Parma Mayor Delivers State Of The City Address

Mayor Tim DeGeeter spoke to a full house at his 2015 State of the City speech.

View Image Gallery

While admitting that balancing the 2015 city budget keeps him awake at night, Mayor Tim DeGeeter said on 2/23 that he is confident that Parma has a bright future because it is filled with residents who care enough to get involved. “Whether it’s working on projects … or on city policies to move Parma forward – I know this to be true: We either go up or down together as a community,” he said in his annual State of the City address. “It’s always a privilege to talk about Parma, the place we have chosen to live and raise our families. I appreciate your continued belief in our collective future.” 

That, to a full house for the speech, given at OSG USA, Inc. on Plaza Drive, a business highlighted because it is growing and thriving in Parma. “This is a company that’s doing it right, right here in Parma,” DeGeeter said. “We’re proud to have OSG here. Quality is what OSG is all about.” 

OSG’s Parma plant is the largest thread-forming tool manufacturer in the United States. Founded in 1948 in Cleveland, the company moved to Parma in 2001 and to this location in 2011. Servicing such industries as auto, medical, mining, construction and aerospace, OSG is experiencing double-digit percentage growth in all areas of its production in the last two years. In fact, in 2014, the Fastener Products Division had its highest sales year since its inception in 1948. 

“We definitely like the sound of that,” the Mayor said.

DeGeeter outlined the difficult state of the city’s budget, citing “millions in lost revenue for Parma” because of the State’s estimated four-hundred-and-thirteen-million dollars cut each year from municipalities and villages. 

“Unfortunately, this year, we will face the fullest effect of the state cuts despite everything we have done to overcome them,” he said. 

The Mayor cited ways his administration is trying to do more with less – he mentioned using regional collaboration where possible, the close examination of City Hall operations, not replacing retiring employees, cutting overtime and even doing something he said “we don’t want to do” – proposing to close the city’s pools this summer to save $200,000. 

The somber tone of budget talk, though, was balanced by talk of new development at The Shoppes at Parma, which will see grand openings this spring and summer at a variety of venues – Panera, Mattress Firm, Sport Clips, Jimmy John’s and Fast Eddie’s. The Mayor brought up his Town Center Task Force and its report on how to fully implement a Town Center approach to development around the mall area. 

DeGeeter said he is using the success of the redevelopment of the former Parmatown Mall as a guide for what can happen at the former GrafTech property on Snow Road. 

“I’m sure most of you have heard that GrafTech decided to move its corporate headquarters out of Parma – a major loss for our city,” he said. “The progress at The Shoppes at Parma is another reason I'm hopeful – despite reasons for pessimism – that we can overcome GrafTech's decision to leave its corporate campus. Much like we did when the mall was in receivership, we will work with GrafTech to aggressively market the property and use everything in our economic toolbox to court potential buyers. 

“We can – and we must – make that campus come alive again in the future.”  

DeGeeter said that UH Parma Medical Center has “strengthened a community touch point that is critical as an economic engine and to our quality of life.” He spoke of upgrades taking place there that include facilities improvements and the addition of up to 50 jobs.  

New investment in Parma includes PITT-Ohio and Rush Trucking, whose new complex on Snow Road will bring 45 new jobs and a $2-million payroll into Parma. PITT-Ohio’s payroll is expected to be $8 million.  

Quality of life, the Mayor said, is improved by strengthening of neighborhoods. He cited neighborhood safety and unprecedented narcotics enforcement achieved this year by Parma Police. And his administration’s Good Neighborhoods Initiative is continuing to show progress, he said. 

“As part of this program, we are able to recognize homeowners who do a great job of beautifying and caring for their homes,” he said. “We publicly recognize them with signs indicating they are Good Neighbor Pride Award-winners.” 

He announced that the "North Coast Mission Connection" – a program that was a major success in Parma two years ago – is returning to Parma this summer. The program saw nearly 400 teen-agers perform free home repairs for elderly, low-income, and disabled home owners. Repairs and construction included porches, steps, and wheelchair ramps, weatherization and interior and exterior painting. Fifty-six homes were repaired and the total investment in our city amounts to more than $290,000 when looking at what the labor and capital improvements would have been without this project. 

That week-long project was coordinated by The Ridgewood United Methodist Church and headed by Chuck and Renita Nohejl. And the youths – from all across the country – were housed for the week at Parma Senior High School. The group is returning this summer to help more home owners. 

Programs like this, the Mayor told the assembled listeners, “are examples of what really makes me optimistic about our future, and what truly makes Parma strong. It’s the people – like you – who want to improve this community.”