Mayor Will Push for Smoking Ban on City Property

Mayor Tom Perciak, who has championed an employee wellness program and brought healthier food choices to the Ehrnfelt Recreation Center, said he will take his efforts a step further by seeking to ban smoking on all city property.

"We will be pushng for a totally smoke-free environment at all city buildings and grounds in 2013," Perciak said.

The announcement came during the mayor's 10th State of the City Address last week.

Smoking is already prohibited in city buildings, but the new ban would also encompass Strongsville's parks and other property.

Perciak said the city has been working the the Cleveland Clinic, Southwest General and Medical Mutual on an employee wellness program that has included twice-a-year screenings for body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol levels and diabetes.

Building Department Goes High Tech

The city's Building Department has installed new software that lets residents and contractors do much of their business online.

"This is state-of-the-art," Perciak told a packed house at the Ehrnfelt Rec Center. 

Building permits can now be applied for online and paid for by credit card. The buyer can then print out the permit himself.

Residents can report violations or make complaints through the city's website, as well.

Building inspectors are carrying iPads in the field to immediatly share reports and documents with the city's database. 

Perciak said Strongsville is the first city in the state to use the software.

Jobs Created, More on the Way

In 2013, 12 companies either relocated to Strongsville or built here, creating more than 600 new jobs and filling 500,000 square feet of vacant space in the city's industrial park. 

This year, more than 100,000 square feet has already been filled, and over 200 jobs created, according to Perciak.

New or expanding companies in town include IMARC Research, Foundation Software and Lumitex. 

The mayor said that while the unemployment race in Cuyahoga County and Ohio hovered at 6.6 percent in December, Strongsville's was 5.2 percent.

Pearl Road Moving Forward

Biggest project in 2013 will be the second phase of the Pearl Road widening, which is expected to start in September.

"This is a vital corridor to our business park and 500 contiguous acres," Perciak said.

The project will also give developers access to 68 acres of residential land, which will translate into about 150 new buildable lots, and to 36 commercial acres that could support 350,000 square feet of retail.

"There are people who want new homes (in Strongsville)," the mayor said.

Crime, Accidents Down

Perciak, saying that safety "is first and foremost" to his administration, pointed out that 2012 saw a 25 percent decrease in property crimes and a 26 percent reduction in injury accidents.

Police and fire account for 49 percent of Strongville's operating budget.

Perciak said Fire Chief Jeff Branic has also created an "incident action plan" to address safety at major city events, like Homecomeing and Day at the Chalet.