“We’re very pleased to let everyone know … the Maple Highlands Trail for biking and pedestrian walking will actually get constructed this spring.” – Phil King
The City of Chardon is on solid financial ground thanks to the joint efforts of city administration and city council.
That was the message Mayor Phil King delivered in his sixth — and final — State of the City address last Wednesday in the Banquet Room at St. Mary’s Church.
King, who recently sold his law practice on Chardon Square, told members of the Chardon Chamber of Commerce at the annual luncheon address that he does not plan to seek re-election.
“It has been an honor serving,” he said. “I will miss this greatly, being able to tell you all the fine things that go on in the City of Chardon.”
The mayor said the city has the “luxury and the benefit” of being prudent with money, earning it an AAA rating from Standard & Poor’s.
“What that means to you is we get very good interest rates when we have to go to the market and borrow money,” he explained. “We also have a desire to provide high quality, cost effective services to residents of our community. That is something that is engrained in all of us; it will continue to be the foundation of how the City of Chardon operates.”
That commitment is exhibited through maintenance of city assets, including sidewalks, buildings and trees.
Chardon continues to pay down debt incurred for capital improvement projects undertaken to promote and enhance a high quality of life for anyone in the Geauga County and Chardon area, he said.
“That is important to you as a business owner because you are committing your resources and your future here,” said King. “It is important that your have a community that supports you and that will help your businesses succeed and thrive.”
The city’s annual budget is pushing $20 million, King noted, a number much lower than when he was first elected to city council 12 years ago.
“But the cost of doing business has increased,” he said, adding general fund expenditures are roughly $7.5 million.
2015 Goals Include:
• To reserve 10 percent of revenue in the city’s three major funding accounts: general fund, sewer operating fund and water operating fund.
That same goal applies to its EMS operating levy.
“That gives us a surplus of money for two reasons. One, if there is a serious budget issue or an expense, we don’t have to go out and borrow,” King explained. “Secondly, if there is a downturn in the economy or we require a substantial investment in a new facility or to improve a facility, we have the money and it’s like a savings account for us.”
• To continue to address the facility needs of the city.
“We’re very pleased to let everyone know … the Maple Highlands Trail for biking and pedestrian walking will actually get constructed this spring,” King said. “We have acquired the land that we need and that should benefit everybody.”
Also, the long-anticipated Heritage House will be constructed after the Geauga County Maple Festival concludes in late April.
• To continue to implement Chardon’s Thoroughfare Plan, including commencing construction on the Meadowlands Drive extension connecting Water Street to Wilson Mills Road.
While the city works through issues with the Army Corps of Engineers, only the first roughly 1,100 feet of the extension off of Water Street will be built.
“That will help that area develop commercially,” said King, explaining the entire property was purchased for Chardon’s “future protection and development safety.”
The mayor added, “If you own it, then no one can change where it’s going to go.”
This year, the city also will begin constructing the southwest sanitary sewer project to connect and improve the existing sewer systems on Center Street and the commercial areas coming down Water Street.
Revenues & Expenditures
The 2014 budget figures have been finalized and revenues — which initially are conservatively estimated — exceeded expenditures, King reported.
All funds revenue for 2011 through 2014 shows income tax is “substantially the greatest portion” of the city’s income.
“We survived the financial downturn of 2008 and 2009, where revenues were substantially reduced because of the economy. We have recovered,” the mayor said. “The downside to that is the revenue from income tax is not growing like it has over the last three to four years.”
The city is seeing income tax revenue increases of less than 1 percent, he added, “so times are good, they’re better, but the income tax-base revenue isn’t increasing like it was for 2011, 2012 and 2013.”
In terms of general fund expenditures, the greatest portion of money spent is on personnel, which King said is consistent with most employers.
Maple Highlands Trail
“It is really sweet that I can tell you that the portion of the bike trail that goes from Fifth Avenue all the way over to Water Street will begin construction in the spring of this year,” King said. “As soon as the snow goes away, you will begin to see it develop and actually come to fruition.”
The trail extension will begin on Fifth Avenue, behind Chardon Custom Polymers. Across the street, Geauga Park District purchased the land leading to Fifth Avenue and already has extended the trail to that point.
The trail extension through Chardon will cross Center Street next to Advance Auto Parts and continue south adjacent to Washington Post Plaza — on property the city purchased from the county — and eventually reach Water Street between Burger King and Chardon Oil.
“We just received approval from NOACA to begin the second phase of that project, which will take it from Water Street to Park Avenue and then from Park Avenue down to South Street,” King added. “It will come out on South Street right where the other trailhead has ended for all of these years.”
Some easements still need to be obtained for the second phase, the mayor noted.
Heritage House
“This was a very difficult seven-year project,” King said. “It has gone through several meandering turns and bends. But after the Maple Festival concludes this year, the old log cabin will be torn down and we’ll begin the construction of the new and improved Heritage House.”
He added, “This will be a very nice addition to the square.”
Sidewalk Program
“This is my baby,” King said, explaining one of the things he and fellow council members wanted to accomplish is to maintain the city’s sidewalks, “which have never been seriously addressed, at least in the 12 years that I’ve been with the city.”
King said 2014 was the first year the city aggressively went after assessing and evaluating the need for sidewalk improvements.
“You have to take care of your infrastructure for people to use,” the mayor added. “If people want to come here and live, they want to be able to enjoy what facilities you have.”
Similarly, King said the city would continue to pursue development of new sidewalks.
New Businesses
The most recent addition to the city’s restaurant scene was the opening of Bob Evans in Meadowlands Town Center.
“Serving as council president and mayor, that was the most common question asked once a month, ‘When’s Bob Evans coming?’” King said. “Well, they’re finally here.”
The restaurant, which seats 131, is based on the chain’s new architectural design to attract younger diners.
“We’re very fortunate and lucky to have them. If they have a good business relationship with the community, they provide jobs, career opportunities for people and, generally, if one of these chains come, there’s going to be others,” King said.
As for the city’s existing restaurants, competition makes a business better, he added.
Other new businesses include MC Sports in Chardon Village Plaza, Hibbett Sports in Maple Leaf Plaza, Snap Fitness 24/7 on Fifth Avenue, Ignite Sports and Enrichment Center on Center Street, Nu Threadz on Cherry Avenue, The Jerky Station on Water Street, Premium Vapors on Water Street, Dollar Tree on Meadowlands Drive and Western Reserve Land Conservancy on E. Park Street.
Coming soon is Mapleview Country Villa, a 70,000-square-foot, 100-bed skilled nursing facility.
“It’s going to be a very wonderful facility and it will bring employment opportunities for people in the community,” the mayor said.
Also coming are Coop’s Tobacco (winter 2015), Catholic Charities (winter 2015), Love Insurance (spring 2015), Chardon Smile Center (spring 2015) and D&S Automotive (fall 2015).
The mayor said the city continues to work with Destination Geauga, formerly Geauga County Tourism, and other interested parties to bring a new hotel to town.
“We need hotel space,” said King.
