Mayor Recounts Year’s Accomplishments In Annual Report
BY KELLY J. KACZALA — MIRROR REPORTER
Infrastructure projects, park improvements, a new yard waste disposal contract, and a quiet zone designation were among the highlights noted by Holland Mayor Mike Yunker in his annual report given at the village council meeting on January 3.
Marquette Drive was completely reconstructed last year with new pavement, curbs, gutters, sidewalks and sewers. The $375,000 project was funded by a grant from the Ohio public Works Commission and the village’s capital projects fund, said Yunker.
This year, the village will partner with Lucas County to make improvements to the intersection of Angola and McCord roads, and improve Hall Street from McCord Road to Kettle Road, Yunker said. The project, which will also receive funding assistance from the OPWC, will take place during the schools’ summer break.
In addition, the village has filed an application for additional funding for improvements to complete Kipling Drive and to reconstruct Progress Street. If the application is approved, the improvements will occur this year or next year.
Also completed last year was the quiet zone construction project on Holloway Road, which added safety features to the railroad crossing so trains will no longer be required to sound horns.
The village started planning the project in October 2005.
“After six long years of document filings, reviews, meetings and engineering, we were finally approved for construction,” Yunker said.
Construction was completed in September with all the safeguards necessary to increase the safety rating at the crossing while eliminating the noise of train horns, he said.
The final documents were mailed by certified mail on December 18. The railroad will be required to stop blowing its horns on January 18. When a grade separation project is completed on McCord Road, train horns will be completely eliminated in the village.
The village entered into a three-year yard waste disposal contract with Clean Wood Recycling on Bancroft Street in Springfield Township last year after Lucas County eliminated the free service to county residents due to financial cutbacks.
The contract allows residents to continue taking unlimited yard waste to the facility without fees. Residents can also receive discounted prices on the company’s products, and the agreement allows the village to dispose of collected yard waste, according to Yunker.
He also noted that the village received a perfect audit from the auditor of state’s office last year, the 16th year in a row. Yunker credited the efforts of clerk-treasurer Lyn Krasula.
There was “not so much as even a recommendation to improve on how we handle our taxpayers’ money,” Yunker said. “Many communities struggle to receive even one perfect audit. Due to the exemplary performance of our clerk-treasurer and staff, and the policies we have established to oversee taxpayer monies, the village continues to receive the perfect score from the state auditor.”
The village also spent less than it received in revenues in 2011 and has nearly eliminated its debt, Yunker said.
“This spending policy, established 20 years ago, places the village in a very financially stable condition, which allows us to provide continued improvements, improved services and provide a quality of life to our community not experienced by most communities,” he said.
Last year, the village started Picture in the Park, which drew hundreds of area residents to Strawberry Acres Park to watch family movies on a large screen.
The village partnered with the Dwelling Place church to sponsor the events, which featured live music from the Common Creed Band before each movie, free hot dogs, popcorn and drinks along with games and activities for children, Yunker said.
Picture in the Park will be continued this year. Area businesses have an open invitation to join the village as co-sponsors.
“It was most enjoyable for families to gather at our park and bring their blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy an evening with their family and not have to pay a dime. If you missed these events, you truly missed a pleasurable experience,” Yunker said.
Park improvements included additional paths for the convenience of pedestrian traffic, Yunker said.
“We even partnered with the Holland Branch Library to make it convenient for those who use the library to walk from the library to the Strawberry Acres Park or the lodge,” he said.
One of the village’s last major structure projects, the park garage, was completed last year. The park garage will allow the village to house all of its park equipment and supplies to maintain Strawberry Acres Park while providing more room at the municipal maintenance complex to store the village’s other equipment inside and protect the equipment from outside elements, he said.
The building committee is actively working on other park improvements such as a new gazebo and a new sign for the lodge at the McCord Road entrance, Yunker said. These improvements will take place this year.
In addition, a pedestrian walking path will connect the Strawberry Acres Park to the Railroad Park this year.
Yunker also noted the success of the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Strawberry Acres Park, attended by 600 area residents.
“After the tree was illuminated, Santa Claus arrived at the lodge in awesome style aboard a shiny red fire truck, courtesy of the Springfield Township Fire Department,” Yunker said. “This event, hosted by the Holland-Springfield Chamber of Commerce and the village of Holland, was largely a success because of the generosity of numerous Holland and Springfield Township businesses that provided an endless amount of cookies, cakes and refreshments at the lodge. A good time was had by all.”
This year, Yunker said he would like to expand the senior center, which is located in the Lodge at Strawberry Acres Park.
“I would like to work with the board of trustees of Springfield Township to offer a full-time senior center to our seniors,” he said.
A committee will be formed to develop a plan on how to get it accomplished, he said.
Yunker said he expects this year to “be another busy year.”
“I’m looking forward to the challenges of improving our community,” Yunker said. “With the continued effort by this council, our staff and officials, and the many volunteers who work on our committees, we will easily meet those challenges.”