Smith: Lima remains strong

LIMA — Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith struck an optimistic but balanced tone in her State of the City Address on Wednesday night.

Smith shared the city’s accomplishments in areas such as public safety, housing, downtown revitalization and workforce development over the past year, punctuated with video presentations of residents telling how the city has helped, but added that the job is far from finished.

“It will take more than police officers to keep us safe,” she said as she closed the address. “Our kids are missing too much school, and our youngest learners are starting behind.”

Even though Smith proudly reported that both the city unemployment rate was under 3 percent and that overall crime decreased by 10 percent from the previous year, she noted that 90 percent of homicides in Lima share one common theme.

“The victim and assailant knew one another, and the homicide was the end result of an ongoing conflict,” Smith said. “One homicide is too many. Addressing violence is a community-wide effort that requires an all-hands-on-deck approach.”

Smith also expressed disappointment with how the city is taking care of children.

“We know that if kids are not in school, they can’t grow up to lead successful lives as adults,” she said. “Still, 40 percent of kids enter kindergarten unprepared. And while the city is not in the education business, we cannot afford not to be in the education business.”

Smith said the city must also do more to assist women with the rising cost of childcare.

“In Ohio. the average annual cost of infant care is almost $10,000 a year, which comes down to $808 per month, and that’s only for one child,” she said. “Not only is the cost of childcare rising, so is the cost of housing, which is why we have to do more to help our families and continue the work to improve the quality and affordability of our housing.”

But Smith pointed to things like the amphitheater, pool construction and continued economic development, as well as the success of efforts to assist with home repairs, as evidence that the city is on the right track.

“We’ve processed over 100 applications (for home repairs), which is an increase of over 1,000 percent since COVID,” she said. “We’re allocating more than $500,000 to improve the quality of Lima’s housing stock.”

The city’s GenNext program was also cause for optimism, Smith said.

“And the GenNext Summer Youth Employment Program helps young people ages 16 to 24 gain pre-employment skills and connect to jobs while also linking employers to with the workforce they need to continue to thrive and grow their businesses,” she said. “In 2023, GenNext helped four young people find permanent jobs.”

Smith said that the pool is only part of a plan that also includes the Echo afterschool program, in its fourth year.

The mayor credited improved street lighting, new police and fire contracts and wage increases with improving calls to the fire department and police, a 16 percent decrease in violent crime, an 83 percent homicide clearance rate and 154 guns and 260 impaired drivers being taken off the street.

“Those investments are paying off,” she said. “I’m proud to report our city is safer.”

Smith pledged after the address to continue listening to the concerns of residents through endeavors like Walking the Wards. She said the city can expect more development as well as investments in the downtown area and neighborhoods.

“There is a lot of activity going on in that area, and we’re going to install wayfinding signs,” she said. “But in the neighborhood corridors, we’re going to keep providing much-needed investments.”

Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399.