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Mayor outlines 2025 accomplishments and infrastructure plans in annual report
Summary
St. Marys’ mayor delivered a wide‑ranging 2025 annual report highlighting infrastructure investments (including a $4 million Spring Street reconstruction with ODOT support), utility upgrades and compliance, public‑safety staffing and EMS activity, downtown redevelopment and parks improvements.
The mayor of St. Marys presented the city’s 2025 annual report to the St. Marys City Council, reviewing a year of capital work, service upgrades and economic activity.
"As mayor, it's now my privilege to highlight some of the accomplishments of our city and staff for 2025," the mayor said, then outlined department‑level achievements across utilities, public works, public safety and economic development.
The report noted the renewal of a half‑percent income tax in 2025, which the mayor said will support city services and infrastructure. The electric department logged upgrades and maintenance across 56 miles of distribution lines and 8.5 miles of transmission, including generator and substation work. A GIS mapping initiative was completed for the electrical system, and a new GIS technician role produced updated waterline mapping and utility system consolidation.
Public‑works highlights included continued snow and ice management (approximately 500 tons of salt and grit used) and extensive maintenance hours for street sweeping, park upkeep and pothole repair. The mayor described the ongoing Spring Street reconstruction as a $4 million project funded in part by Ohio Department of Transportation grants and transportation enhancement funds; ODOT will provide the top asphalt surface.
The mayor described progress on the Grist Mill renovation — design finalized and construction bidding started — and said phase two is expected to finish by June 2026, after which the mill will be available as a rentable community space. Downtown façade improvements have awarded roughly $177,000 in matching grants to property owners, the mayor said, and several private investments opened or advanced, including new retail and restaurant projects.
On public safety, the mayor reported that emergency medical service accounted for 78% of the fire department’s responses in 2025: paramedics provided care to 1,366 patients across about 1,336 calls and transported roughly 81% of patients to area hospitals, reflecting ongoing partnerships with regional health providers.
Utilities and environmental compliance were featured throughout the report. The utility office processed nearly 65,000 invoices and billed more than $27 million; the mayor reported that drinking water met state and federal standards, lead and copper sampling fell within allowable limits, and the city continues work with Strand Associates on a sanitary‑sewer overflow elimination plan required by the Ohio EPA.
The mayor also highlighted parks and recreation investments — new play equipment, a storybook trail developed with St. Mary City Schools and upgrades at Casey Geiger Park — and personnel changes including 22 new full‑time hires and several promotions in operations and public safety leadership.
Council members asked clarifying questions after the report, including a correction to a fishing‑hours reference (the council confirmed the intended language is dawn to dusk). The mayor closed by thanking staff and residents for their support and stewardship of city services.
The council did not vote on any items directly tied to the annual report; the presentation was informational and provided context for budget and program planning in 2026.
