Welcome! Thank you, for attending the annual Cuyahoga Falls state of the city address as we celebrate the 250th birthday of our nation. By comparison, Cuyahoga Falls is 214 years old which isn’t too far behind, we have really come a long way. Like our country, Cuyahoga Falls has grown exponentially and we now rank as the 15th largest city in the state.
The theme of my presentation today will be describing the many pieces of the puzzle that it takes to make up Cuyahoga Falls. My goal this afternoon is to highlight and describe the importance of the many pieces that make up our thriving city. We have a complex interlocking puzzle made up of many employees that perform a multitude of tasks. So… before I rattle off a bunch of financial numbers and list of accomplishments, I first want to acknowledge our 400 dedicated city employees that make it all happen. Would every Cuyahoga Falls city employee please stand up?
Thank you for all that you do, and I now I want to take a moment to give examples of how important you all are to the operation.
You see, unlike similar-sized 400-person companies that do landscaping, manufacture widgets, or remodel homes, our employees directly influence our safety and quality of life- 24/7/365. We never close. We rely on every city employee to fulfill a vital need. In fact, our 400 city employees are the only thing standing between us and total chaos.
Obviously, a puzzle isn’t complete with even one piece missing, but to prove a point, let’s pretend they all quit their jobs; all of them, what would happen? Would we even notice? Let’s take a look.
Well, the first part of the puzzle involves our Electric Department employees, who are the suppliers of electrons that we are so heavily reliant on.
Currently, they do 90% of their maintenance work with wires fully energized, and while we’re hiding under the covers at night during a storm, they are 30 feet up in the air on a pole, in 60-mph winds, making repairs.
So, if our electric workers didn’t exist, this room would be dark, we would have no phone chargers, no heating, no cooling, no lighting, no internet, and ironically, no Facebook to complain on.
Then there’s the puzzle pieces known as the Water and Sewer departments—the unsung heroes of miles of hidden underground pipes. Fortunately, ‘out of sight, out of mind” isn’t in their vocabulary. They’re the reason that when you turn on the tap, you get a glass of clean water, and when you flush, your problem becomes their problem. Without them, and no water and no sewer services, we would revert back to primitive times with a well and a good old outhouse in the backyard.
Our Sanitation crews? They’re the piece of the puzzle that keeps all of our trash, recyclables, yard waste, and bulk items picked up with a smile.
Actually, four different trucks drive by your house each service day. Without them, our trash would pile up, our neighborhoods would quickly become smelly and rat-infested, and at least at my house, you would see the world’s largest mountain of Amazon boxes.
Street Department? No more paving, snowplowing, salting, or patching. IT department? Every traffic light shuts down.
Park and Rec? Well, this building we are in gets boarded up, Quirk Senior Center padlocked, our 27 neighborhood parks fall apart, Water Works Aquatics Center has no water, and Brookledge Golf Club becomes a cow pasture.
And lastly, our Police and Fire departments, who combined, respond to over 50,000 calls per year. They are the puzzle pieces who handle every imaginable emergency at a moment’s notice. They’re the ones who run towards danger while the rest of us run away. But… without them, please don’t have a heart attack, a fall, or a car crash.
Without them, our health and safety would vanish, oh and don’t bother calling 911, because remember, your phone is dead, and no one would be there to answer anyway.
Without all these employees, the puzzle doesn't just come apart; it totally dissolves. So, today, I want to pay my respects to the 400 heroes and sheroes who keep us from having to figure out how to live in primitive times like we did back in 1776!
Thank you again to Dr. Kent and Western Reserve Hospital for your ongoing support of the City of Cuyahoga Falls, our programs, and most importantly, for providing top-notch medical care to our community.
To the leadership of the Greater Akron Chamber and the Business Commons of Cuyahoga Falls, thank you for your continued investment and support of our business community. To our neighbors at Leo’s Italian Social, thank you for the delicious food this afternoon.
I am honored to have leadership from both Cuyahoga Falls City Schools and Woodridge Local Schools with us here today. Together, these districts work tirelessly to educate our children and mold the future of Cuyahoga Falls and our region.
To our members of our City Council with us today, thank you for your continued commitment to public service and your partnership in moving Cuyahoga Falls forward. I can honestly say that this is truly an amazing group of public servants that care about the city ahead of themselves.
I would like to take a moment to acknowledge former longtime Ward 7 Councilman Jerry James, who retired last year after 24 years of dedicated advocacy for the residents of Ward 7. Jerry and I started on Council together in 2001. We were then joined by Diana Colavecchio on council in 2006. From her service on City Council to Stow Clerk of Courts and finally as Cuyahoga Falls’ Community Development Director, Diana devoted 20 years of her life to public service.
Jerry and Diana, it has been a pleasure to work with you over the years, and I am proud to call you both friends.
And, to my wife and partner in life, Stephanie, I could not do any of this without your support, understanding, and love. Thanks for your patience and thanks for staying off of social media, something I probably need to try as well.
With that, let’s get started. Without the city having money, there would be nothing to report, so I’ll start with our current fiscal picture. Through the continued strong leadership of our award-winning finance department, we finished out 2025 with an extremely healthy general fund carryover, or rainy day fund of nearly $21 million.
This sound fiscal stewardship allows us to move forward with critical infrastructure improvements while continuing to expand support for our neighborhoods, parks, and businesses.
Last spring, I mentioned that we were preparing to break ground on two large-scale projects that would mark the final phases of our reimagined downtown.
The RiverLoop project not only revamps the boardwalk built more than 40 years ago, but also adds a fully accessible 10-foot walkway high above the river to allow all visitors to experience the beauty of the Cuyahoga. I look forward to seeing strollers, bikes, surreys, and walkers enjoying the RiverLoop this fall.
The final piece of the downtown puzzle is the reconstruction of South Front Street, which will tie the area south of Broad Boulevard to the rest of downtown with infrastructure improvements, additional parking, and unique amenities such as a bicycle themed park known as Pedal Park. Combined with the kayak themed park at Front and Portage, we will have Paddle Park and Peddle Park. While these projects are downtown, our investment also continues throughout the city.
The completion of the Triangle Project at the northern entrance to the city at State, Seasons, and Wyoga Lake Roads updated the traffic pattern for safer travel, less delays, added sidewalks, and a multi-use path to provide connectivity to upcoming projects in the corridor.
Anchored by our new state-of-the-art electric building, Cochran Road is ready for commercial development with a new concrete road and site-ready utilities. Last summer, we welcomed residents to the new electric building featuring a command center, 53,000 total square feet, and a rooftop solar array that can power half of the building on a sunny day.
Speaking of solar...one project that has long been in the works is a joint venture with the City of Akron to install a solar array on the former Hardy Road landfill. This project represents a strong collaboration between Cuyahoga Falls and Akron—a partnership focused on turning a former landfill into an opportunity that benefits residents in both communities – with Akron benefiting from upfront lease payments while Cuyahoga Falls helps to ensure lower electric bills for residents for decades to come.
For many years, the site had very limited redevelopment potential.
Today, through cooperation between our cities, we are working to transform that space into a 77-acre solar energy site capable of generating a substantial amount of clean, renewable power. This project shows that when cities collaborate rather than compete, we can create solutions that serve the best interests of our residents and strengthen the entire region.
In Cuyahoga Falls and Akron, we’re proving that regional partnership can turn yesterday’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities.
And that commitment to smart, forward-looking investment extends beyond energy, as we continue to improve infrastructure, modernize city services, and prepare Cuyahoga Falls for the future.
On behalf of our residents, thank you, Congresswoman Sykes, for advocating for Cuyahoga Falls and helping us invest in infrastructure that serves not just today, but the next generation as well.
This critical investment will help modernize our century-old facility and ensure safe, reliable drinking water for decades to come. The new, state-of-the-art treatment upgrades will serve more than 55,000 residents across Cuyahoga Falls, Silver Lake, and Munroe Falls—strengthening the entire Cuyahoga Falls water system.
Every single day, our plant produces more than 6 million gallons of drinking water. That water flows into homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses. It supports public health, economic development, and quality of life. This funding ensures that what comes out of your tap meets the highest standards of safety and quality. It reflects a smart partnership between federal leadership and local government, and it demonstrates what can be accomplished when we work together.
Cuyahoga Falls is open for business.
Our partnership with the Business Commons of Cuyahoga Falls and the Greater Akron Chamber continues to strengthen regional collaboration and expand opportunity.
Situated in the heart of downtown Cuyahoga Falls, The Business Commons serves Greater Akron Chamber members as a resource for small business programming and community connections in a collaborative work environment.
While collaboration with neighboring communities to serve our residents is vital in our region, it is also true that cities throughout northeast Ohio compete with each other to attract new businesses and retain current employers. In this competitive environment, our job is to tell the story of what sets Cuyahoga Falls apart. Thank you to the chamber for helping us do just that.
Whether it’s federal and state historic tax credits available in our downtown area, property tax incentives, matching grants or loans through our CDBG program, or low-interest financing through our Community Improvement Corporation, our Community Development Department has the tools to assist entrepreneurs with starting a new business or expanding their current business.
One of our recent success stories is Momentous Mold and Machine, which recently took over the former Reuther Mold location. Through the efforts of a business retention visitation with the Greater Akron Chamber and the County, we were able to pinpoint ways to incentivize this new venture. With seven decades of history in Cuyahoga Falls, Reuther and manufacturing companies like it have helped to build our city into what it is today. Through economic development incentives, we were able to assist Momentous with the expansion of its business. Thank you to the team at Momentous for investing in Cuyahoga Falls and securing high-quality jobs for years to come.
Cuyahoga Falls is not just attractive to business. We offer a diverse housing stock, from new developments and historic homes to condos and townhouses for maintenance-free living, walkable neighborhoods, and rural parcels – we have something to fit any buyer.
Our housing market remains hot, with steady year-over-year increases in sale prices, and homes selling often within one day.
In 2025, the zip code 44221 in Cuyahoga Falls was ranked #22 out of 41,552 total zip codes in the USA as one of the hottest zip codes in the country according to REALTOR.COM. Less quantifiable, but just as important to our city's growth, is our sense of community. Neighbors helping neighbors, our community comes together for events, and for each other. Don’t just take my word for it. Let’s hear from one of Cuyahoga Falls’ most well-known residents and biggest cheerleaders for all things Falls – Mr. Derby - Jeff Iula – about community in Cuyahoga Falls.
Connectivity is an important part of any puzzle.
What is a community without connection? Neighborhoods are built on connection, both physically through sidewalks and parks, front yards and porches, block parties and more, but the relationships that we build with our neighbors through sharing our lives are what build and strengthen those connections.
Neighborhood leaders help us build community one-on-one or through volunteering as a Neighborhood Ambassador - the local point person in their neighborhood and key to sharing information with their Council representative and the Mayor. In the past year, the Neighborhood Ambassador program has grown by more than 30 members, which tells me that our residents care about community.
Speaking of connectivity… you've heard me mention walkable and bikeable… those aren't just buzz words. They are features that current and future residents, workforce, and visitors demand.
Our Community Development Department, in partnership with Woodridge Local Schools and AMATS, is in the process of completing a safe streets assessment focusing on the northern quadrant of the city, where sidewalks and trails are lacking, limiting safe pedestrian and bike traffic outside neighborhoods.
Connecting eleven neighborhoods with safe pathways to a bustling business corridor is in the works at State and Bath Roads with Phase 2 of the Mud Brook Trail.
This phase will extend along Mud Brook from Bath Road at Old Mill Drive to Peoplecare Park Drive behind BW3s on State Road. When completed, the Mud Brook Trail will span 1.5 miles from Pleasant Meadow Boulevard to just north of State Road. Funded by a $500,000 ODNR grant and the Mud Brook-Mill Pond TIFF, the project is scheduled for completion in fall 2027.
You are always just steps away from outdoor adventure in Cuyahoga Falls - from the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Summit Metro Parks to our 27 neighborhood parks, we have something for everyone, including class 5 rapids on the river.
The Cuyahoga River is the heart of our city. Not only does it run through historic downtown, but it is the reason we exist. In the past, the river was used for travel and industry. Today, it is used for recreation and tourism.
A major step in seeing the river’s full potential is the removal of the Gorge Dam. With a $100 million price tag, the project is expected to be completed by 2030. I’m sure some of us in this room wondered if we would see it happen in our lifetime.
The removal of the dam will finally reveal the Big Falls and a roughly 2-mile stretch of challenging whitewater.
With increased activity on the river, we must always keep safety in mind. Last summer, we were tragically reminded of just how powerful nature can be. My heart goes out to the Cross Family. We are working with them to provide a permanent memorial for Braxton and Patrick.
We know that activity on the river will only increase in the coming years. Earlier, I spoke about regional collaboration.
I am proud to say that the city of Cuyahoga Falls has joined with other agencies, including Akron, Munroe Falls, Summit Metro Parks, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and local river enthusiasts to create a consistent safety program for the river. We look forward to its debut later this spring.
Safety forces are among the most visible and essential parts of our community. They are the steady hands and brave hearts who respond when residents face their most difficult moments. Every call answered and every emergency managed reinforces our city’s commitment to service—and that commitment defines who we are.
Last year, I was proud to announce that the 2025 budget included the largest staffing increase to our police and fire departments in decades. The Cuyahoga Falls Police Department welcomed four additional officers and one sergeant, while the Fire Department added six additional firefighters. These additions are more than just numbers—they mean faster response times and greater visibility in our neighborhoods when it matters most.
In addition to increasing staff, we are making significant progress on Fire Station 4 and the new state-of-the-art fire training facility. This project represents a long-term investment in both our firefighters and our community. The training center will serve as a regional asset, providing a modern facility where firefighters—both local and from neighboring communities—can prepare for real-world scenarios in a safe, controlled environment. Thank you to the state legislature for the $3M grant.
Earlier this year, under the leadership of Captain Dawn McIlvain and Sergeant Ryan Alestock, the Police Department established a Special Operations Unit.
In just its first few months, the unit has already produced meaningful results. It focuses on high-volume callers, many of whom are experiencing mental health or addiction challenges, while also engaging with local businesses to provide safety guidance and address concerns across our neighborhoods and commercial districts.
As we look toward the future, we also take time to honor the past. In October, I was honored to join the Cuyahoga Falls Firefighter Memorial Foundation, members of the Fire Department, and our community for the dedication of the Memorial Tower at Station 1 on Front Street. Built upon the city’s historic fire bell, this tribute stands as a lasting reminder of the firefighters who gave their lives in the line of duty.
And while safety, infrastructure, and investment are critical pieces of the puzzle—they’re not the whole picture.
Because a great city isn’t just where you live or work.
It’s where you gather. Where you celebrate. Where you create memories.
Next week, we welcome the World's Largest Rubber Duck to Downtown Cuyahoga Falls. I have to admit that's a sentence I never thought I would say as mayor!
You might be asking yourself, what does it take to be called the World’s Largest Rubber Duck? 60 feet and 15.5 tons - The arrival of the World's Largest Duck will kick off a big weekend in Cuyahoga Falls. Starting with the Cuyahoga Falls City Schools All City Art Walk, followed by the Duck Race on the Downtown Plaza, and Cuyahoga Falls Fest with elite kayakers from across the country racing the rapids – all right in our beautiful downtown. Congratulations to our talented student artists who will showcase their work, the young entrepreneurs who organized the duck race…. and the daredevils who will take on our class five rapids.
That is just the start of the multitude of events and activities around the city. From neighborhood picnics with our Parks & Rec Department in each of our eight wards, to a summer of fun downtown with festivals, special events, music, and fireworks celebrating America 250, to Water Works and more, there is something for everyone in Cuyahoga Falls.
All of this is great, but not if it’s a secret. So, how do we get our message out?
How do we let people who live in Sandusky know that they don’t need to fly to Cuyahoga Falls airport to drop in for a visit.
It only takes one visit to Cuyahoga Falls to know that we have something for everyone, but how do we get that message out to people who have never been here? Earlier this month, we launched a new destination marketing campaign – It’s All in the Falls. The goal is simple: to showcase everything our community has to offer and encourage more visitors to spend time—and invest their dollars—here in Cuyahoga Falls and throughout Summit County.
Tourism plays an important role in a healthy local economy. When visitors come to our city, they dine in our restaurants, shop in our stores, attend events, and support local businesses.
Those visits translate directly into revenue for small businesses, job opportunities for residents, and increased economic activity across our community.
Our message is that you don’t have to travel far to experience great dining, outdoor adventure, arts and culture, and unique local destinations. In Cuyahoga Falls, you can find all of it in one place.
And now, let me return to the puzzle.
Each department. Each project. Each partnership. Each resident. Every piece matters.
The picture becomes clearer, and the puzzle comes together.
Cuyahoga Falls is a city that honors its past while boldly shaping its future.
We are a city that values service, invests in infrastructure, protects safety, welcomes all, and embraces opportunity.
We are not just preparing for 2026—we are building for 2126.
To our employees, you are the caretakers of this puzzle.
To our residents, you are the reason we assemble it.
And to the next generation, you are the future it will reveal.
As a gift for being here, everyone in the room will receive a version of this completed puzzle for you to take home.
In closing, The State of the City is strong, in fact stronger and more cohesive than ever.
And together—we will keep building, because I won’t rest until there are only two groups of people: Those who live in Cuyahoga Falls, and those who wish they did.
Thank you.