Politics & Government

Zilka Injects Humor, Speaks of Compassion at Mayors Luncheon

Says city is "doing well" in trying times.

Borrowing a page from the Jim Smith book of humorous speeches, Avon Lake Mayor Greg Zilka took the opportunity to entertain a sold-out crowd at this year’s Mayors Luncheon March 20 at Tom's Country Place. The annual lunceon features mayors from Avon, Avon Lake, Sheffield Lake and Sheffield Village.

He opened with a joke about how Smith called him last week to tell him Easter was postponed this year.

“I asked him how that could be and he proceeded to tell me that Pope Francis came out on the balcony, saw his shadow and now we have six more weeks of Lent,” Zilka said. “Now I can’t say that, but Mayor Smith can get away with that.”

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He then jokingly said he met Smith last week “and after kissing his ring” reminded Avon’s mayor how much his city cooperated with their neighbor’s to the north during the and added it would be nice to add “Avon Lake” to the I-90 Nagel Road sign, which currently only boasts Avon. Smith said a change was in the works.

“I’m pleased to tell you that that sign will go up before the end of the project,” Zilka said. The interchange, while open, still requires landscaping and touch-ups when the weather warms.

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Zilka said adding Avon Lake to the sign was important to the city’s businesses.

Without missing a beat, he added, “I also want to thank Mayor Smith for all the deer he sent north.”

He also talked about the city’s economic situation.

“Avon Lake is doing well under these trying circumstances,” he said, before outlining some of the city’s strategies for economic growth, including the Jobs Growth Incentive Plan, the hiring of a business liaison, Brad Fairfield, and the upcoming business expo on April 18.

He reiterated the power plant, now under the banner of NRG, is still slated to close in April of 2015.

Commercial and residential building in the city increased in 2012, representing more than $33 million in contracts.

“These are all signs the economy is slowly recovering,” Zilka said.

He commended the city’s departments including engineering, service, police and fire departments, noting that Avon Lake police responded to 12,444 calls, many of them alarms and welfare checks, that resulted in 894 arrests. Police put 114 individuals in the city jail, who remained incarcerated an average of 3.5 hours (Avon Lake is not a long-term facility; prisoners may be transferred to the county jail.)

Zilka said he met police Chief David Owad in 1978 while he was waiting for his wife. Owad, a young officer, had pulled over the future mayor, checking his license and registration.

“But the best part of that story is...now I’m his boss,” Zilka said as the audience, which included Owad, laughed.

Zilka touched on the two drownings at Miller Road Park and again commenting on emergency responders positive and compassionate response. He again thanked the community for passing the paramedic levy in November, which initially failed months before. As a result, recreation events, including concerts and Movies Under the Stars (held in 2013 at Weiss Field), will continue.


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