EDITOR’S NOTE: This is one in a series looking at what Lake County communities, agencies and school districts experienced in 2024 and what is facing them in 2025.
Concord Township officials spent much of the year looking at ways to fund safety services and infrastructure projects after voters rejected a 2023 safety services levy.
As part of those efforts, the township looked at new sources of local revenue, sought outside funding and presented voters with a fire levy that passed in the fall. Officials expect that revenues in 2025 will be “much improved” from 2024.
This year also brought new businesses to Concord Township, as well as interest in developing old and new sites. And in the coming year, township officials plan to make improvements to local infrastructure and recreation offerings.
Funding efforts
In a questionnaire response sent by Township Administrator Andy Rose on behalf of the township’s leadership, officials described safety service funding as their “biggest challenge” over the past year.
“We expected a rough year with regard to funding our safety forces,” they wrote. “Adjustments were made by the reduction of policing services along with necessary cuts to the fire department to remain in budget.”
The township’s leadership worked with a citizens advisory committee to create a new fire levy, which voters approved on Nov. 5. Officials wrote that the levy will allow them to “sustain fire operations,” and both levy funding and increased local government funding will contribute to “enhanced training and needed equipment purchases.”
The fire levy also freed up existing safety service funding for use in law enforcement. The township trustees voted on Dec. 4 to approve a new contract with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, reversing cuts from earlier this year and ensuring that two deputies will be on duty at any given time.
The township also looked at ways to fund the installation of water lines on portions of Girdled and Auburn roads.
After the levy rejection last year, Rose announced that the township would be “suspending water line infrastructure improvements.”
He worked to find funding for the projects in the first few months of 2024. State lawmakers awarded the township $500,000 for the water lines over the summer, and Concord Township used that to supplement $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding that the Lake County commissioners had previously awarded.
Officials aim to complete the water line projects in the spring.
The township also looked to use local funding tools to increase available revenue. A new local government funding formula will increase the township’s share of Lake County local government funding in the coming years.
The township also passed 10-year residential incentive districts for two upcoming housing developments. Township officials said that the designation does not increase taxes. Instead, it gives the township an increased share of property taxes on improvements to the properties that would otherwise go to school districts and other local entities.
The revenue from the RIDs can be used for Fire Station 2 construction; infrastructure, including water and fire protection systems and fire engines; and an addition to Concord Town Hall.
Services and legislation
Township officials said that they expanded recreation offerings in 2024, including youth soccer, basketball and baseball programs. Concord Township also held a fall fest and movie nights.
They plan to offer new recreation programming for children and adults in 2025. Township officials attributed new programming to increased sponsorships.
The township’s leaders also want to work on improving park amenities in 2025.
“We will be reviewing our park and recreation facilities to plan for much-needed improvements to our playground equipment,” they wrote.
As for roads, the township is planning an “aggressive road repair program” next year.
“We will also be increasing our road repair budget,” officials wrote. “Regarding road repair, we will again partner with Lake County, Painesville Township and Leroy Township in a joint road repair program which should improve pricing for asphalt replacement.”
After opening a new Fire Station 1 in 2023 at 11599 Concord-Hambden Road, Concord Township worked this year to demolish the old station across the street. Officials said that the Lake County Land Bank funded the work, and Trustee Morgan McIntosh added in mid-December that demolition work had been completed.
Next year, township officials plan to work on “replacing aging equipment” in the fire department and replacing its second fire station.
Officials wrote that they will look at financing options for the new station next year. They expect the station cost to be a challenge in 2025.
Rose said that the township is “hoping to have both financing and possibly start of construction in 2025.”
As for township regulations, township trustees voted in April to prohibit adult-use marijuana operators from opening in the township. Rose said at the time that the township would reconsider the ban after the state finalized rules for adult-use marijuana.
Economic development
At the corner of Crile and Old Crile roads, Concord Township residents Brandon Dynes and Johnny Nekic opened Johnny’s Auto Spa and Little Mountain Creamery this year.
Meanwhile, workers built a new Taco Bell farther north on Crile Road. The restaurant had not opened as of publication time.
Different views on the pace of the township’s development were on display at township Board of Zoning Appeals meetings in the first four months of the year. Zoning officials ultimately voted to approve variances for a proposed commercial development at the corner of Hunting Lake Drive and Crile Road after extensive public comment sessions.
The project was discussed again at a September Zoning Commission meeting. Ralph Victor Construction President Todd Victor said that the structure would include 5,000 square feet for the construction company’s offices and 8,000 square feet for one to three other tenants.
The township also looked at ways to bring new life to the former Quail Hollow Resort. The Concord-Painesville Joint Economic Development District hired Silverlode Consulting to prepare a report on the site.
Silverlode described light industry, senior housing, multi-family residences and single-family houses as the most viable uses for the site in a July presentation.
In all, Concord Township officials described their community as “a wonderful place to live.”
“The township has strong safety services along with robust recreational offerings for families,” they wrote. “We look forward to 2025 with optimism and are enthusiastic about our upcoming projects.”