Winter of 2025

SNOW REMOVAL | WINTER EVENTS | UPCOMING PROJECTS

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

Message from the Mayor

January 1 not only began the new year, but also the second year of my term as Mayor. While I still have much to learn, I have a much better understanding of the day-to-day workings of the Mayor’s office than I did a year ago. As the saying goes, a year ago I didn’t know what I didn’t know.

That being said, I thought the first year went well and much was accomplished. I know I enjoyed it much more than I ever anticipated, and am looking forward to the next 3 years.

Looking ahead to 2025, I would like to give a preview of two upcoming issues that will certainly be topics of conversation in the community, and which I believe are opportunities for Wooster to move forward.

Housing

Housing continues to be a major issue for both residents and employers. However, after decades of little or no growth in housing units, we’ve finally seen some real progress on that front. In 2025 we are going to continue to work to increase developable land around the margins of the City of Wooster, which means expansion of the City boundaries. There are two reasons in particular for this. Development within the city limits can be done with higher density due to the availability of city water and sewer. Higher density housing results in farmland preservation – less farm acreage taken up to satisfy housing needs. The second reason is that development within the city limits means that the development will conform to City zoning.

New Investment

In addition to promoting additional housing around the edges of the city, we are working to stimulate new investment in existing residential neighborhoods. A steering committee of community volunteers and real estate professionals has been meeting during the last year for the purpose of developing a set of proposed revisions to the zoning code. These proposed amendments would apply to all residential zoning districts, but should have the greatest impact with the older housing surrounding our downtown. We need to find a way to encourage investment in these older neighborhoods – in some of these areas housing values have actually dropped over the last 10 years, despite an otherwise robust housing market.

It is common knowledge that Wooster’s population center has shifted north and east over time.

What is not well known is that although new development has certainly been a factor, another significant factor has been population loss south of Wayne Avenue. We are going to work to encourage investment in older neighborhoods, not only to protect property values but also to make those neighborhoods more attractive places to live. Otherwise, the continued hollowing out of our downtown residential neighborhoods will negatively impact not only those neighborhoods but our downtown as well.

Oldman/Winkler/Burbank

The second high-profile project is the proposed improvement to the Oldman/Winkler/Burbank intersection. Traffic flow there is poor now and is only going to get worse as development occurs on the north end of town. Some critics of the proposal have argued that currently there are “only” delays 4 times each day during the school year, each lasting from 10-15 minutes, and that this doesn’t warrant any change. I respectfully disagree, and I further believe that now is the time to act. And after careful consideration of all of the options, we believe that a roundabout approach is the best solution available.

NEWSLETTER Message from the Mayor Continued

A great deal of planning, analysis, and preliminary design have gone into what has been described as “The Peanut”.

Conceptually it functions just like a circular roundabout, but due to the location of the entering streets it is an oblongshape. (This type of design is also referred to as an “Oblong-about”, but “The Peanut” seems to be more popular.)

Sometime in the next two months the administration will be providing a detailed presentation on the project to City Council, even though actual construction won’t take place until 2026 at the earliest, but more likely in 2027.

Options

Later this summer there will be legislation coming to City Council which would seek authorization to acquire rights of way for the project, and at that point City Council will get to decide whether to (1) address the traffic issues at that intersection now; (2) defer the matter for the time being (which depending upon your perspective could be described either as “a moratorium” or “kicking the can down the road”); or (3) hoping the problem goes away by itself. I have no hope for Option #3 coming to pass, so I will be asking City Council to select Option #1. Otherwise, we will be left with Option #2. And the longer we wait the more expensive this project will become and the more inconvenient it will be for not just the community but also those living adjacent to the project. On the other hand, the sooner we complete this, the sooner our community and those that travel through that intersection will enjoy the benefits.

INSIDE THIS EDITION MAYOR

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SNOW & ICE CONTROL

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RECREATION

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CONSTRUCTION

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COMMUNITY

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CITIZENS ACADEMY

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AWARDS

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OUR TEAM

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EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

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DIRECTORY

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Bob Reynolds

TRIVIA

How many cubic yards of leaves were collected in 2024?

Find the answer on page 15

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PUBLIC PROPERTIES MAINTENANCE DIVISION

PPM provides snow and ice control for the city's 315-lane miles of highways and streets including over 100 cul-de-sacs. Snow and ice control is considered emergency work, which must be accomplished for public safety and the well-being of our community. Our goal is to make all highways, streets, alleys and culde-sacs safe and accessible for vehicles properly equipped for winter driving conditions during and after a snowstorm.

SALT SPREADING & PLOWING PROCEDURES To ensure safe travel, PPM applies approximately 4000 ton of de-icer (salt) to the roadways each year. Snow plowing is not productive until snowfall reaches a depth of two inches. For any snowstorm, crews will begin by spreading de-icers in an attempt to get a layer of brine against the pavement. If accumulations exceed two inches, crews will plow until such time as snowfall stops. As the last step in the cleanup from a storm, the area of the street adjacent to the gutter will be plowed back. This is done to allow melting materials to run off and ultimately reach the gutter. This will reduce the amount of icy patches that occur during evening refreezing.

SNOW REMOVAL OPERATIONS The city’s removal operations goal is to clear the most highly traveled roadways and major streets to facilitate traffic moving in and out of the city, Emergency travel for fire, emergency medical and police personnel is the biggest snow removal priority. This is why primary streets are cleared first. The second priority is to clear minor streets, subdivisions, cul-de-sac streets and alleys. Alleys are cleared last because they carry the least amount of traffic. Because each snow/ice storm is different, there is careful planning in deciding how to handle snow removal operations. The number of trucks assigned and the plan implemented during any given storm is dependent on the severity of the storm.

EW IV DR

P IL E SN O W H ERE

AY

THIS DIAGRAM DEMONSTRATES THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO REMOVE SNOW FROM YOUR DRIVEWAY

CLEAR AREA (ALLOWS PLOW TO UNLOAD BEFORE DRIVEWAY)

Safety Tips:

PPM receives many calls about snow being plowed into driveways. Although the city’s plows often leave snow across driveway entrances, the plows try to keep it to a minimum. This snow removal is the responsibility of the residents. Putting snow from driveways into the city streets is illegal and creates a hazard for drivers and a liability for the responsible party. When clearing your driveway apron, it’s best to pile snow past the driveway in the direction of travel. A common request related to this is asking that the driver turn or lift the plow blade at driveways. Since our main goal is to open the primary roads as soon as possible, turning or lifting of blades at each driveway would slow down the snow removal operation significantly and leave snow on the road that may in turn be a hazard.

❄️Clear all vehicle windows before driving. 🕰️Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. ✅Make sure that your tires are in good condition. 🚘Buckle-up and always keep a safe distance from other vehicles, including plow trucks. 🛑Advise children not to play in the snow next to the roadway.

Citizens and plowing contractors should NOT shovel, plow, or blow snow onto or across any City street. This delays the process of clearing the streets and is prohibited under City Ordinance 521.06 and Ohio Revised Code 4511.74.

Please note that the City does not clear sidewalks of snow and ice. It is the responsibility of the property owner to keep their sidewalks clear for the safety and enjoyment of all.

City Ordinance 351.14 SNOW EMERGENCY: Whenever, during any period of twelve hours or less, snow falls in the City or in a section thereof, to a depth of three inches or more, an emergency is declared to exist in that such a heavy storm constitutes a serious public hazard impairing transportation. For announcements, please visit www.facebook.com/cityofwooster or www.woosteroh.com.

The County Sheriff, in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code, may declare a snow emergency and temporarily close state routes and municipal streets within their jurisdiction when it is reasonably necessary to preserve public safety. Snow emergencies are classified as follows: Level 1 Alert: Roadways are hazardous due to blowing and drifting snow. Roads may also be icy.

Drive with extreme caution.

Level 2 Alert: Roadways are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow. Only travel if absolutely necessary. Contact your employer to confirm if you should report to work.

Level 3 Alert: All roadways are closed to non-emergency personnel. Travel is prohibited unless it is an absolute emergency. Employees should contact their employer for reporting instructions. Those traveling during a Level 3 Alert may face arrest under Section 2917.13 of the Ohio Revised Code, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

For current snow emergency levels, visit Wayne County Sheriff's Facebook, call 330-287-7744, or tune in to MCTV Channel 10. Residents can also sign up for Wayne County Sheriff Text & Email Alerts.04

RECREATION 330.263.5207 | 241 S. Bever St. Wooster

PROGRAM GUIDE All of our current & upcoming programs, activities and events for this season can be found in the 2024/2025 Winter Program Guide.

SPRING PROGRAMS REGISTRATION OPENS FEBRUARY 7TH Micro Soccer Academy is for Pre-Schoolers and Kindergarteners ages 4 - 6 years old.

Recreation Youth Soccer is offered for students in 1st - 8th grade.

Youth Volleyball is offered to students in 4th - 6th grade.

WOOSTEROH.COM/RECREATION

YOUTH

Soccer, Swim, Basketball, Volleyball, T-Ball, Track, Tennis & More!

ADULT

Yoga, Coed Volleyball, Pickleball, Sign Language, Sand Volleyball & More!

SENIOR

Hiking, Senior Stroll, Daily Activities, Pickleball, Aquaerobics & More!

RECREATION EVENTS

Mom & Son Registration opens February 7th The event will start with the Whiz Bang Science Show. Following the show everyone will have a chance to get refreshments.

Once everyone has gotten refreshment all of the kids will have the opportunity to have their own little science experiment by making their very own lava lamp!

SANTA’S MAILBOX This past November & December the recreation team completed over 300 Santa Mailbox letters!

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CONSTRUCTION Engineering | 330.263.5251

As the bulk of construction season comes to a close, please see the list of projects wrapping up this Winter.

COMPLETED PROJECTS Oak Hill Road and Milltown Road Improvements & Roundabout Fire Station #1 Wooster Street Resurfacing Quinby Avenue Traffic Signal Replacements SR585 and SR3/83 Traffic Signal Replacement

CURRENT PROJECTS Billiar Alley and Billiar Street Waterline Replacement

PROJECTS STARTING Q1 2025 Sanitary Sewer Lining W. Liberty St. & W. Bowman St. Traffic Signal Replacement

View all projects PRIVATE

Norfolk Southern Madison Avenue Railroad Bridge Replacement Brightspeed - city-wide fiber optic build - www.brightspeed.com MCTV- starting their underground fiber upgrades - www.mctvohio.com

NAVIGATING THE CIRCLE: Why Roundabouts?

Know-How Keeps Wooster Moving Did you know out of the $9.49 million worth of roundabout construction, only $200k has been from Wooster General Fund.

This includes: SR 83- Smithville Western $2.2 M ($2M ODOT, $200k City) Friendsville - Smithville Western $1.54M (ODOT & County Funded) SR83 - Belmont Crossing $1.25 (Developer funded) Oakhill - Oldman $1.1M (TIF Funded) Oak Hill - Milltown $1.5M (TIF Funded) SR585 - Geyers Chapel $1.9M (100% ODOT funded)

Why has Wooster been constructing roundabouts?

Proven intersection safety enhancement Improved traffic flow & intersection efficiency Lower overall life-cycle costs

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STUFF THE CRUISER

Stuff the Cruiser began 14 years ago as a canned food drive and has since expanded to provide gifts and clothing to over 300 children from 129 families. This year set a record for the number of families helped.

Support from organizations like the Wooster Elks ($3,000 grant), Wooster Meijer ($2,500 grant), Total Distribution, Schreiner Painting, and Alpine Heating, along with donations from the public, allows for the purchase of toys and clothing after collection drives held in front of Walmart in November.

This impactful event, which begins in October and concludes with distribution in December, requires a great deal of effort. Several members of the Wooster Police Department, along with their families, volunteered their time to collect and sort donations. The reactions from the families are a rewarding reminder of the difference this community effort makes.

NAME A PLOW Presenting:

Buzz IceClear!

Mrs. Wilson's Third Grade class from Melrose PLOWED through the competition and came out on top of the snow pile!

Students from Wooster City Schools submitted creative and festive names for our snow plows then City of Wooster employees voted on their favorite.

The other entries were Ariana Snowday, Snow Monster & Frosty the Snowplow!

Thank you to the School Resource Officer Teichmer and the City of Wooster Employee Engagement committee for a fun contest!

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CITIZENS GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP ACADEMY The Wooster Citizens Leadership Academy (WCGLA) is a professional series designed to inform, educate, and inspire its citizens.

The Wooster Citizens Government Leadership Academy offers residents a unique opportunity to gain an inside look at the operations and decision-making processes of local government.

Participants develop a deeper understanding of city services, planning initiatives, and budgeting while engaging directly with city leaders and staff.

The program fosters civic engagement, enhances leadership skills, and encourages collaboration, empowering citizens to take a more active role in shaping the future of Wooster.

If you are interested in participating in the 2025 class, please contact Amy Hamilton ahamilton@woosteroh.com.

RECENT AWARDS

Tony Lemmon

WOOSTER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LEADERSHIP WOOSTER DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD Wooster Police Captain Tony Lemmon will receive the 2025 Leadership Wooster Distinguished Alumni Award from the Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce. The award honors his exceptional leadership and contributions to the community. A 2012 Leadership Wooster graduate and current steering committee member, Captain Lemmon will be recognized at the Chamber’s Annual Dinner on February 27th at Greystone Event Center.

Scott Rotolo OHIO ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR Wooster Police Assistant Chief Scott Rotolo has been named the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities (OACBHA) Advocate of the Year. He will be honored at a ceremony at the Columbus State House at the end of January. This recognition highlights his exceptional work advocating for behavioral health in the community.

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BREAKING NEW GROUND Building Standards Manager’s Retirement Marks a New Chapter During my 25 years as the Chief Building Official, my goal was to help make Wooster’s built environment safe and well-maintained. I wanted my office to be a resource to the community, approachable, and customer-friendly. I wanted to have an efficient department to ease the burden on developers and builders. I believe this can help a community prosper economically as a good place to do business and develop. Everything I’ve accomplished is from working together with colleagues and customers on common goals.

In my tenure, the Wooster Community has experienced a lot, including the closing of Rubbermaid, financial challenges, a housing crisis, and a pandemic. With each challenge, this amazing community rebounded stronger economically with growth and improvements. I was privileged to serve on the board of Community Action Wayne/Medina for many years, representing the mayor, and as a member of the Wayne County Housing Coalition for many years. I’ve also served on the board of directors for the Ohio Building Officials Association and the Five County Building Officials board, and I was selectedas the building official of the year by that board made up of my peers. My 25 years as manager of the Building Standards Division have been marked by steady improvements, such as becoming one of the first building departments in the country to do business entirely online and paperless in 2017. We’ve assisted other departments in Ohio and nationwide do the same. Besides building codes and safety, we’ve had a part in improving fire safety, water safety, and backflow protection and reducing losses from flooding. I’ve also taken care of City Hall as the facility manager and managed construction projects, the City parking lots, and contracts such as the residential waste contract. This work has been very satisfying to me personally, and I hope it helped make Wooster a great place to live, work, or visit. I want to thank the many people who have helped me in small and significant ways. Some have been coworkers, friends, and neighbors, and some of those I’ve been privileged to serve.

Welcome, Joe!

Joe brings over 30 years of experience as a registered architect and more than 5 years as a building official to Wooster. We are thrilled to have him as part of our City team and the Wooster development community!

ACCLAIM AWARDS Nominate an outstanding City of Wooster employee Celebrate the exceptional individuals who make our City of Wooster shine! We need YOUR help in recognizing the dedicated employees who embody the core values that make our city thrive.

Nominate Here Core Values Accountability

Leadership Serve as a role model/mentor Responsible management of resources

Attitude

Accept Responsibility Do work right the first time

Treat others with courtesy & dignity Respect of others

Continuous Improvement

Integrity

Communication

Managing Trust

Promote Innovation Provide highest quality of service Friendliness Truthfulness

to recent ACCLAIM winners!

High standards of conduct Makes responsible decisions Responsible with public funds Stewardship

Josh Timko Chelsie Murray Don Hall Chad Frank Gwendolyn Landgraff Kenny Gallion Barb Hardin Patrick Delaney Amanda McLain John Rice Kagan Schafer April Teichmer Melanie Rowland

Sabrina Jentes Erin Smith Melissa Keener Matt Amstutz Greg Kolek Clint Bartolic Nick Pagni Pam Corbett Randy Harper Autumn Breslin Lauren Dipietro Kim Fahrni Jeff Mills

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EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT building relationships, keeping traditions

Brutus Selfie Challenge Our city employees had a fantastic time with the Selfie Challenge with none other than Brutus Buckeye! From creative poses to team spirit, it's been a fun way to show our pride and connect with each other.

Go Bucks!

DOOR DECORATING

Congratulations DISTRIBUTION AND COLLECTIONS "The Stockings Were Hung by the Office with Cheer" Our staff has truly outdone themselves in this year’s Door Decorating Contest!

From festive themes to unique designs, each door showcases amazing creativity and holiday spirit.

TRIVIA ANSWER

7,448 cubic yards

COMMUNITY DIRECTORY Mayor’s Office 330-263-5242

Engineering 330-263-5251

Human Resources 330-263-5254

Utility Services 330-263-5286

Law 330-263-5242

Utility Billing 330-263-5228

Parks 330-263-5275

Public Prop. Maintenance 330-263-5275

Income Tax 330-263-5226

Fire 330-263-5266

Building Standards 330-263-5241

Police 330-287-5720

Planning & Zoning 330-263-5241

Recreation 330-263-5207

Economic Development 330-263-5250 All City offices will be closed on the following dates: January 20 and February 17

TRIVIA ANSWER @CityofWooster

The City of Wooster!

Along with the cities of Westerville and 330-263-5200 woosteroh.com Springfield, 2024 will mark the 48th year of recognition for each community 16