Message from Mayor Kapszukiewicz
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Toledo City Council this week gave the green light for a solar field project that is a great win for our community.
A special use permit was approved for solar panels to be built on Toledo Lucas County Port Authority property at Overland Industrial Park. DANA Inc's Toledo Driveline plant plans to buy energy from the solar field. The revenue will go to the Toledo Community Foundation and then be distributed as grants to the nearby neighborhoods. That is a win-win-win and I want to say thank you and congratulations to Dana, the port Authority, the Toledo Community Foundation, and First Solar Inc., which plans to donate about $3 million in panels. We need more innovation and partnerships like this in our city.
Also this week, we
announced that Rocket Week
would begin Sunday, Aug. 26 and run through Sept. 1. The city of Toledo is excited to partner with The University of Toledo on this and we are proud of the amazing academics and athletics at UT. The university does so much more for the city than most people know. UT partners with the city and other agencies on a number of things that include making sure our water is safe and our economy keeps moving. We were ecstatic to kick off Rocket Week here at One Government Center with a flag raising ceremony. The UT flag was also raised at city parks, my own home, and several businesses around the city. Please join me in showing your Rocket Pride!
Finally this week, I want to thank all of our suburban community partners and council for the work that has gone toward creating a region water commission. Council voted 11-0 during a special meeting this week to place a question on the November ballot that, if approved, will amend the city charter to create a new regional water commission. Leadership requires more than words, it requires action, and that is what the City of Toledo did this week on regional water. After 40 years of discussion and debate, we voted to create a regional water system that protects ratepayers, gives our suburbs decision-making power, and saves our region hundreds of millions of dollars. This is only one step in the process, but make no mistake, it is a historic step.
The regional water commission will be made up of the utility directors from each member community. The board will include one member from each suburban community and two appointed by Toledo. The commission, if approved by voters, will recommend water rates and capital improvement projects at the Collins Park Water Treatment Plant. We will all pay the same price for the water. Meter-reading will remain the responsibility of suburban communities. The regional water commission will also ensure protections important to Toledoans like low income-assistance, a senior discount, and lead line replacement.
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City officials joined advocates for people with disabilities lauding the creation of a new
TARTA
bus stop near the Franklin Park Mall’s Talmadge Road and Talmadge/ Sylvania entrances on the west side of the complex. Bus riders will be able to disembark or board on a mall sidewalk instead of at the street. The stop is in front of Charming Charlie shop, which is near Macy’s.
Toledo Area Regional Paratransit Service already drops people off directly at the mall but some could not qualify for TARPS.
"The bus stop demonstrates what we can do when people with disabilities and businesses in our community work together to make our spaces more accessible," said Katherine Hunt Thomas, disability rights lawyer for The Ability Center.
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The city's recycling container inspection program started this week. We are inspecting recycling containers to look for things that should not be placed in the blue containers and educate people about proper recycling.
When wrong items are placed in the blue recycling containers, it contaminates the whole truck and forces us to send all of the recyclables in that load to a landfill.
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Please encourage neighbors to recycle properly and don't be alarmed if you see people looking in your recycling containers. They will be easily identifiable as city contract employees. If they see something wrong, they will leave a flier at the home with recycling tips.
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12th ANNUAL TOLEDO ANTIQUE & CLASSIC BOAT SHOW AT PROMENADE PARK
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On Saturday, Aug. 25, Ramsey Brothers Restorations and the Dart Boat Co. present the 12th annual Toledo Antique & Classic Boat Show. The event will take place at Promenade Park, 400 Water St., from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. It is free to the public.
The Toledo Antique & Classic Boat Show is for boating enthusiasts of all ages to come and enjoy a day of re-living maritime history in the Toledo area.
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Ottawa Park Concert Series
The
FINAL
FREE Ottawa Park Summer Concert for 2018 is 6 p.m., Saturday, Aug 25.
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Jason Quick with Special Guest Rachel Richardson perform Jazz, Folk, & Show Tunes
Join us at the Toledo Farmer's Market, 525 Market Street, 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Sept. 15 for live music to celebrate the Fall Harvest.
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Lucas County Coastal Residents Invited to Attend Flood Map Information Open House
Federal Emergency Management Agency representatives will host a flood map information open house for Lucas County residents, 5-7 p.m., Sept. 20 at the Train Station Grand Lobby, 300 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
The open house will provide coastal residents with an opportunity to review a recently completed preliminary flood insurance study and its accompanying preliminary flood insurance rate maps. More info
here
.
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By The Numbers
(
year-to-date
)
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52,968
potholes filled
289
water main breaks repaired
959,853
feet of sanitary sewers cleaned
5.6 million
pounds of debris removed with street sweepers
1,728
trees trimmed
1,551
illegal signs removed
5,940
vehicles towed
35,309
EMS runs
4,090
fire runs
6,740
building inspections completed
2,791
contractor licenses issued
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Honors This Week
Mayor Kapszukiewicz will honor the
Eleanor Kahle Senior Center,
1315 Hillcrest Ave., on Saturday for its 40 years of service to Toledo’s senior citizens. The center helps to foster a positive environment that provides those age 50 and older with the opportunity to fulfill their needs, enhance their dignity, and socialize with other Toledoans. We are honored the Eleanor Kahle Senior Center has continued its tradition of providing vital services to our seniors.
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Toledo In The News
The Surprising U.S. Cities Where Your Salary Goes the Furthest
Salaries in major metropolises like New York and Los Angeles may be higher, but your paycheck will go a lot farther in a small or mid-sized city. A
new analysis
by Indeed Hiring Lab lists the cities with the highest salaries, after they’ve been adjusted for cost of living—in other words, where residents get the most bang for their buck,
City Lab
reports.
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Heavy Equipment Operator Terrence Daniels took a moment while repaving streets in South Toledo Friday to stop and wave to these 7 and 8 year old sisters. The two girls, who were fascinated by the machinery, were happy he took the time to say hello from high above the street.
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