Here is the video for the State of the City address. You will notice the quality of the video has improved dramatically. 🙂 The City is now using a professional videography company to film Council meetings and this address.:
https://vimeo.com/314396397
https://vimeo.com/314396397
Here are the highlights from the State of The City Address.
- 2019 Budget is balanced. The City of Bedford is now at break even on revenue versus expenses.
- There is a plan to replace aging safety forces vehicles for 2019
- Street infrastructure program was re-launched in 2018
- In the Fire Department there was a 1% increase in emergency calls. 71% of calls are life saving calls. The Fire Department has 2 fire vehicles will need to be replaced – The cost for these vehicles is $650K and $275K.
- In the Police Department, 3 additional police officers were hired in 2018. A 2nd K-9 unit brought on (thank you Bedford Automile for that donation) and the Bicycle Unit will be on the road in 2019 (thank you Broadway Cyclery for the donation). Staff in the Police Department was restructured so that more officers can be on the streets and the hope is that this will help with enforcement of quality of life issues like illegal parking. The computers in the Police Department  were replaced this year. Eileen Molnar is a lunch lady at the Schools who helped start the Lunch with Police program where our officers go into the schools to have lunch with the kids. The program is expected to continue.
- $400K was spent on road resurfacing. The road resurfacing will continue in 2019.
- Storm & sewer maintenance program was started. $10k per year preventative maintenance for the sewer system will continue going forward. I would like to point out that this program was put in place as a direct result of a concerned citizen (actually 2 – husband and wife) who contacted the City and pushed for a program like this. This is another example of how residents can have an influence on what happens in Bedford.
- A new park was added at Broadway & Mitchell. It is called Zolata Park after Andrew and Marilyn Zolata.
- Water loss from the water lines is at a 7 year low due to a maintenance program that was put in place a few years ago where we have a company come in and send little robots into the water lines to identify potential leaks and breaks so that they can be repaired before they become a major water loss point.
- The City replaced all non-working fire hydrants in the City.
- The Water Department started the implementation of a GIS system, which will greatly improve the efficiancy of the department.
- 5 year Capital improvements plan
- $2M in road resurfacing
- $200k in sidewalks
- $ 1M for Union St water line replacement
- In the Parks & Recreation Department, they improved online registration and improved participant communication by adding text and emails as a way to contact residents. Ellenwood went through a makeover and should be open by mid-March.
- City currently holds a A1 & AA- bond rating with Moody’s and S&P
- Xellia is launching the 2nd phase of their expansion and now has 252 full time employees
- Last 4 years, the Automile saw $37M in improvements to dealer renovations & improvements. Mazda dealership will be going into Meadowbrook as will Simons, Davita Dialysis, BMV, Title Bureau and others. There is some zoning issues that are being addressed currently and once these issues are addressed, this property should start rapid development.
- Villa of San Bernardo should be opened late 2019
- New website has been launched. Check it out at BedfordOH.gov
- In 8 years, the City has been awarded $24M in grant money. Energy improvements to various spots in the City with a NOPEC grant as well as a camera initiative on the Automile which was also partially paid for by grant money.
- BCDC re-launched this year and distributed $50K in grant money to businesses
- The City started a City wide sign initiative to improve the signage in the city. The hope is to use land sales and grant money to fund it. This project will be a multi-year initiative.
- Half of the money needed for the Connector Project has been identified. Still working on that project. The Moonglow will be coming down shorty and that whole area will begin development.
- And, in case you have not heard yet, Bedford will be getting a Hollywood Studio. Dakar Studios has bought the US Bank building and will be building a movie sound stage.