City of Toledo News
Message from Mayor Kapszukiewicz

I traveled to Washington D.C. this week as part of Great Lakes Day and to meet with our congressional leaders about Lake Erie. We need more restrictions on polluters who dump untreated animal waste into the lake and we need the state and federal governments to support the fight to declare the open waters of the western basin as impaired.

There is a risk of an algal bloom settling near intake cribs for all water systems that use Lake Erie. That is why Toledo has one of the most advanced and efficient water treatment plants in the nation. But, it’s time to get ahead of the problem by addressing it at the source.

Earlier this week, about 30 contractors responded to our invitation to talk about what needs to change in the city's building inspection department. There was no question when I became mayor earlier this year that this was the number one thing we had to fix in city government. It was a great discussion and we will be using many of the suggestions we heard. We were told about frustrations some had in the past about the city's online application process failing during the process to submit documents or how it hindered efforts to obtain permits. These are problems we can fix and we will.

We also held a public hearing this week on regional water and the second " Wednesdays with Wade " - both in East Toledo. I am invigorated by the discussions we have had in our community and I want to make sure we are hearing from as many people as possible. I know we have challenges ahead. We will tackle them together.
Street Resurfacing

Toledo City Council next week is expected to vote on two ordinances to fund nine major street repair projects - accepting a $17 million grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation and also $1.57 million in grants and $682,093 in zero interest loans from the Ohio Public Works Commission.
Doug Stephens, Toledo's commissioner of engineering services, said the freeze-thaw cycle this year has contributed to large number of potholes.
The grant money, which will be paired with matching money from the city, will help us get substantial resurfacing work done in 2019.

The funding will pay for the following projects:
  • Woodruff from Collingwood to Cherry
  • South Detroit from the Anthony Wayne Trail to Copland
  • South from Reynolds to Byrne
  • The Anthony Wayne Trail from South to Glendale
  • Reynolds from Glendale to Angola
  • South Detroit from Sherwood to Glendale
  • Cherry from Summit to Greenbelt
  • Monroe from Secor to Nantucket
  • Perrysburg-Holland/Garden Intersection

Resurfacing part of the Anthony Wayne Trail was originally scheduled for 2019 but is now expected to begin this year.
Streets, Bridges, and Harbor
City employees this week removed seven truckloads of tires from north Toledo alleys near Mulberry and Yates streets. Seven truckloads!

We suspect this illegal dumping was done by a commercial entity that wanted to avoid paying for proper disposal. This company wants to profit at the expense of Toledoans. There are severe penalties for this crime and the city is investigating. Anyone with information should call Engage Toledo at 419-936-2020.
Mark Your Calendars
The Ohio State University Extension invites all to attend its upcoming workshop, "Cultivating Community: Gardens for Good."

This workshop will teach you how begin a community garden. The event is 4-8 p.m., Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at the Eleanor M. Kahle Senior Center, 1315 Hillcrest Ave. Register here .
The Council District 5 regional water meeting will be 6-7 p.m., Thursday, March 15 in the Sanger Branch Library, 3030 West Central Ave.
By The Numbers
( year-to-date )
19,674 potholes filled
176 water main breaks repaired
272 illegal signs removed
213,153 feet of sanitary sewers cleaned
2,062 contractor licenses issued
1,881 building inspections completed
Engage Toledo
How can we help you? The Engage Toledo app lets you to make service requests 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. We are committed to customer service.

To download for an Android,  click here.
To download for an iPhone,  click here.  
Text Alerts
Sign up for Toledo text alerts here .
From Toledo Councilman Gary Johnson
Toledo will be a more successful city the more engaged its residents and business owners are with the elected leadership. City council is working with the mayor to make Toledo a safer, more livable, and more successful city.

I am working now with the leaders of our police and fire departments to make sure Toledo is as safe as possible and the safety forces are operating as efficiently as possible. We are concentrating on criminal justice reform and diversion rather than incarceration. Everyone understands that it is better to get people help and back on their feet instead of just locking them up. Diversion is a good tool. We want people charged with a crime to fulfill certain requirements, such as drug and alcohol treatment, paying restitution, or performing community service, instead of just being incarcerated. Saddling a Toledoan with a criminal record does not help that person, his or her family, or our community.

Finally, I want to encourage everyone to get involved in the discussions on regional water. I am pleased the mayor agrees that the voters of Toledo should decide on the creation of the Toledo Area Water Authority. We must endeavor to make this happen. Collaboration with our suburban neighbors on water and other issues will make us more successful.
Toledo In The News

Two Toledo development projects advance The Toledo City Plan Commission approved Thursday the replatting of — and building demolitions on — East Toledo land proposed for the Gateway Lofts project at the Marina District’s south end. The commission also referred to Toledo City Council a 21-unit condominium complex proposed for the Warehouse District.

Toledo mayor heads to Washington, D.C. to talk Lake Erie and toxic algae Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz is heading to the Washington, D.C. Kapszukiewicz joins members of the Ohio Environmental Council to speak with members of Ohio's congressional delegation about Lake Erie and toxic algae.

ProMedica to donate $3.5M to zoo's museum project The Toledo Zoo’s historic Museum of Science is being renamed the ProMedica Museum of Natural History after the zoo received its largest charitable gift in its history from the healthcare company. ProMedica will donate $3.5 million over the next several years for the museum. 

About 30 contractors responded to Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz's invitation to give input on what changes are needed in the city's building inspection department.

Former UT star Inma Zanoguera wins Sahara Marathon Inma Zanoguera completed the  Sahara Marathon  with a 3:48:11 time 
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