary sewers cleaned
91,440
feet of storm sewers cleaned
7 million
pounds of debris removed with street sweepers
2.3 million
pounds of debris removed from alleys
2,266
illegal signs removed
2,047
trees trimmed
8,074
vehicles towed
5,705
fire runs
46,886
EMS runs
9,257
building inspections completed
3,125
contractor licenses issued
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Toledo In The News
Dayton leaders share strategy for universal preschool
The sooner Toledo can launch a universal preschool pilot program, the better their chances will be for long-term success. That’s the message Robyn Lightcap, executive director of Dayton’s Preschool Promise, left with about 70 Toledo community leaders on Thursday.
Ready to learn: Toledo aims to get every child prepared for kindergarten
For some Toledo parents, sending their child to daycare, keeping them at home, or dropping them off with a relative is their only option for their preschool-age children. Many don’t qualify for Head Start, and other early childhood education options in the city are limited and often cost-prohibitive. Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz has said time and again over the past 18 months that he wants to change that. He ran for mayor on a platform that included the goal of expanding access to prekindergarten for all 3 and 4-year-olds in the city, an initiative that comes with an estimated $55 million price tag each year.
The city’s budget priorities are listed as supporting public safety and strengthening the city’s financial position, economic development, and improving public utilities.
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There will be no Toledo Friday News next week.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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