Auroraadvocate.com - Mayor says 2008 'great' for the city

by Miles Jung-Kilbreath

Reporter

Aurora -- While Mayor Lynn McGill told Chamber of Commerce members last week that 2008 was "not the greatest year for you or me," it was "the greatest year for Aurora."

Giving his annual "State of the City" address to a Chamber monthly luncheon Jan. 21 at Walden Golf and Tennis Club, he added, "I count the greatest year as the year we do the most for our residents."

As some residents and businesses struggle in these economic times, McGill said "better days are ahead" and the city is "well prepared" for those days with $4.6 million in reserve.

A "ray of hope" that McGill said the city saw going into 2009 was voters passing a 6-mill bond issue/levy for the schools last March. He said it was "a magnificent gesture on the part of the citizens" and shows the community's support of "excellent blue ribbon schools."

"Many [voters] didn't say, 'What does this do for me?' just because many don't have children in school, and that was unselfish," McGill said.

The mayor explained the city received the highest revenue ever in 2008, allowing it to provide a lot of services to their residents.

An example is that the city finished many sanitary sewer projects in the Highlands, Geauga Lake and Weston Woods.

TO CONTINUE being the "conservation city of Portage County," McGill said the city is looking to purchase the oldest property in the city -- the 158 acres where city founder Ebenezer Sheldon II built his log cabin at the end of East Pioneer Trail.

He said the city is working with the Trust for Public Lands to try and raise the funds to acquire it.

The city is also working with Bainbridge Township to create a Joint Economic Development District for the shopping area around the Marketplace at Four Corners so new businesses can be added.

Along with the JEDD, McGill said the city plans to be involved with $11 million in construction projects in 2009, with $9.3 million going toward a Route 43 widening project.

He said it is "the largest project we've ever done in Aurora," and the majority of it will be paid for by the Ohio Department of Transportation. Also, he said the city plans to spend $900,000 to rebuild Cochran Road.

McGill said the city is "riding out" a slow housing market after only 18 homes were built last year, whereas the annual number in recent years has averaged about 100.

"That's a problem when you expect the money from [water line] connection fees to go into your capital improvement funds," McGill said, adding he hopes lower interest rates will bring new developments to the city.

Over the last seven years, McGill said the city has had $150 million in investments from businesses that helped to create 500 jobs. He said officials hope to bring three new industries into town soon.

E-mail: mjung-kilbreath@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3152