Mayor gives midyear update highlighting public safety staffing, housing repairs and park projects

The mayor delivered a midyear update to the Lima City Council outlining city operations, capital projects and neighborhood programs and noting the city's $148,000,000 budget and ongoing efforts on public safety, housing and parks.

The mayor said the midyear report is intended as a "snapshot" of daily work across departments and repeated the administration's tagline "rising together," describing the city's vision as "people-powered progress." She said Lima was named the fifth-best place to live in Ohio by U.S. News & World Report and was listed among the state's top five charming towns to visit, and attributed those recognitions to residents and small-business reinvestment.

The report listed several operational highlights: the utilities department has replaced 992 service lines since 2024; the city and partners abated lead hazards in 13 homes in partnership with West Ohio Community Action Partnership and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funding; 13 vacant units have been returned to the rental market through a rapid rental repair program; six emergency home repairs were completed; five "Better Together" home loans were issued; and three families moved into their first homes in 2025 under city programs.

On public safety, the mayor said total crime is down 4% and violent crime is down 3% compared with the same time last year. The Lima Police Department added 11 officers in 2024, the mayor said, and four more officers have been sworn in so far in 2025, bringing the department to 82 sworn officers. The mayor said EMS calls are up 6% and fire calls are up 23% so far this year and described a feasibility study and a request for qualifications for a new, modern fire station. She said the city has begun setting aside revenue in an EMS reserve fund expected to generate over $800,000 annually to support a new station.

On housing and development, the mayor described a multi-department infield development program using preapproved plats and plans (developed with the Ohio Realtors Association) to speed construction, paired with tax abatements and permitting reviews. She also described a partnership with Mercy Health to open the Mercy Tots childcare center this fall with capacity for 118 children.

Parks and public-space projects listed in the update include a $2,000,000 transformation of the Paul Cheryl Allen Center into a community learning hub; installation of 22 new lights at Martin Luther King Park; South Jackson Community Gardens construction beginning in August with a shelter, restrooms and ADA improvements; Simmons Field upgrades (including turf and ADA seating); Veterans Memorial Grove with a planned August 4 groundbreaking; and near-complete certifications and hiring plans to operate the city pool and aquatic facilities. The mayor also showed renderings of the Central Avenue streetscape project, paid for in part by a U.S. Department of Transportation grant, and a one-million-dollar renovation on Spring Avenue that has already occurred.

Councilors responded with praise and local examples. Councilor Gordon said residents are reporting improvement in city services; Councilor Thompson noted positive community response to new wayfinding signs and reminded residents about upcoming community events and donation drives; Councilor Nipper and others encouraged attendance at neighborhood events and public engagement sessions. No formal policy changes or funding authorizations were made during the mayor's presentation.

The mayor closed by saying the city measures progress in people served and encouraged continued cooperation under the "rising together" theme.