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Accomplishments
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Mayor Thomas O’Grady and Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough were joined by Cuyahoga County Engineer Robert Klaiber on December 18, 2008 for a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the official opening of Crocker Road-Stearns Road Extension between Lorain Road and Center Ridge, the highly anticipated corridor linking North Olmsted and Westlake . The ceremony took place at 10:30 am at the city line between North Olmsted and Westlake.
“I first started working this issue when I was elected to Council in 1995. Mayor Clough and I have stood shoulder to shoulder to ensure that the project would move forward,” said Mayor O’Grady. “Now we stand with Engineer Bob Klaiber to deliver this new roadway almost one year ahead of schedule. Of note, Mayor O'Grady traveled to Washington to meet with Congressman Dennis Kucinich and protect a set-aside for this roadway. "This project was completed at no cost to our taxpayers."
The project consists of the reconstruction and widening of existing Stearns Road, reconstruction of the Lorain Road and Center Ridge Road intersections, and the new construction of 1.62 miles of Crocker Road-Stearns Road that includes pavement, grading, storm drainage, culverts, traffic signals, sidewalks, driveways, noise walls and a bike path in the city of Westlake. The project was originally scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2009. "Close coordination between the County, the City of North Olmsted, City of Westlake, and our contractors lead to the early opening of this important roadway," said O'Grady.
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Clague Road between I-480 and Lorain Road was re-opened on Monday, October 16, 2006 amid much celebration by the citizens of the City of North Olmsted. Of great importance to city taxpayers, this important reconstruction was completed ahead of schedule and under budget.
North Olmsted Mayor Thomas O'Grady was joined by local and regional dignitaries as he presided over the ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand re-opening. "Getting this done early is a credit to the coordination that has gone on through several months between the city, the Cuyahoga County Engineers office, and the construction team, " O'Grady said.
Mayor O'Grady pointed out the differences that motorist and area residents will see in the road. "This was a major reconstruction project which improved the quality of the roadway and quality of life for the surrounding neighborhood," O'Grady said. "Not only did we improve the surface of the roadway and provide a center turn lane to improve traffic flow, we also eliminated roadside ditches and the associated water problems which has plagued motorist and area residents alike. For the first time, we now have sidewalks and adequate drainage. This is a great improvement for the citizens who live on Clague Road and our entire community."
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| Ribbon Cutting for the Grand Opening of newly reconstructed Clague Road. From left to right are Service Director Duane Limpert, Councilman Paul Barker, Mayor Thomas O'Grady, President of Council Kevin Kennedy, Radio Personality John Lanigan, and Chamber of Commerce Executive Director John Sobolewski. |
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North Olmsted Mayor Thomas O'Grady was honored by Cleveland State University Levin College of Urban Affairs as the Distinguished Elected Official of the Year for 2007. The Leadership Academy Society of the Levin College annually selects an elected official from the region for their "Distinguished Elective Service Award." O'Grady was selected based upon his long and distinguished elective service in North Olmsted, and for the regional contributions that he has made serving on the boards of several Greater Cleveland organizations.
Mayor Thomas O'Grady has served as the Cuyahoga County representative to the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council, which works to provide affordable gas and electric service to all county residents, and on the board of the Cuyahoga County Senior Transportation Connection, which provides transport to seniors and the disabled. He was also elected statewide to serve as on the board of the Ohio Municipal League. Mayor O'Grady was joined by his wife Jo and many representatives of the City of North Olmsted government as he accepted this award.
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On Thursday July 12, 2007, Mayor Thomas O'Grady officiated at an historic moment for the City of North Olmsted as he cut the ribbon opening a new 16,000 square foot fire station on the western edge of the city. The new Fire Station 2 replaces a 4,000 square foot facility which opened 51 years earlier.
Mayor O'Grady noted that this new facility will house the latest equipment needed for a modern fire department, and will also serve as a base for Hazmat (hazardous materials) and other regional equipment. Additionally, the new station is designed to handle all of the departments communications equipment as needed, and to serve as command center in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. "We are very proud to have already hosted a major training exercise at Fire Station 2 that will ensure that we are ready to protect our residents in the event of a major catastrophe," O'Grady said. The station also includes a generator that will allow for independent operation in the event of a major power outage."
"We have planned well for this," O'Grady said while noting the variety of functions which the new station can handle that the previous one couldn't. "This new facility will serve the residents of North Olmsted and our neighboring communities for 40 to 50 years into the future."
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Mayor Thomas O'Grady cut the ribbon and opened the new children's area at the North Olmsted Public Library on October 10th of last year. "With these latest improvements, our library now has dedicated areas for Middle School and High School students to use for study, along with a new meeting rooms for our community and vastly improved childrens' learning areas," said O'Grady. A large new meeting room and student study area is now located in the lower level, with a new childrens area on the main floor that includes and in-house barn, educational/interactive toys, and barnyard animals they can climb upon. Mayor O'Grady stated, "Young children learn by doing, and our new improvements in the youth area will enhance that opportunity while separating much of the noise they create from the main library area." This improvement project was completed using available funds from the original bond issue that was passed by North Olmsted residents in 2000.
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