Stocker running for 2nd term

Staff report

struthers

Mayor Terry Stocker is running unopposed in the May 3 primary election for a second four-year term.

Before becoming mayor, Stocker, who says he and his family are all from the city, previously served on city council for 18 years.

“I love my community, and I care about it,” he said. “I chose to run again because I don’t feel my job is completed yet.”

Stocker reflected this week on the projects he’s overseen while in office. He helped the city fund those projects by getting government grants of $10.9 million and low- or no-interest loans of nearly $4 million, he said.

Those projects include the Lower Connector Bridge at the end of Bob Cene Way in the brownfields. The bridge, which spans the river to Campbell and will connect to a future access road there, will make it easier for brownfields traffic to get to the Center Street Bridge and then to Interstate 680. For that reason, city officials believe the brownfields will be a more attractive location for businesses.

Stocker also oversaw a methane-gas generator conversion project at the city’s wastewater plant. Two new generators are being installed, and they will convert methane, a by-product of treatment at the plant, to energy. With the new generators, the city will save money in utility costs.

Other projects included State Street resurfacing; culvert replacement projects on Spring Street, Fifth Street and Maplewood Avenue; and paving for Fifth Street and Center Road.

Safety-improvement projects include preventing flooding and erosion on Clingan Road and lowering the road surface to prevent flooding on Runge Boulevard.

Sewers were replaced and upgraded in the southeast sanitary-sewer rehabilitation project.

During Stocker’s tenure, grants were obtained to fund a facade-renovation program for downtown businesses and demolition of blighted buildings through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

The city also partnered with Mill Creek MetroParks and Mahoning County to improve Yellow Creek Park with a new bridge and entrance way and the area nearby with lighting and sidewalks.

Stocker said he also helped get security cameras at several city-owned sites and parks and a canine unit, bike-patrol and shooting range for police.

He said many culverts and ravines were cleared of more than 1,500 tires along with appliances and other debris.

Improvements at parks included new baseball diamonds, sealed and striped parking lots and bleachers that were moved from the old high-school stadium to Mauthe Park.

Stocker said he is concerned with making the city a safe and attractive place to live, and he wants to attract more businesses.

He said he wants to help the city provide the best services it can while keeping a balanced budget.