MANSFIELD — Jodie Perry focused on growth, infrastructure and public safety when she campaigned to become Mansfield’s new mayor in 2023.
So it came as no shock the city’s new CEO focused her first “State of the City” thoughts on those three topics.
It may have come as more of a surprise that Perry, who took office 80 days ago, opted to offer her remarks in person Wednesday night before a City Council meeting.
Former Mayor Tim Theaker, during his 12 years in office, issued his annual thoughts via a written press release.
“I’m pleased to share with you that this city — our city — is on the rise,” Perry said. “While we have many challenges yet to face, there is great reason for optimism as we look at our collective future.”
Perry was elected in November to her first public office after 20 years working in economic development for various chambers of commerce, including as the leader of the Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development for a decade.
Just 12 weeks into her first four-year term, Perry began by praising work city leaders did in 2023 and into 2024.
“While I have the opportunity to share these updates with you, this is the work of these great people and the teams they lead,” she said.
(Below is a PDF with Mayor Jodie Perry’s first “State of the City” speech from Wednesday night at City Council.)
‘Growth is our first priority’
“Why is growth so important?” Perry asked. “Think of a tree. It starts as a seed and as long as it stays healthy, it continues to grow. It gets bigger, greener and stronger bit by bit. The growth can happen quickly and yet you can’t sit and watch it take place in real time.
“Each year, it produces new seeds that will fall and at least some of them will begin to grow. One day, when the tree begins to wither and fade, if a new tree isn’t coming up behind it, the forest will be left with a bare spot,” she said.
She said she looks at communities the same way.
“We cannot just count on the success of the past, because eventually that will start to tarnish and we will be left with gaps. We need new businesses creating new jobs and new residents coming to town to continue our forward motion,” the mayor said.
She cited 2023 successes in several areas, including:
— Adena Development landing Hedstrom as the tenant for the largest industrial facility built in the city in years near Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport, bringing 35 new jobs to the city as part of a $10 million project.
— Ohio Valley Stamping acquiring the former Crestline Paint building on Newman Street for expanded capacity to meet a growing need.
“This is a second consecutive year of expansion for them and they project they will create an additional 20 jobs (and) a $2 million investment in our community.”
— Akron Children’s Hospital, with Adena Development, adding a 10,000-square foot expansion to its site on Trimble Road to provide new mental health services and support for youth.
‘The project is bringing in 23 new, full-time jobs and a project investment of over $7 million to the community, not to mention vital expansion of support services,” Perry said.
— continued economic growth at Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport, largely fueled by local entrepreneur Dan Niss, whose Niss Aviation company took over as the airport’s fixed-base operator in 2020.
“Since then, they built a new hangar, added self-service fueling and upgraded a number of services. Last year, they announced they would be rebuilding the restaurant at the Airport. Dubbed “The Sky Club” the project began with demolition of the former restaurant, and the new build will take place this year. This will be a great addition to the airport services,” Perry said.
She also cited physical improvements at the airport including paving, a new primary wind cone and security upgrades. In 2023, the airport also saw the conversion of the Ohio Air National Guard’s 179th Airlift Wing to the country’s first Air National Guard cyberspace wing.
— the completion of Phase 1 of the West End Target Area along Glessner Avenue. “The project is revitalizing a strategic corridor leading to the county’s largest employer, OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital. Design contracts have been awarded for Phase 2 and 3, which will continue the upgrade further towards Main Street.”
— the awarding of $6000,000 in HOME-ARP funding to Turtle Creek Apartments to expand their footprint by 120 units beginning this year. “Making sure our residents have access to safe and affordable housing remains an important priority. … “(We want to) continue to spur on housing development in our community at all income levels, something that is much needed as pointed out in the countywide housing survey.”
‘Think of infrastructure as the root and limbs of a tree’
Citing her tree analogy again, Perry said infrastructure is what everything else is built on.
“It connects the different parts of the community. It is the thing you never think about, but you notice right away when it is broken. In 2023, the City of Mansfield celebrated 215 years since its founding in 1808. That means in the older parts of our town, our infrastructure dates back to well over a century and even in the ‘newer’ parts, it is many decades old,” she said.
The mayor cited:
— 37 miles of city streets being paved in 2023 thanks to the “Pothole Haters Tax.”
— the continued design phase for the Main Street Corridor Revitalization project that will likely begin in 2025. Perry pointed to the fact that $12.7 million in grants have been obtained to fund 80 to 85 percent of the project.
— the completion of design work for the B&O Bike Trail and Trimble Road connector trail and tunnel beneath Trimble Road with construction planned this year.
— the near completion of massive, multi-year improvements at the city’s water treatment plant, fueled by a $35 million bond issue approved by City Council in 2020.
— a busy year for the city’s Service Complex, including filling 756 potholes; responding to 427 traffic signal calls; repairing/replacing 769 signs; completing 176 work orders for brush/weed removal; using the streetsweeper to clean 1,150 miles of roads and disposing of 266 tons of road waste; fixing 94 water main leaks while also repairing/replacing 107 water service lines; installing 114 water taps; completing a water main extension from Glessner Avenue to the Distl Avenue area; responding to 588 sewer backup calls; cleaning/repairing/replacing 482 catch basins; replacing 514 feet of sanitary sewer pipe and 1,289 feet of storm sewer pipe; and a repair garage that completed 379 work orders for equipment fixes.
— improvements in the utility collections department, including soon-to-be unveiled improvements in the billing process “and other things to make the customer experience more positive.” Perry also vowed the $17 million citywide, multi-year water meter replacement program will be complete in the first half of 2024. “(We will be able to) move on from a project that has quite frankly taken too long,” she said.
— an improved city parks system in 2024 under the direction of new Public Works Director Louis Andres, who worked in the parks and recreation field for more than 40 years, beginning his career in 1978 with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources as a park naturalist.
“I heard from many residents throughout the campaign process about how much they wanted to see our parks improve. Of course, the parks were closed entirely for eight years during fiscal emergency so it has taken many years to begin to get caught up from that.
“We are working this year to make tangible improvements both large and small throughout the 22 different parks that the city owns,” Perry said.
“We are excited to build on this momentum for 2024. Recently, we announced new playground equipment that will be installed at Prospect and Maple Lake Parks.
“Our team has spent the winter months painting, fixing, and doing maintenance on our park properties. We’re currently in discussions with several groups who would like to partner with us to do different projects in some of our parks.
“I know there has been frustration, but I think there is a lot good momentum building and that residents will see many new things coming to fruition over the coming months,” the mayor said.
‘Ensuring residents’ safety and security has become even more important’
Mansfield saw a record 12 gun-related homicides in 2023 and the new mayor made public safety a big part of her campaign.
She has new leaders in the safety forces, including Safety Service Director Keith Porch (the former Mansfield police chief), Fire Chief Dan Crow and Police chief Jason Bammann.
The MPD, which had 77 sworn officers in December, handled 30,739 calls for service in 2023, the mayor said.
“In response to the gun violence and gang activity we have seen, the (MPD) formed the community action team. This team consists of five officers and one supervisor who have received specialized training in handling these crimes.
“The team was able to bring 50 misdemeanors and 58 felony cases to charge and conducted 40 search warrants.
“Recruiting to fill all open positions remains objective No. 1. We have continued with some of the extra incentives to help encourage lateral transfers into the department, and while the progress has been slower than anyone would like to see, there are certainly signs of improvement,” Perry said.
She said law enforcement can’t do it alone.
“Ensuring our children and youth have safe activities and options to stay busy will help them stay out of the way of those who mean to cause harm. We are committed to working with our schools, faith based and non-profit communities, and others to ensure that we are aligned in the work taking place in order to see a stark improvement over the current environment.
“We must work together; the next generation is counting on us to turn this tide,” Perry said.
She said the Mansfield Fire Department had a busy 2023 with 11,355 calls for service, most of which were for EMS.
“The change in the chief has a ripple effect of other leadership changes as people have been promoted. We have a new assistant chief, EMS medical director, training captain, Fire Prevention Bureau captain and HazMat team coordinator.
“Chief Crow has set an ambitious list of goals for 2024 which include developing a strategic plan with new mission, vision, and core Values; developing a comprehensive training program that sets standards in core areas; and strengthening mutual aid relationships with neighboring departments,” she said.
“Of course, when we think of the response to violence, we often think first of our law enforcement, but our EMS personnel are equally impacted and important when responding to these situations. The police and fire departments have improved joint response operations and are looking at other ways they can partner on to strengthen our safety response,” the mayor said.
‘Team Mansfield is not just elected officials or public employees’
She concluded her speech with a challenge for city residents to do their part of as members of what she dubbed “Team Mansfield” during her campaign.
“Team Mansfield is not just elected officials or public employees. But you as residents, community members and businesses. We all have to be Team Mansfield. We all have to work together to make improvements to this amazing community,” she said.
She acknowledged major challenges lie ahead.
“I have yet to find a community that does not. But I am confident that we can will prevail and see substantial improvements and growth. I am confident because each of you that are on the team.
“One thing I knew shortly after moving here 10 years ago was that the people truly cared about this community and they were willing to roll up their sleeves and help where needed,” Perry said.
“Mansfield truly is rising. It’s an honor to serve as your mayor and I look forward to what we can accomplish together throughout 2024.”