Reflections in City Management

A memorable moment... I was on the job not even a year yet when Westerville got hit by its first hurricane in the fall of 2008. Hurricane Ike came through the Gulf of Mexico and Texas, headed north, and took a big right turn near St. Louis and walloped central Ohio with wind gusts over 70 mph. Nearly 80% of Westerville’s electric customers were out of power and crews worked feverishly to get the lights on throughout the City. For some reason however, my subdivision never lost power, a fact I did not broadly advertise, especially after two days when we still had a couple-hundred customers still out. But coming from a smaller city (Tipp City, pop. 10,000), Westerville didn’t feel as much of a small town to me until I got to my barber later that week for a scheduled haircut. After exchanging niceties and talking about the “big storm,” my barber nonchalantly breaks in. “So, I understand the City Manager’s house didn’t lose power.” It was then that I realized how much Westerville was still a “small town” in so many ways.

I am proud of... This is really a tough one because there are so many. Probably what stands out as one of the most impactful (and difficult) was the South State Street Improvement Project. First, this was identified by City Council as a major priority and all the initial planning studies had been performed by the time I came on board. This commercial thoroughfare was tired, and it showed. We had an opportunity to not only improve the visual and aesthetic quality of the corridor, but also its functional efficiency in terms of traffic movement. Getting all of the right-of-way in hand for both phases was extraordinarily difficult, and I thought the contractor would never stop digging into the gas mains. But this corridor has greatly improved. And, for every $1 the City invested, the private sector has put in $3, encouraging projects like the Aloft Hotel, the major shopping center renovations and other smaller projects that have occurred. It has even spurred our friends in Blendon Township to dress up Westerville Road a little further south, sparking a bit of a revitalization down there as well. I’ll always remember... Again, there have been so many in just that 13year period, it’s hard to know where to start and stop. The purchase and development of the 62 acres now called Westar Place, which led to construction of the Renaissance Hotel; the creation of the WeConnect Data Center and Fiber Network; and the recent expansion of the Community Center are all stand-outs from a physical development standpoint.

Experience-wise, I’d have to add Gov. Kasich’s last (2018) State of the State address and of course hosting the 2019 Democratic Presidential Debate - the largest ever - was certainly an incredible event for the City to prepare for and manage.

But I can’t really say any of these, as great as they were, surpass the horrific events of February 10, 2018. That day, that moment, that scene is emblazoned in the back of my mind and I think of it often. The loss of Tony and Eric and the overwhelming community response to their tragic deaths will be something I’ll carry with me the rest of my life. Those memorials, processions, tributes, and the funeral itself laid bare the heavy grief of an entire community that convened to publicly mourn their heroes - an incomparable and unforgettable sight.

A little “inside ” joke...

I’ve been extremely blessed to have worked with great elected officials and staff. There’s a bit of an internal thing between Julie Colley, Mayor Cocuzzi and me. Julie and Kathy both happened to marry “Davids” whose last name begins with “C-O,” so it was not uncommon for me at times to get a misplaced text or phone call. One time, my phone buzzed alerting me to a text message. As I read it, it had attached a wine list for a restaurant somewhere in the south where the Cocuzzi’s were vacationing. The accompanying message was “How’s this look for dinner?” to which I replied “Great, but it’s gonna take me about 12 hours to get there.”

This super groovy kid from the 70s washed dishes at his family’s restaurant in the Dayton-area. He also played high school football before deciding to attend the University of Dayton, then graduate school at the University of Kansas. Always the community helper, Dave participated in a fundraiser to earn bail money a few years ago.

LongSo

Dave Collinsworth and Julie Colley have a combined total of 31 service years in Westerville. Their retirements early next year mean the end of one era, the beginning of another. Both managers did not sit behind their desks to govern. They were in, and part of, our community. Both volunteer long hours at the Field of Heroes and many other community events. They participate in neighborhood-by-neighborhood food and fun on National Night Out. They worked the long hours with departments for major events, like the 2012 derecho or last year’s Presidential Debate. They’ve mourned the loss of not only Westerville Division of Police Officers Tony Morelli and Eric Joering, but other staff members we lost along the way. Whether you have known them or not, they are unequivocally part of the Westerville family, and they will be missed.

JULIE COLLEY

A memorable moment... The only one that still brings a smile to my face is a call I took from a resident who requested we move the “Duck Crossing” sign further from their home. She did not want the ducks crossing there.

But my most memorable moment is most likely the same for anyone who was part of this community in 2018. I love to travel, and had just arrived in Amsterdam when word arrived of the tragic deaths of our police officers Tony Morelli and Eric Joering. I watched from afar as our community came together to grieve and honor these two exceptional people, but I didn’t really comprehend the true outpouring of love and support until I arrived back home late at night to blue ribbons and blue lights lining every street. It was overwhelming. I am so very grateful to live and work in a community that supports our first responders, veterans and others who serve.

I’ll miss most... I will miss my Westerville family immensely. There are none more dedicated to this community and the vision to improve the quality of life for each and every one who lives, works or visits here. I am proud of... Uptown continues to be the heart and soul of our community. I am most proud of all the projects and programs we have accomplished in my time here in Westerville to enhance and strengthen this vibrant core. From establishing Uptown Westerville Inc and launching the Facade Improvement Program, to adding more parking and wayfinding signage and mobile apps, to major streetscape improvements and significant redevelopments (like Northstar Cafe). We renovated our Courtyard and other places for people to gather, enjoy music or simply sit for a spell with a cup of coffee or ice cream.Our Uptown vibe is authentic and many cities look to emulate what we have accomplished here. I look forward to watching the continued implementation of key elements of the Uptown Plan. See you at the Saturday Farmer’s Market or 4th Fridays!

And, by the way... Have I told you how much I love to travel? While I am away, I am always on the lookout for cool ideas that I think would be awesome if implemented in Westerville. The Uptown Facade Improvement Program was modeled after a program I saw in Portland, Oregon - but park ideas seem to get most photographed and shared. So Randy Auler beware, I still know where to find you!

Grandview Heights City Council approved a young Julie Colley as executive assistant to the Mayor. Julie is the last to take credit for success, and the very, very, very last to want to be interviewed. Here again she’s ducking the microphone with Collinsworth and Mayor Kathy Cocuzzi at the former Newseum in Washington, D.C.