Improvements are currently underway at the Willoughby Hills Community Center, including concrete work for new sidewalks and curbs, and a new digital sign.
The city will install the new sign in front of the building at 35400 Chardon Road. Concrete, electrical and masonry work are currently underway.
“Concrete work should be completed by the end of this week,” said Mayor Chris Hallum. “Masonry work for the new digital sign is underway and should be completed in the next few weeks, followed by installation of the sign.”
Meanwhile, the walkways from the disabled parking spaces in the community center to the front door have been renewed and the path next to the stopping area has been extended to make the walkway more accessible from the main parking lot.
“These improvements will make residents’ journey to and from the community center to their cars safer, and the sign is a great way to inform the public about meetings and upcoming events,” Hallum said. “More improvements are planned for the senior center, as well as exterior work on the building later this year. We are currently putting together bids for those projects.”
In late July, the city began meeting with Willoughby Hills Seniors, Inc. and contractors to finalize plans for the senior center upgrades. It also met with contractors to solicit bids for necessary repairs and maintenance on other city buildings and properties, Hallum said. At that time, the city was awaiting a bid for masonry work for the digital sign.
To support the work at the community center, the City Council passed an ordinance earlier this year establishing a salary and compensation package for the position of part-time Rental Coordinator/Event Manager.
Following a council discussion, Council Vice President Tanya Taylor Draper expressed that she had a clear understanding of the centre’s needs.
To make the center what it can be and to help residents with additional activities and the like, the city needs to find the right people to do the job, Draper said.
Hallum reiterated that a good and efficient rental and recreation program would help the city organize great events for the community while also generating revenue to cover building costs through a thriving rental business.
The part-time Rental Coordinator/Event Manager position involves an average work week of no more than 29 hours (depending on workload) and is paid biweekly.
Originally published:
