Mayor's Report

Mayor’s Report as printed in the Willoughby Times: It is wonderful to welcome the summer weather and the ability to be with each other and outdoors. We still have several exciting weekend events planned this season, including ArtsFest on July 17th, Last Stop Willoughby on August 14th and the Rib Burn-Off on September 11th -12th. (please note – since the printing of Willoughby Times, the DTW Bar and Restaurant Group has cancelled the Rib Burn Off event).

These events are free and a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon in our community. While enjoying our many activities, we encourage you to shop at our local merchants and enjoy our great food and beverage establishments.

Our summer concert series starts on Wednesday, June 30th, with our first Sunset Concert at Osborne Park from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. After that, the Downtown Willoughby Gazebo Concerts are on Thursdays from 7 pm – 9 pm from July 8th – August 26th. The final summer concert will be on Wednesday, September 1st, from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm at Osborne Park.  You can find the full lineup of artists on our website.

We are still working on a few other surprises for the summer, and we ask you to check our Facebook page and website for updates on community events.

Both the Rte. 84 and Lakeshore Blvd. paving projects are underway and on schedule, and we recently awarded the city road repair program to Burton Scot Contractors for a contract value of $758,475.10. This work is funded through our Road and Bridge Fund, which results from our road improvements levy. Work to improve our stormwater systems is also continuing with the award of storm outfall improvements to Nerone & Sons in the total amount of $352,396. Funding for this work comes from our Storm Water Capital Fund.

Summer is also a great time to consider a few “good-neighbor” behaviors. One is to remember to keep all dogs leashed when downtown. Some adults and many children are nervous around pets they don’t know. Also, please be sure to clean up after your pets.

We also encourage our residents to follow city ordinances regarding the use of equipment and tools during early morning hours, the disposal of grass clippings and yard waste and property maintenance in general. These ordinances are meant to enhance our property values and maintain the quality of life in our city.

Finally, we asked that all residents keep “eyes on the street”. If you observe suspicious vehicles, people or activities, please report these to our Police Department. Our safety forces rely on community involvement, and we have a shared responsibility to look after our neighbors.

Have a safe and wonderful summer!