July 22, 2025 • 8 mins
The Mayor joined Todd Walker to review the first half of the year and talk about plans for the second half.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's not exactly the midpoint of the year, but it
is right around the middle of the year, and so
it's sort of an opportunity to sort of see what's
been done and what's working, what's not working, or progress made.
And I know one of the things we've talked about before,
considered about traffic issues, this is one of those quality
(00:23):
of life issues I think that the city officials get
to hit with a lot, Isn't that right?
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Absolutely, Todd. And so one of the things that we've
been working on for the first six months of this year,
quarter one and quarter two is our Neighborhood Traffic Commune initiative.
What I really like about this program, Todd, is that
it's being shaped by community input. So we're going out
talking with neighbors, asking him to come to public meetings,
(00:51):
come to meetings at city Hall. Identify, you know, where
are those streets we're speeding is a issue. Also, what
are the cut through streets, which something that I learned.
You know, a cut through street is the street that
you go through when you're trying to say, avoid a
train or something. And then after we've identified you know,
the challenge areas, problem areas, we're asking people to look
(01:13):
at a series of engineering solutions, whether that's a speed cushion,
signage or design strategies that other communities have used to
calm traffic and rate those.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Yeah, and you see this really as you mentioned a
lot of places trying to control traffic better, and certainly
the ability for folks to give their input should provide
better solutions at least we hope in the long run.
Another thing that's been improving at least it seems as
the staffing levels, so at the police department in particular, right, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
So we continue to invest in safety services. So last
year we closed out twenty twenty four with the hiring
of eleven new police officers. That's a ten year hiring record,
and I think those investments are paying off. So crime
continues to trend downwards. So total crime has dropped by
four percent from this time last year to this time
(02:12):
this year, and violent crime has decreased by three percent.
And so we're right now sitting at eighty two sworn
officers on duty at the end of June twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
And one thing we have talked about before is the
evolving situation with the with the fire department and the
perhaps future new fire station, and that now there's a
EMS Transport Reserve fund because a lot of what's happening
with the fire department in recent years is they're called
on for more emergency services or what you might call
(02:49):
what you'd call an ambulance maybe.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Right, yeah, I think it's no secret, and you just
hit on it. You know, firefighters don't just fight fires anymore.
They are, you know, right, their first responders. With those
EMS calls. We know that we've been trending. We're over
seventy percent of our calls are EMS calls. The other
thing that is happening is that the composition of the
(03:11):
fire department is changing. We have more female officers, and
you know, the difference between a firefighter and police officer.
You actually live, you know, in the firehouse while you're
on your shift. And then you know, our newest fire
station is about fifty years old, and so we are
in the process of doing feasibility studies talking with consultants
(03:33):
about constructing a new fire station. The good thing about
that is that we're planning ahead. We've already started to
set aside of the fees that we collect from EMS
runs into a special revenue fund to be able to
help us pay for that new station.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
Yeah, I know you have some numbers here just how
busy the fire department was in the first six months, right.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Yeah, so almost twenty four hundred calls in the first
half of twenty twenty five and ninety two fire responses.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Yeah, that's over one that's about one pointy five calls
per day if you averaged it out over the first
six months. And the ninety two fire responses is plenty
as well, So that continues to evolve. Or visiting with
Lima Mayor Sharita Smith this morning. And of course the
lead program as well underway led abatement that will continue
(04:27):
for some time, won't it.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Yes, it will. And you know we are undergoing lead
abatement on two fronts. So one, our utilities department has
already replaced over nine hundred and ninety two lead service
line since twenty twenty four and there are hundreds more scheduled.
In addition to that, we have thirteen homes that we've
completed with lead abatement through HUD funding. And this is
(04:52):
in partnership with the West Ohio Community Action Partnership. And
you know, people think about, you know, why is it
important to get the lead out well. Children you know,
that are exposed to lead can have long term health effects,
and so we're doing our part to make sure that
we alleviate that issue in our neighborhoods.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
You know, another thing that's been talked about for many
years is the housing issue, not just in Linemap but
in many cities, a shortage of housing and another thing
to go along with it, a lot of the demolitions
we've seen getting rid of old, blighted houses and buildings
that are detrimental to a neighborhood. But now what you
(05:34):
really want to do is have something develop on those
empty lots. And there's a new program we're about to
launch in that regard.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Yeah. So this keys off of some information that was
announced just in April from the Ohio Realtors Association where
they released pre pattern housing plans and encourage communities to
adopt their own infield Development Crew plan program. And so
we've been working, and when I say we, I mean
(06:04):
the Department of Housing in Neighborhoods as well as the
City of Lima's Building Department, to be prepared to release
our own pattern housing plans book people ax ys and
this important. Number one, it helps cut the red tape.
And we know, which you just alleviated to, that we
need to build more homes and we need to do
(06:24):
so faster, and we know the thing that gets in
the way besides construction delays are some of our planning
processes that we have in city government.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
So this is a program designed by realtors for you
to just sort of fill in the blanks, so to speak.
So to simplify it.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Yeah, so think Sears Catalog twenty twenty five. So there'll
be a set of pre approved plans and whether you
are an experienced developer that's been doing this for twenty
plus years, or you're you know, Bob and Jane Smith
not related, and you want to build a home in
your neighborhood, you can come and pick up these plans
and they're already approved to do infield development, helping to
(07:06):
bring our neighborhoods back.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
And of course a lot of projects are winding down
or about to be launched as well. But the two
big ones, of course, the pool is set to open
soon and Central Avenue that Streetscape redo is nearing its
completion right.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Yeah, So the pool is set to open in August,
and then the Central Avenue street scape will near completion
by the end of this year, but we're not stopping there.
So on the horizon, we are working to bring a
new shelter house, restrooms, sidewalks, and ADA accessibility to the
South Jackson Community Garden. We're also making major upgrades to
(07:49):
the Simmons Field Sports Complex, which includes turp field and
ADA seating. Construction for that will start this fall. The
streetscape or in front of the Veterans Memorial Civic Center
will look different as well because we're doing the Veterans
Memorial growth, which is a grantede monument and dedication to
our veterans. And you've already talked about the aquatic park,
(08:13):
which is so anticipated.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Yeah, no doubt about it. This week we could really
use a pool, that's for sure. It's going to get
hot the next few days. May we appreciate you coming in.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Thank you, Thank you,
It's not exactly the midpoint of the year, but it
is right around the middle of the year, and so
it's sort of an opportunity to sort of see what's
been done and what's working, what's not working, or progress made.
And I know one of the things we've talked about before,
considered about traffic issues, this is one of those quality
(00:23):
of life issues I think that the city officials get
to hit with a lot, Isn't that right?
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Absolutely, Todd. And so one of the things that we've
been working on for the first six months of this year,
quarter one and quarter two is our Neighborhood Traffic Commune initiative.
What I really like about this program, Todd, is that
it's being shaped by community input. So we're going out
talking with neighbors, asking him to come to public meetings,
(00:51):
come to meetings at city Hall. Identify, you know, where
are those streets we're speeding is a issue. Also, what
are the cut through streets, which something that I learned.
You know, a cut through street is the street that
you go through when you're trying to say, avoid a
train or something. And then after we've identified you know,
the challenge areas, problem areas, we're asking people to look
(01:13):
at a series of engineering solutions, whether that's a speed cushion,
signage or design strategies that other communities have used to
calm traffic and rate those.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Yeah, and you see this really as you mentioned a
lot of places trying to control traffic better, and certainly
the ability for folks to give their input should provide
better solutions at least we hope in the long run.
Another thing that's been improving at least it seems as
the staffing levels, so at the police department in particular, right, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
So we continue to invest in safety services. So last
year we closed out twenty twenty four with the hiring
of eleven new police officers. That's a ten year hiring record,
and I think those investments are paying off. So crime
continues to trend downwards. So total crime has dropped by
four percent from this time last year to this time
(02:12):
this year, and violent crime has decreased by three percent.
And so we're right now sitting at eighty two sworn
officers on duty at the end of June twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
And one thing we have talked about before is the
evolving situation with the with the fire department and the
perhaps future new fire station, and that now there's a
EMS Transport Reserve fund because a lot of what's happening
with the fire department in recent years is they're called
on for more emergency services or what you might call
(02:49):
what you'd call an ambulance maybe.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Right, yeah, I think it's no secret, and you just
hit on it. You know, firefighters don't just fight fires anymore.
They are, you know, right, their first responders. With those
EMS calls. We know that we've been trending. We're over
seventy percent of our calls are EMS calls. The other
thing that is happening is that the composition of the
(03:11):
fire department is changing. We have more female officers, and
you know, the difference between a firefighter and police officer.
You actually live, you know, in the firehouse while you're
on your shift. And then you know, our newest fire
station is about fifty years old, and so we are
in the process of doing feasibility studies talking with consultants
(03:33):
about constructing a new fire station. The good thing about
that is that we're planning ahead. We've already started to
set aside of the fees that we collect from EMS
runs into a special revenue fund to be able to
help us pay for that new station.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
Yeah, I know you have some numbers here just how
busy the fire department was in the first six months, right.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Yeah, so almost twenty four hundred calls in the first
half of twenty twenty five and ninety two fire responses.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Yeah, that's over one that's about one pointy five calls
per day if you averaged it out over the first
six months. And the ninety two fire responses is plenty
as well, So that continues to evolve. Or visiting with
Lima Mayor Sharita Smith this morning. And of course the
lead program as well underway led abatement that will continue
(04:27):
for some time, won't it.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Yes, it will. And you know we are undergoing lead
abatement on two fronts. So one, our utilities department has
already replaced over nine hundred and ninety two lead service
line since twenty twenty four and there are hundreds more scheduled.
In addition to that, we have thirteen homes that we've
completed with lead abatement through HUD funding. And this is
(04:52):
in partnership with the West Ohio Community Action Partnership. And
you know, people think about, you know, why is it
important to get the lead out well. Children you know,
that are exposed to lead can have long term health effects,
and so we're doing our part to make sure that
we alleviate that issue in our neighborhoods.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
You know, another thing that's been talked about for many
years is the housing issue, not just in Linemap but
in many cities, a shortage of housing and another thing
to go along with it, a lot of the demolitions
we've seen getting rid of old, blighted houses and buildings
that are detrimental to a neighborhood. But now what you
(05:34):
really want to do is have something develop on those
empty lots. And there's a new program we're about to
launch in that regard.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Yeah. So this keys off of some information that was
announced just in April from the Ohio Realtors Association where
they released pre pattern housing plans and encourage communities to
adopt their own infield Development Crew plan program. And so
we've been working, and when I say we, I mean
(06:04):
the Department of Housing in Neighborhoods as well as the
City of Lima's Building Department, to be prepared to release
our own pattern housing plans book people ax ys and
this important. Number one, it helps cut the red tape.
And we know, which you just alleviated to, that we
need to build more homes and we need to do
(06:24):
so faster, and we know the thing that gets in
the way besides construction delays are some of our planning
processes that we have in city government.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
So this is a program designed by realtors for you
to just sort of fill in the blanks, so to speak.
So to simplify it.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Yeah, so think Sears Catalog twenty twenty five. So there'll
be a set of pre approved plans and whether you
are an experienced developer that's been doing this for twenty
plus years, or you're you know, Bob and Jane Smith
not related, and you want to build a home in
your neighborhood, you can come and pick up these plans
and they're already approved to do infield development, helping to
(07:06):
bring our neighborhoods back.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
And of course a lot of projects are winding down
or about to be launched as well. But the two
big ones, of course, the pool is set to open
soon and Central Avenue that Streetscape redo is nearing its
completion right.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Yeah, So the pool is set to open in August,
and then the Central Avenue street scape will near completion
by the end of this year, but we're not stopping there.
So on the horizon, we are working to bring a
new shelter house, restrooms, sidewalks, and ADA accessibility to the
South Jackson Community Garden. We're also making major upgrades to
(07:49):
the Simmons Field Sports Complex, which includes turp field and
ADA seating. Construction for that will start this fall. The
streetscape or in front of the Veterans Memorial Civic Center
will look different as well because we're doing the Veterans
Memorial growth, which is a grantede monument and dedication to
our veterans. And you've already talked about the aquatic park,
(08:13):
which is so anticipated.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Yeah, no doubt about it. This week we could really
use a pool, that's for sure. It's going to get
hot the next few days. May we appreciate you coming in.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Thank you, Thank you,
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