Roads, Recreation at the Top of the City’s List of Priorities

Brecksville’s elected officials and department administrators are on the same track when it comes to city priorities: maintaining the city’s streets and buildings are the most important, but it’s time to grow.

and discussed a survey the council members, mayor and administrators took on what they feel are the most important issues facing the city. The survey helps council set priorities and plan financially, said in an email.

described some of the issues that were important to everyone, such as expanding city services and developing more recreational facilities. But improving city infrastructure—like sanitary sewers and roads—still comes first.

“And everybody agrees with that,” Hruby said.

Hruby said that a lot of the issues the city has been working on in past years, like stormwater management, are being taken care of at this point. That will free up the city to focus on moving forward with new construction like a and the .

Skaljac noted that one place the administration and the elected officials varied was the importance of creating a water park for the city. Council members put that much higher on the list. There has been talk of building a new pool at Blossom Hill as part of the master plan.

Hruby introduced a new aquatic possibility for the city, suggesting council look into expanding the and building a new indoor pool/water park that could be used year-round. The pool could replace the current outdoor pool, which Hruby called “inadequate.” The Community Center needs improvement anyway, he said: the filters and pumps will soon need to be replaced, and the roof needs work. It could be more cost effective than building a brand new pool facility.

The water park is just an idea at this point, but council will have to figure out a way to pay for all the improvements they want to make. The city is a financially conservative one, a point members made at the end of their discussion. Developing Blossom Hill, renovating the Community Center and Old Town Hall and building a new police station could get costly.