Message from Mayor Kapszukiewicz
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Today marks the five year anniversary of Toledo's do-not-drink water advisory. An incredible amount of progress has been made toward making our water treatment process the most advanced in the world since that happened in 2014.
We closely monitor the conditions of the water in Lake Erie, the source of our drinking water. The harmful algal bloom in the lake has now become an annual event that we are well-prepared to handle. We have an advanced monitoring system of buoys and sondes that allows us to measure conditions in Lake Erie, such as pH level, the presence of blue-green algae, and chlorophyll. The Collins Park Water Treatment Plant is in year six of a 10-year, $500 million Ohio EPA-approved capital improvement program. We now have enhanced chemical feed capabilities that were not available in 2014. In addition, we are adding ozone technology
--
a powerful oxidant and one of the most powerful disinfectants available in water treatment. Also, the Collins Park Water Treatment Plant basin filters are being upgraded to bio-filters to be used in conjunction with the new ozone process. Biologically active filtration is a cost-effective, multi-barrier water treatment process that provides a broad foundation for controlling taste and odors, removing contaminants, and increasing water stability.
While Toledo has a
lake
water problem, we
do not
have a
drinking
water problem. I know this distinction may seem counter intuitive, but it is a crucial point. There is absolutely no problem whatsoever with our drinking water, nor will there be in the future. The problem is at the lake, not at our faucet.
We continue to push for reforms that will ameliorate conditions in the lake, which includes reducing the nutrient runoff that feeds the harmful algae. We believe that cities like Toledo and others along the lake and its tributaries are doing their share to deal with cleaning up our lake. We also believe, though, that the state of Ohio could do more to help prevent the nutrient runoff that is the primary cause of our algae issue.
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The city of Toledo Public Utilities online billing service will be unavailable for two to four weeks beginning 6 p.m., Friday, Aug. 2 for a system upgrade.
During this time, the city will mail paper statements to all account holders, including those who signed up for paperless billing. Email notifications will not be functional.
Customers can make payments by phone through the Paymentus system by calling 866-417-0726 or by using the Paymentus online system at this link:
https://ipn.paymentus.com/rotp/COTL
.
Other payment options are:
- Make automatic payments at no additional charge at directpaymentplan.com.
- Mail a check or money order to Department of Public Utilities, Ohio Building, PO Box 10017, Toledo, Ohio 43699
- Pay in person by check, money order, or cash at the Walk-In Center, 420 Madison Ave. from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during regular business days
- Drop check or money order into the utility collection box in front of 420 Madison Ave.
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Ottawa Park Summer Concert Series
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Join us for an exciting concert series this summer at the Ottawa Park Amphitheater, 2205 Kenwood Blvd.
All Concert Showtimes: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The Bad, & the Blues performs on Aug. 3
; Dezire performs on Aug. 10; the Nu Tones perform on Aug. 17; The 25’s perform on Aug. 24; and
East River Drive.
performs on Aug. 31. (The Division of Parks, Recreation and Forestry postponed the Ottawa Park Concert Series event on July 20 to Aug. 31.)
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A City in Transit: Gala x Expo
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Where is Toledo going? Come to Toledo's annual
FREE gala x expo
event to find out! It is
4 to 9 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 3
at 300 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Drive.
There will be hundreds of stations for local businesses, organizations, nonprofits, and community initiatives, as well as live music from local bands and musicians, food trucks, giveaway contests, student works, interactive art and multimedia story booths, settlement, oral, and natural history showcase, social media activities, children’s exhibit, over 100 “platforms” and much more.
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National Night Out: two locations
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National Night Out is an event on the same day each year across the country. It is a great opportunity for neighbors, neighborhoods and safety forces to have some fun together and celebrate a common goal: COMMUNITY!
Join us on from
6 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 6 at
either the East Toledo Family Center or the Fredrick Douglas Community Center for an early evening of bouncy houses, food, health screenings, music and educational and fun opportunities to meet and talk with
Toledo Police Department
and
Toledo Fire & Rescue Department
members.
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Going Green on the Green will take place in Hensville Park
3 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 8
, prior to the Mud Hens home game.
Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful, Inc. will be taking over Hensville, filling the park with more than 30 vendors focused on Recycling Education, Sustainability, Environmental Initiatives, and “Green” Products. \\
The family friendly event will also include live music, mascots, hands on games, and more!
The event is free and open to the public.
We encourage everyone to join us inside Fifth Third Field for that evening’s game. Tickets purchased at
mudhens.com/gogreen
will be discounted and a portion of the ticket sales through this link will be donated back to Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful.
During Going Green on the Green, Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful will also be awarding its Jerry Bannister Green Stewardship Award to a local organization that exemplifies its mission of establishing greener communities trough environmental education, litter prevention, and voluntary partnerships.
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Join us at
7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 8
at Ottawa Park, 2532 Upton Ave..,
for a FREE movie night in the park -
Ralph Breaks the Internet
.
DJ Mpress will be spinning the hottest music before the movie and concessions.
Entertainment starts at 7 p.m. The movie starts promptly at 9 p.m.
The city of Toledo supports the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability to fully participate in this or any city program or event, please contact Joan Easler, city of Toledo ADA Administrator, Office of Diversity and Inclusion at 419-245-1059.
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28th Annual Pollyball Tournament
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The Hylant Family Foundation presents the 28th annual Pollyball Tournament to raise funds for the YWCA of Northwest Ohio Breast Cancer Awareness and Early Detection Program. It will be held
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 10
at International Park.
This annual sand volleyball tournament will feature a fun-filled day of friendly competition. For those not participating in the tournament, there will be a variety of family-friendly activities available throughout the day.
Pollyball honors the life of Polly Hylant-Tracy who lost her battle with cancer in 1990. Over the past 28 years, Pollyball has raised nearly $1,000,000 to support breast cancer detection and awareness programs, including ACS, the YWCA as well as MCO for cancer research, The Victory Center, and Reeling and Healing Inc. More at
www.pollyball.com
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The Ribbon Cutting and Dedication of SONIA Organics at Tatum Park
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SONIA Organics, The Lucas County Land Bank, Bench Farms and the Junction Neighborhood Community is proud to host a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony for our newly constructed SONIA Organics at Tatum Park at
10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 17.
The holistic green space is located in the center city, minutes away from downtown Toledo, next to the historic Art Tatum House. More at
this link
.
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Participate in free group exercise classes in city parks all summer, co-presented by The
YMCA of Greater Toledo
! Check out the schedules at:
Haven't signed up to join the challenge yet? It is not too late. Sign up today at
takeitofftoledo.com
.
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By The Numbers
(year to date)
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127,764
potholes filled
1,677
illegal signs removed
168
water main breaks repaired
975,678
feet of sanitary sewers cleaned
36,082
feet of storm sewers cleaned
2,011,790
pounds of debris cleared from streets with street sweepers
3,982,594
pounds of debris cleared from alleys
5,608
building inspections performed
1,798
contractor licenses issued
812
trees trimmed
3,832
fire runs
31,109
EMS runs
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Toledo, Monroe tie for fifth-fastest growing construction job market in U.S.
Toledo and Monroe metro areas tied for the fifth-fastest growing construction job markets in the country, according to data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Toledo added 2,100 new construction jobs between June, 2018 and June, 2019, a 14 percent increase, according to the group. During a news conference Wednesday, AGC spokesman Brian Turmail said the city was the fifth-fastest growing among the 358 metropolitan areas that the AGC tracks.
Plugging the 'brain drain': Toledo nonprofit aims to retain young talent
A group of motivated, young Midwestern natives thinks Toledo is great and wants to help the city show it. Samuel Chang, Logan Sander, and Ruth Chang — graduates of both Sylvania Southview High School and Princeton University — along with Kalamazoo, Mich., native and MIT graduate Alex Lim, all dropped their early careers on the east coast to return to the Midwest and found Midstory, a nonprofit “media thinkhub” that aims to cultivate a love for Toledo among young people and attract outside talent to the area.
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