Ward Meeting Provides Insight to Future Projects

Ward 1 Councilman Sam Scaffide holds ward meetings to reflect on the positive happenings in Twinsburg, but says he doesn't see the world through rose-colored glasses.

He teamed up with Ward 3 Councilman Ted Yates on Tuesday night to talk about projects that will affect the future of their wards. More than 30 residents attended.

"We wanted to get together and fill everybody's heads with good information about the things going on here," Scaffide said. "I don't look through rose-colored glasses — I know we have problems and issues as well — but when we look at other communities, Twinsburg is faring pretty well."

Yates and Scaffide agreed that getting things done right takes cooperation from department heads, the administration and residents. 

The first guest speaker was Constance Longmire from Kent State University's Geauga Campus. She gave the audience a look at renderings of the new campus and talked about what it would feature.

"We are currently housed in the old school," Longmire said. "It's really pretty and really nice, but we have outgrown that facility. There are currently 900 students and 125 parking spaces."

Within 15 months, the new facility, which will be known as the Twinsburg Regional Academic Center, will be complete just down the road from the post office. It will be built on 16 acres, be 44,000 square feet, two floors and green-oriented.

"We'll be able to offer more degrees, have more classes and we'll be able to offer a masters and doctorate program," Longmire said. "We're very excited about what we do and continuing our growth in this area."

Mayor Katherine Procop was the second speaker, and she added that the new building is a great accomplishment for the city and Kent State University. She said plans for the old school building include making it a small business incubator.

Procop highlighted some of the city's accomplishments in the past year and what will be accomplished this year, including the "Twinsburg Trifecta." It includes the building and completion of University Hospital, the Cleveland Clinic and the KSU regional campus.

"These are three amazing projects that I'm very happy about and that have really spurred other interest in the city," Procop said. "We are really becoming well-known in this region for health and education and that's the direction we want to go."

She also mentioned significant cuts the administration has made to the budget, such as decreasing the budget by 14 percent last year and 8 percent this year. She added that the city has been able to accomplish several projects using only grant money.

Other meeting highlights:

• Public Works Director Chris Campbell said there will be another branch pick-up week starting Monday. He also added that several roads will be getting asphalt repair this summer including East Idlewood Drive, Belmeadow Drive, Serene Court and Firelands.
• Police Chief Christopher Noga announced that crime rates are stable and low. He added that the number of emergency calls has gone up, but he attributes that to residents being better watchdogs. He also said the number of traffic crashes in 2010 was lower than 2009.
• Parks and Recreation Director Derek Schroeder announced that pool passes are on sale now and the price will increase on May 28. He added that the Community Gardens that normally open on Mother's Day will not be open until later this year due to weather.
• City Engineer Amy Mohr talked about construction projects in the city, including traffic studies on SR 91 and the Shepard and Ravenna roads intersection, widening Creekside at SR 91 and adding railroad gates and lights at SR 91 and SR 82.