Commander's Corner - Episode 2 - Western Lake County Mayors - Part 1

Host Bill Monreal sits down with the leading voices of Western Lake County, Ohio, for an exclusive, roundtable discussion on local growth and governance. Featuring Kirtland Mayor Kevin Potter, Willoughby Hills Mayor Chris Hallum, Willowick Mayor Mike Vanni, and Wickliffe Mayor Joe Sakacs, this episode delivers first-hand insights into the landmark development projects, infrastructure investments, and regional collaborations shaping the community.Mayor Kevin Potter of Kirtland, OhioNew Care Facility: This infrastructure is paving the way for a new 99-bed nursing care facility, which will generate property taxes (to be diverted into Tax Increment Financing / TIF dollars) and new payroll taxes to spur further development.Local Food Scene: Mayor Potter highlights Kirtland’s growing reputation as a food destination, shouting out spots like Angelo's Pizza, Tavern 6, Down the Block, Honey's Cafe, The Well, Crowley's, Casa Rosa, Biga Wood Fired Pizza, and Rue (formerly Sausalito).Mayor Chris Hallum of Willoughby Hills, OhioRetail Resurgence: The West End shops, Chardon/Bishop Plaza, and Loehmann's Plaza are filling up rapidly after sitting largely vacant for years. New additions include AutoZone (with a distribution center), Five Below, Burlington, Chipotle, Sheetz, and Crave Cookie.Dining Scene: Highlights local mainstays like Wright Place, The Wine Room, Firehouse Grill, Gaetano's, The Lobster Pot, and Mario Fazio’s (a major city sponsor). A new non-bar food restaurant called Jardee & Moe’s is currently working its way through planning and zoning to take over the old Local Tavern space.Facilities Upgrades: The city is expanding its police department facility (which hasn't been updated since the 1970's) and building a brand-new service garage to replace the one damaged by a tornado two years ago. Notably doing both without raising resident taxes.Mayor Mike Vanni of Willowick, OhioLakefront Lodge Park Upgrades: Construction has officially begun on a new parking lot at Lakefront Lodge Park (adding 50 spaces on a recently cleared adjacent lot). Through a renewed 20-year lease partnership with Lake Metroparks, upcoming additions include a 30x44 picnic pavilion, full-standing restrooms, expanded walking trails, a new HVAC system, a new roof, and a fully rewired outdoor deck for the city's August concert series.New Businesses: Storefronts are filling up fast. A high-end upscale coffee and pizza shop called The Willowick is opening across from The Cabin (which is slated to become a sports bar). Additionally, Alfredo's Italian Market on Euclid Avenue is targeting an opening by Thanksgiving.Mayor Joe Sakacs of Wickliffe, OhioThe Lubrizol Expansion: In a massive win for Northeast Ohio, Lubrizol chose Wickliffe over competing sites in Texas and Brecksville for a major expansion. They are building a "Super Lab" at their current location, bringing over 400 high-quality jobs to the city over the next year and a half. Development will heavily focus on the Lakeland Boulevard and Lloyd Road highway corridor.New Performance Pavilion: Wickliffe just secured a $137,000 state grant (to be matched by the city) to build a new performance pavilion at the historic Coulby Park. It will replace an outdated gazebo for markets, a summer theater, concerts, and art fairs.Local Logistics & Retail: The Online Liquidation Auctions (OLA) facility on Euclid Avenue is absolutely booming, drawing 2,500 cars a day. A new Circle K is on track to open near it by December, and there is active retail interest in the old McDonald's property nearby. Sweet Berry Fresh Market is also planning a physical expansion in the next six months to separate its heavy checkout lines from the deli lines.