Message from Mayor Kapszukiewicz
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The Census is right around the corner and if there is
one
thing you take away from this weekly newsletter today, let it be this: the census is one of
the
most important things for the city of Toledo and Lucas County.
We have been undercounted before and it has cost us literally millions of dollars that could have gone to pay for health, education, housing, roads, and other badly-needed infrastructure. First responders and disaster recovery personnel use census data to help identify where and how much help is needed. The census also is used to determine our seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. State population counts determine how the 435 seats are split across the 50 states. Southern and western states are expected to gain seats at the expense of states in the Northeast and Midwest.
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The 2020 Census will not include a question on citizenship. That decision helps ensures local funding for services like transit, housing, education, and public safety will not suffer from an inaccurate accounting.
We all need to be counted!
There is a lot more information at
census.gov
and I encourage you to look for yourself.
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Finally this week, Toledo was in the national spotlight with the visit of President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Governor DeWine. We live in highly charged political times and people have highly charged passions. That is okay and I am proud that, by and large, it was a peaceful event. Those who attended the rally and those who protested outside all exercised their free speech peacefully.
I want to give a special thank you to our police officers, firefighters, Streets, Bridges, and Harbor employees, and other city employees worked to make it a successful, safe event. I think police Chief George Kral said it best yesterday before the rally. Watch
at this link.
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City of Toledo Code Enforcement employees will begin using a new courtesy notice for violations on Monday, Jan. 13, which will give property owners an opportunity to correct problems before a costly city cleanup or civil penalty.
“The Code Enforcement division will also perform increased follow-ups with property owners in an effort to reduce violations by one-third and save residents money,” said Code Enforcement Commissioner Dennis Kennedy.
The new notices will be posted at occupied properties to alert residents of property maintenance violations such as abandon vehicles, tall grass, illegal signs, graffiti, improper bulk refuse set outs at the curb, or structural issues. Code enforcement inspectors will conduct a follow-up inspection seven days later.
The city has 11 inspectors who issue about 26,000 violations a year. Voluntary compliance with the courtesy notice program may reduce the number of cleanups that must be performed by the city and cut reinspection costs by thousands of dollars by the end of the year.
“Community groups and property owners asked for us to make this change, and implement a new courtesy notice,” Mr. Kennedy said. “Many times people say: ‘why didn’t you just tell me about this before giving me a ticket?’ We think this will reduce code violations because we believe people truly want to be compliant with the code but they may be unaware of violations on their properties.”
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Changes are coming to your water bill. Starting Jan. 1, 2020, Toledo Public Utilities implemented the flowing changes:
Eliminated Minimum Water Charges
Toledo Public Utilities has eliminated minimum water charges to allow customers to reduce costs based on actual water consumption and conservation.
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Started Monthly Billing
Monthly billing is in place for all Toledo retail customers. Billing by the month also allows customers to participate in the Federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program.
Started Bill-Paying Assistance for Low-Income Customers
Toledo Public Utilities will provide up to $500,000 a year to assist low-income customers pay their utility bills. Households at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level will be eligible for assistance.
Started Offering Lead Service Line Replacement Assistance
Toledo Public Utilities allocated up to $300,000 annually for private lead service line replacement loans on private property. Loans of up to $2,000 at zero percent interest will be offered to private homeowners, regardless of income, with up to a ten-year term, payable through the utility bills.
Offering Water Conservation Education
Toledo Public Utilities will provide water conservation information.
FREE
“Conservation Kits” with low flow shower restrictors, toilet leak detection kits, and conservation information will be available for the public at the Toledo Customer Walk-In Center, 420 Madison Ave.
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Day Celebration
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Join us for our annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Day Celebration,
8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Monday, Jan. 20, 2020
at the University of Toledo's Savage Arena.
The service begins with a
free
breakfast, and will move into a program that includes performances and music that honor the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Join us after for a community project that gives us the opportunity to serve Toledo residents.
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Public Notice for Penn 7 Public Meeting
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The City of Toledo invites the public to attend a meeting to discuss updates on the wetland and habitat restoration design plans for the Penn 7 property in north Toledo and to share your ideas.
Please join us
5:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Wednesday Jan. 22
at The Friendly Center of Toledo, 1324 N. Superior Street.
The vacant, 59-acre Penn 7 property is a former confined disposal facility on the lower Maumee River that accepted material dredged from the Maumee River shipping channel in the early 1970s. Restoration plans at Penn 7 involve creating wetlands on the property that are hydrologically connected to the Maumee River and providing a protected embayment area ideal for fish nursery habitat and was a recommended management action project by the Maumee Area of Concern Advisory Committee. This project is funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) through a National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Great Lakes Habitat Restoration Regional Partnership Grant awarded to the Great Lakes Commission and subcontracted to the City of Toledo.
For those unable to attend, or who have questions, please contact Jenny Carter-Cornell at 419-385-2018 or
jcornell@hullinc.com
.
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Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. and the speech begins at 5 p.m. The mayor is especially pleased to invite all to the historic Great Hall at the Toledo Zoo. Parking will be available in the zoo’s Broadway lot,
2700 Broadway
.
The event is free and open to the public. An American Sign Language interpreter will be present.
The speech will air live in its entirety on BCAN (Buckeye Community Arts Network). You can watch the live broadcast on Buckeye Cable Channel 109/609HD or watch on Facebook by following BCAN Arts at this link:
https://www.facebook.com/BCANarts.
The city of Toledo supports the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact Joan Easler, ADA coordinator, at 419-245-1059.
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By The Numbers
(2019 totals)
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18
water main breaks repaired
20,804
feet of sanitary sewers cleaned
55
feet of storm sewers cleaned
13
illegal signs removed
0
trees trimmed
79
building inspections
245
contractor licenses
0
tons of salt used
1,262
EMS runs
124
fire runs
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