LIMA — In a May 22 letter to Lima City Council, Deputy Public Works Director Saul Allen and Public Works Director Howard Elstro requested that the council draft a resolution to rename the soon-to-be-renovated Collett Street Bridge the Walter C. Potts Memorial Bridge.
The letter will be received and filed during Monday’s City Council meeting, set to begin at 7 p.m. in council chambers.
“As you have personally known Mr. Walter C. Potts and as you have likely heard the universally positive descriptions of his contributions to the Lima community since his recent death, we recommend that Lima City Council act to permanently memorialize Mr. Potts for his commitment to the community and for the integrity of his character,” the letter reads.
Allen and Elstro pointed out Potts’ military service during World War II, his engineering and electrical contracting career and his work for the city, including serving on the Civil Service Board, as 8th Ward city councilor and as executive director of the Bradfield Center.
“His virtues of selflessness, cooperation, integrity and courage were obvious to all who worked with him,” the letter reads.
The bridge will be renovated by the county this summer and both Allen and Elstro are hoping that a memorial plaque can be added during that time.
“In order to facilitate this, contact has been made with the Allen County Engineer’s Office and the Ohio Department of Transportation,” they wrote, “and permissions have been secured for this to occur subject to Lima City Council’s action.”
In addition, a public hearing will be held regarding the 2016 tax budget for the city. According to city Finance Director Steve Cleves, the process is more a formality for the county.
“We’re basically telling them that as far as the city is concerned, everything is going about as planned this year, and we’re not planning any major changes for next year,” he said.
