Mentor city manager delivers State of the City with patriotic spirit in mind
Mentor City Manager Ken Filipiak started his 2026 State of the City address highlighting the achievements of 2025 and what’s upcoming in 2026 by reminding the large crowd at Paradigm on the high school campus that this year marks the 250th anniversary of the nation’s birth.
During his speech on Feb. 24, Filipiak stressed as everyone prepares to celebrate, he hopes the celebration renews a spirit of patriotism among all.
“But as a city, remembering the Spirit of ’76 can inspire our actions in 2026 and beyond to renew our commitment to our common community aspirations to better allow for the pursuit of happiness,” Filipiak said. “Our commitment to assure a safe environment for our residents to pursue their higher aspirations requires a constant renewal of effort, resources and creativity.”
Filipiak pointed to the work of those defending the community, starting with the police department.
Percentage reductions in 2025 included criminal offenses by 12 percent, thefts by 25 percent, adult arrests by 7 percent, OVIs by 20 percent, total traffic accidents by 10 percent and total Injury accidents by 18 percent . Also, there were 76 reported violent crimes — 1.6 per capita against a 3.6 national average and a 15.6 per capita in Cleveland.
Filipiak lauded targeted efforts by road units and the department’s detective bureau, which investigated nearly 300 cases last year using some of the most advanced technology for computer, cell phone and video forensics and sharing even more advanced software applications as part of Special Task Forces with outside agencies.
The Mentor Fire Department also was pointed out by Filipiak for its effort in public education, which is an important tool for teaching basic lifesaving skills and fire prevention. Over 3,200 people attended a class or program presented by Mentor Fire Public Education officers in 2025 including Safety Village visits for third graders.
Police Officer Gavin McLean was recognized for his heroics in saving the life of a newborn that was unresponsive and not breathing in July 2025.
McClean is nominated for the Lake County Chiefs of Police Life Saving Award for his efforts.
McLean was involved in another incident when he and Officer Josh Kernc responded to a mutual aid request from Mentor-on-the-Lake for a woman experiencing a mental health crisis, and after she jumped in the water, McLean and Kernc assisted with rescuing her from the lake.
Officer Ryan Heramb has been nominated for the Jorge Medina Distinguished Service Award — given to deserving public safety officers annually for heroic acts considered to be of extreme benefit to the community — for his bravery in stopping a driver going the wrong way on state Route 2 in October.
In 2025, the city purchased an armored vehicle which will safely transport and protect tactical officers to bring high-risk situations to a close and transport emergency care providers to a scene with delivery expected this summer.
A Mobile Camera Trailer through a Homeland Security grant which provides remote surveillance system mounted on a mast for use at public events and gatherings, records all activity in the designated area, assists with investigations and documentation of any incident effectively as a deterrent at Mentor Rocks events.
In addition to two new rescue squads in 2025, the fire department will put into service a water rescue craft to better handle difficult rescues, transport dive team members and assist Coast Guard in their rescue efforts.
In addition to advanced equipment, 2025 saw the commitment to additional safety services that will have long-term impact.
Lake County and the city adopted a new 911 plan — Next Generation 911 — to Lake County within five years that will allow cell phone calls, text messages and video to be sent directly to the individual community answering points in the county. NextGen 911 will speed up response times allow for messaging and video when a phone call can’t occur or is less informative.
Filipiak said that many people in the room remember the last big national birthday, the bicentennial in 1976.
“The thousands of industrial jobs from that era were lost to worldwide competition, setting Mentor on a path of economic renewal that has led to a complex, diversified collection of high-tech specialized industry and services among the most productive in the state of Ohio 50 years later,” Filipiak said.
Of the 7.6 million square feet of commercial real estate in the city, 6.6 percent remained vacant at the end of 2025. And only 3.8 percent of the 14 million square feet of industrial space remained vacant, with more than 50 new companies choosing Mentor as their new place to do business in 2025.
Several businesses are expected to open in 2026, including many restaurants, a Dick’s House of Sport, Fun City Adventure Park and more.
The 200th bicentennial year of 1976 was also the year the Mentor Municipal Center was constructed, followed shortly thereafter by Fire Station 5 and the Mentor Ice Arena on the same campus.
“In the full spirit of renewal, 2026 will see a continuation of our most ambitious schedule of new public construction in decades,” Fillipiak said.
Projects include:
• The Marina Kayak Storage/Concession/Restroom at a cost of $1.4 million is expected to be completed early this summer with expanded food options in 2026.
• After nearly 100 years, the reconstruction of the The Mentor Harbor Channel Restoration – the channel connecting the Mentor Harbor and Marine to Lake Erie is nearing completion at a cost of $6.5 million with reinforced walls removal of barge at harbor entry.
• The Civic Center Park $2 million project includes a new parking lot, 158 spaces for drop off to pickleball and pool, two new basketball courts, four additional pickleball courts replaced the former basketball court, three additional new pickleball courts on the far east end of the court cluster for a total of 22 courts on the site.
In 2026, some of the projects scheduled include:
• The Black Brook Parking Lot reconstruction for $800,000 including underground power lines, added spaces, better decorative lighting and better drainage.
• The $10 million Civic Center Pool Complex project will replace all buildings lockers, restrooms, concession, covered eating area, guard shack, storage, install a new and enlarged splash pad and a 42-foot water slide structure featuring 3 slides.
• The Garfield Park Spray Park is a $5.7 million project that includes 7,000-square feet with 12 to 14 water features. It also includes welcome entry, shaded seating areas for parents new building with men’s, women, and family access restrooms, lockers, covered dining area, enlarged parking lot and the entire facility fenced in for child safety.
• The $1.8 million Nature Preserve Observation Tower with panoramic views of the marsh at 100 feet tall. A $450,000 state capital grant contract awarded will go toward the project to be completed this year.
• Fire Station 3 with 2.7 acres purchased in early 2025 is a $12 million project with 22,000-square feet, five bays, and a training tower replacing Mentor Avenue Station built 1965 to be open in 2027.
• The $7 million Municipal Annex is 14,000-square feet replacing two older structures for police vehicle, equipment and evidence storage and processing, record storage, recreation storage and a bank of 10 permanent restrooms to serve amphitheater and grounds to be open by Mentor Rocks 2027 season.
Filipiak pointed out in 2025 the city invested nearly $8 million in road and storm sewer improvements.
In 2026, they will invest approximately $13 million into a combination of 30 streets and targeted traffic control improvement.
Included are Mentor Avenue resurfacing, traffic signal replacements and signal control technology upgrade at a cost of $4 million with $2.5 million coming from a federal grant which is expected to improve traffic flow at up to 29 intersections.
A $15 million I-90/Route 615 improvement with a $3 million ODOT Grant to widen to four lanes with improved ramps.
“I’m glad to able to report to you that we are able make nearly all these improvements without issuing debt because the city’s financial health remains solid,” Filipiak said. “We have also been extraordinarily successful in bringing outside funding sources to supplement our capital projects. Just with the projects I’ve mentioned here today from 2025 and 2026, the city has over $14 million in committed grant funding.”
There were 31 million overall visits to the community, nearly 1 million who were tourists that came from all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
The Mentor Community Recreation Center had 3,600 memberships, 6,800 members, 277,000 visits in 2025, which is a 15 percent increase.
The Senior Center had 80,000 visits 2025 and 112,000 seniors participated in over 6,700 programs.
The combined attendance for the Car Cruise, Farmers Market, Hayride, 4th of July Fireworks, Cityfest, Tunes at the Lagoons, Chill Out and Mentor Rocks was 175,000
“So, in conclusion, as we begin the America 250 celebration, we can be confident that the state of our city is strong,” Filipiak said. “Let’s remember the Spirit of ’76 and see just how far our city can flourish in our nation’s next quarter millennium.”
