Mayor Harris delivers 2024 annual report highlighting infrastructure, grants and staffing

Mayor Harris presented the City of St. Marys' 2024 annual report pursuant to the Ohio Revised Code, saying he could “confidently attest to the fact that the affairs of the city are in good order.”

The report outlined capital projects completed in 2024, state grant awards, departmental work and staffing changes. The mayor singled out completion of the first two phases of the Sleepy Hollow subdivision, the All Abilities Park at Mill Park, completion of the South Street parking lot and a state grant of $750,000 earmarked for interior renovations to the mill building.

The report matters because it documents the city's use of grant and local tax revenues, ongoing infrastructure work and service levels that affect residents' daily life and safety. It also set expectations for projects planned in 2025, including mill renovations and the planned sale of remaining Sleepy Hollow lots.

Highlights and supporting details from the mayor's remarks included:

- Grants and projects: The city received a $750,000 state grant to renovate the interior of the mill; work is expected to begin in 2025 with completion targeted for 2026. Mayor Harris said the city continues discussions with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources about dredging and cleaning the Miami Erie Canal but described state movement on that project as limited.

- Streets, water and engineering: The mayor described multiple street reconstruction phases (Spring Street phases 2 and 3) funded in part by the city’s voted one-half percent income tax. The city completed a 40-acre treatment train on Aqueduct Road funded by an H2Ohio grant intended to improve water quality before discharge to the Miami Erie Canal.

- Public-safety and staffing: Fire Chief Doug Ayers’ department will expand staffing with a target to increase personnel by 16 by the end of 2026 to reach five firefighters per shift (with a minimum of four) plus one administrative position. Police Chief Brian Christopher’s department logged training and response statistics for 2024, including more than 1,900 training hours for officers and dispatchers.

- Utilities and solid waste: The mayor described implementation of a new automated refuse collection system designed to allow one driver per route and reduce manual lifting. He reported that solid waste staff collected what he described as “nearly 8 and a half million pounds” of refuse in 2024; the mayor used an alternate, inconsistent phrasing during the report (see clarifying details). The utility office processed nearly 65,000 invoices and billed about $27,000,000 in 2024, according to the mayor’s summary.

- Economic development and businesses: The city’s industrial and community development manager reported continued investment by local manufacturers, the opening of retail businesses (including Hobby Lobby in fall 2024), and activity in downtown redevelopment. The Community Improvement Corporation sold the armory property to a new buyer who plans to renovate it as an event center.

- Personnel and operations: At year-end the city reported 97 full-time employees, three part-time employees and two seasonal employees; 21 new full-time hires were added during 2024. The mayor praised municipal departments for handling events (including the April eclipse) and routine services such as street maintenance, park upkeep and fleet repairs.

The mayor closed by thanking city employees and encouraging council members to visit departments to better understand operations and staffing needs. No formal council action was recorded on the annual report during the meeting; the mayor and staff presented it as information for council and the public.