North Baltimore, Ohio

January 16, 2025 1:44 pm

January 15, 2019

Thank you for attending this meeting of North Baltimore Village council.  This group meets two times a month for regular meetings and one time for something called Committee of the Whole.  During COTW each committee chair has a chance to present ideas, resident concerns, and other pertinent information to all the other council members and then there is a chance for discussion. 

North Baltimore Mayor Janet Goldner-from Spring 2018

Good Evening. Welcome to the members of our Village Council, Mr. Brillhart our administrator, Tony Swartz our interim finance office, members of the press and residents.

This is my fourth State of the Village address and I am even more excited about our current progress and what is coming.  I am always excited when I get to speak with residents about their ideas for the Village. 

 Our Village was incorporated February 7, 1876 and will be 143 years old on that date in 2019.  A post office called North Baltimore has been in operation since 1874 so our village was ‘here’ before we were incorporated.

We are the largest Village in Wood County and our goal is to provide a solid anchor for the South end of the county.  We are part of Henry Township and work with the township on projects as frequently as we can for the betterment of both.  Currently the Village and the Township work together to make certain there is fire and EMS coverage for our area.  Because we participate in Mutual Aid agreements with surrounding communities, we also will leave our area to provide assistance as needed.

According to ZIPWHO.COM the current population within our city limits is 3,529.  The median age here in the Village is 35.1 years and we cover approximately 2.5 sq. miles.  Our daytime population is a bit larger due to the workers who come into North Baltimore to work at CSP, PolyOne, DS Brown, NBLS, HPJ, Roll Rite (formerly Pull Tarps), HWE, Keystone Foods, and Bakery Feeds.  Every person who comes to town for a job, attend school or school events, or have a meal can help spread the news that North Baltimore is a forward thinking and moving place.  

The possibilities for future growth and economic development are bright and there are plans to utilize the assets we have available to us to continue to create jobs and revenue for the Village.  Council approved the Job Creation Grant in December of 2016 and CSP took advantage of the income tax savings when they created 200 new jobs in their factory.  We are working with Todd Dickerson of Black Swamp Logistics to help facilitate economic growth that will support Village growth and help Village Council build solid plans for that growth.

For me 2018 has been the year of “Keep Moving Forward” If you ask the ladies working in our office how many times I’ve repeated that phrase they would tell you “a lot”  Every time we have had a challenge or a employee change my goal has been to keep the Village moving forward.  Projects that were started in 2017 have been completed and other projects are moving into new phases. 

We have said good bye to several staff this year:  Chris Kirk our former Finance Officer, Chief Alan Baer, and former Village Administrator Allyson Murray.  We are grateful for their service and the many projects finished and started during their tenure.

In January of 2018 we welcomed several new Council members:  Matt Beegle, Tim Engard, Aaron Patterson, and returning for another 4-year term Art Patterson III.

2018 was a busy year for us in the Village as several projects were planned, engineered, and completed.

Infrastructure

          All the buried water lines, storm and sanitary sewers, and the right of way clean outs along with the meter pits, mainline valves, hydrants, catch basins, storm and sanitary man holes.  GIS (Geographic Information System)

Village Park

The following projects were completed in 2018.

  1. Concession Stand Remodel – CDBG Grant $56,000 (spring 2018)
  2. Basketball, Tennis Courts – Natureworks Grant $60,000 (spring 2018)
  3. New Roofs Open-air Shelters – Wood County Park Grant $5,000 (spring 2018)
  4. 8” of Safety Mulch – Wood County Park Grant $9,900 (spring 2018)
  5. We were awarded $      Wood County Park District. 
    1. New Basketball poles etc.
  6. ** The Village will be able to complete $151,000 worth of improvements in Village Park for an investment on our end of $30,000

Safety Services

  1. All Police, Fire, and EMS radios have been upgraded to digital and we have also added the MARKS radio system.
  2. The former EMS truck was re-fitted as a police vehicle and a cost savings for the Village and allows the PD
  3. Several new pieces of equipment were added to our EMS program and Chief Walter searched for grants and was successful in gaining the money to pay for the monitors.

Trees

Our Urban Forest continues to grow and add to property values, beautify our street right of ways, and help the environment by slowing water moving into our storm sewer system.

A new program for residents was started in 2018.  The “Set Back Tree” program was begun.  The Village will pay for a portion of a new tree for a resident to have planted in their yard.  Our Urban Forest will continue to grow.  8 residents took advantage of this program and we will keep this project going for 2019.  The Tree Commission has a approved tree list and put a cap of 10 Set-Back trees so get your application in soon.   Memorial trees are still available as well.

Future

What does the future hold for our Village? 

  1. Downtown Revitalization – $600,000 (Fall 2019)  X 
    1. TMACOG federal funding
  2. Safe Routes to School – $310,000  (Fall 2019) X
    1. ODOT grant $310,000
  3. Neighborhood Revitalization Grant – $500,000 – 6 Village Enhancement Projects
    1. Whistle Stop Parking Lot
      1. Paved, benches, tables, trees, water feature
    1. E. Walnut St. Paving Project
      1. Mill and Pave E. Walnut St.  (Main -Gillette)
    1. Renovate Shelter House #1 (to match #2 and #3)
      1. Remove the chimney, new roof, new windows and doors
    1. ADA Parking spots at Park
      1. 2 paved parking spots outside doors of shelters
    1. Additional Parking at Village Park
      1. Paved area for 40 cars within the park
    1. Northview St. Paving
      1. Mill and Pave Northview
    1. Engineering costs for the entire project

“Strength lies in differences, not in similarities”
― Stephen R. Covey

While we don’t always agree with each other on some of the details, we are committed to working together to build on what has been done in the past.  I count on each Village Council member to keep our residents’ best interest in mind.  Questioning and open minds lead to informed decisions and our differences help broaden the knowledge shared to make those decisions. 

As we ‘Move Forward’ into 2019 my goal continues to be that we build on the foundation left for us by former administrations and look to planning the stewardship of our resources for the future.

Thank you for your kind attention.

Mayor Goldner

“The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.”
― Theodore Roosevelt