Results For Avon Lake Residents

- A Proven Record -

Fiscal Policy

  • Lean and efficient city budgets without sacrificing quality city services

Economic Development

  • 1,600 jobs retained with Ford Motor Company
  • Kept the GenOn power plant operating using coal with plans for natural gas in the future.
  • Expanded the Economic Development Director to Full-time
  • Established the annual Avon Lake Business Expo and Promoted Small Business Saturday
  • Giant Eagle assurance of their presence in Avon Lake for years to come
  • Rewrite of Avon Lake’s Land Use Plan and Planning and Zoning Code to encourage development
  • New jobs and reinvestment by PolyOne and Lubrizol
  • 100 jobs created by Drug Mart utilizing a formerly vacant building for a new mail-order pharmacy

Ensuring Quality and Excellence of Safety Forces

  • Update of Avon Lake’s Community Disaster Plan to ensure a coordinated response with the Emergency Management Agency.
  • Added three firefighter/paramedics to increased 911 calls
  • Avon Lake Fire Department reorganization for added efficiency
  • Coordination with the Chief of Police to arranged neighborhood “Coffee with a Cop”
  • Expanded the Citizens Police Academy and Big Trucks program
  • Professional and collaborative leadership with Fire and Police Chiefs

Senior Programming

  • Hot lunches
  • Movies
  • Lunch and Learns
  • Games
  • Bus trips
  • Sr. Prom
  • Sr. Exercise Room

Corporate Partnerships/Sponsors of City and Recreation Department Programs

  • PolyOne
  • Design Engineering, Inc.
  • Love-A-Stray
  • Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Cleveland Browns
  • Cleveland Indians
  • Heritage Avon Lake
  • Avon Lake Youth Basketball Federation
  • Avon Lake High School Coaches

New or Expanded Programs

  • Light up the Park
  • Christmas Light Bus Tour
  • Breakfast with the Easter Bunny
  • Boo by the Woods
  • Fishing with Friends
  • Yoga in the Park
  • Concerts at Miller Road Park and and Bleser Park
  • Squeaky Sneakers
  • Open gym basketball, pickleball, volleyball, dodgeball
  • Baseball/softball
  • Football
  • Indoor batting cage for the community
  • Fitness and Yoga classes
  • MS and Parkinson’s classes
  • Bubble soccer
  • Cruise In Car show
  • Big Splash with Love A Stray
  • Tail gate Dog Show with Love A Stray
  • Star Parties
  • Kayaking and sunset tours
  • Cooking classes
  • Sport & coaching development for kids and adults

The Public Works Department and Quality City Services

  • Created the Public Works Department, a consolidation of the Service and Engineering Departments
  • The Public Works Department has maintained quality City services in a more efficient manner
  • Constructed a salt storage facility allowing the City to purchase salt at bulk prices

Communicating With Avon Lake Residents

  • Initiated annual citywide Ward Meetings to have direct dialogues and informational sessions with city residents

Tough Issues Of Our Times

  • Initiated the Drug Abuse Forums in response to the state and national crises of opiate addiction and its impact on our families.
  • 2014 Avon Lake awarded “You’re a Champion from Communities that Care of Lorain County”.
  • LCADA (Lorain County Alcohol and Drug Agency) has established a resource and counseling center in Avon Lake.
  • Mayor Zilka was appointed to the Alcohol Drug Addiction Services Board in 2017 with the goal of providing prevention and treatment services to all residents of Lorain County.
  • Avon Lake’s efforts have served as a model to other communities in our area impacted by opiate addiction.

Facilities

  • Established the Anchor Recreation Facility
  • Folger Home available for rental
  • New deck at Folger Home
  • New tennis/pickleball courts
  • Overlook park – playground and sprayground
  • New and improved ballfields at Weiss Field and Sunset Park
  • Built a Gazebo at Veteran’s Memorial Park