Business View Civil & Municipal Apr-2023

118 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4 Another challenge for Willowick to tackle beyond the lakefront connection and downtown revitalization projects is a sewer infrastructure undertaking that involves getting as much usable life out of its existing sewer network. “Not particularly attractive or exciting, but our city was essentially constructed a little over 50 years ago with that explosion of growth after World War II, and the time has come to manage the challenges that arise from an aging sewer system,” Patton explains. “The pipes are very expensive to work on and you don’t see them, but when you’re talking about infrastructure, that’s about as head-on as you can get.” So far, Willowick has attacked sewer work in a piecemeal fashion, hoping to cut costs by lining the sewers rather than replacing the lines altogether. “It’s about half the cost and freeing up that budget has allowed us to focus on other projects,” Vanni says. “We are trying to get at least half a street done each year. The lakefront is definitely where the future is for Willowick, but I think in the present, the concerns lie with infrastructure. That, and keeping our safety forces top-notch, like they are right now. Our new fire chief has done an excellent job of keeping our shifts staffed, which is difficult to do these days, and our police department is second-to-none.” Sitting at “the other end of the table” as acting Mayor, Vanni feels humbled by the opportunity to lead amidst the family atmosphere at Willowick’s City Hall. “Being involved on a more daily basis, and meeting everybody who works for the city, it’s just unbelievable the talent we’ve got here that I get to see now, day in, day out,” he says. “You know, now I understand why people choose to live their whole lives here.” PREFERRED VENDOR/PARTNER n Kurtz Bros., Inc. www.kurtz-bros.com