Executive Pry Recognizes First 100 Days in Office, Announces Candidacy for Election

On Wednesday, October 24, 2007, Summit County Executive Russell M. Pry recognized his first 100 days in office by holding a press conference in the auditorium of the Senator Oliver R. Ocasek Government Office Building, located at 161 South High Street in downtown Akron. The event allowed Executive Pry to showcase his recent accomplishments, as well as announce his candidacy for election.

“The past 100 days have been extremely productive,” said Summit County Executive Russell M. Pry. “I am more than pleased with the progress that has been made.”

Saturday, October 20th marked the 100th day of the Pry administration. Since being appointed to the position of Executive, Pry has taken the following actions toward improving community and economic development in Summit County:

• Distributed over $650 thousand in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership Program grants to fund numerous community development efforts. The grants were awarded to fund project in the following communities: the City of Stow, the Village of Lakemore and the Village of Mogadore. The County of Summit Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP) and Waiver Demolition Program also received funding.
   
• Spearheaded the Village of Lakemore Community Investment Area Renewal Plan. The plan is designed to effect a comprehensive rehabilitation of the Village of Lakemore’s housing stock, public infrastructure and neighborhood.
   
• Sponsored a Sharing Resource To Better Economic Development Forum in the City of Green. The event allowed Executive Pry, a panel of invited local, state and federal elected officials and over 50 community and business leaders to participate in a discussion about improving economic development in the Green community. The positive response to this event has resulted in similar economic development forums being scheduled across the county.
   
• Sponsored a Manufacturing Workforce Development Forum to identify and discuss workforce development issues that exist in the local machining industry. The event allowed officials to create strategies to enhance existing programs and possibly implement new job training opportunities.
   
• Reorganized the Summit County Department of Community and Economic Development by forming an internal Economic Development Task Force. The purpose of creating the task force is to aggressively pursue economic development opportunities that will benefit the County of Summit.
   
• Launched the Summit County Waiver Demolition Program, an initiative designed to eliminate blight and decay throughout Summit County. The program is geared toward the clearance of vacant and deteriorated structures, such as: barns, garages, homes, Etc.
   
• Created a work group to bring local building standards into conformance with Ohio law.
  The group clarified the content of local building codes, developed a more reader friendly text and eliminated codes that conflicted with building and residential codes being enforced by the State of Ohio. The code modifications were recently passed through Summit County Council and are currently being implemented by the County of Summit Department of Building Standards.
   
• Appropriated an additional $70 thousand in funding to allow the County of Summit Home Weatherization Assistance Program to assist more citizens with energy reduction measures.

“When I first took office, I promised the citizens of Summit County that community and economic development would be a major priority for my administration,” added Pry. “I believe my actions to date show just how committed I am to bringing jobs, additional tax dollars and funding to the area.”

In addition to his community and economic development accomplishments, Executive Pry has focused his attention on numerous civic issues, such as: administrative responsibilities, the enrichment of at-risk youth, community outreach, forming community partnerships, the environment and the passage of social service levies.

“I believe I have established a firm foundation to continue developing fresh programming and new opportunities for the citizens of this county,” enthusiastically stated Pry. “My administration has a lot of new and exciting initiatives on the horizon.”

According to Pry, the County of Summit will soon be moving forward with the following projects: construction of a new Veterans Services Administration Building; construction of a new Summit
County Sheriff’s Administration Building; renovations to the Summit County Jail; and designing a new environmentally friendly Summit County Animal Control Facility.

Summit County Executive Russell M. Pry concluded the press conference by announcing his candidacy for election. “My administration needs more time to carry out these projects and programs, and to continue the progress made in the areas of community and economic development,” added Pry. “Therefore, I will seek election to a full term as Summit County Executive.”