CITY MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS

Full-time personnel staffing for all city departments is presently authorized at 88 FTEs and supported by 16 part-time and 50-60 seasonal personnel.

FINANCE — For the past seven years, Oakwood has received the Ohio Auditor of State Award for Financial Excellence. The department provides fiscal oversight to five fund classifications, and manages the City’s 2.5%, voter-approved, local earnings income tax, which generated a net $10.5 million in 2023. Oakwood has historically received strong resident support for its infrequent municipal tax requests. The department also manages payroll; water, sewer, stormwater, and refuse billing; accounts receivable; and accounts payable. The city operates with a 2024 annual budget of $25.32 million, a general fund budget of $10.6 million, including an annual capital fund program of $4.67 million.

PUBLIC SAFETY — A full-time Chief, two Captains, and four Lieutenants are joined by 22 career personnel and six dispatcher/records personnel in staffing the department. Oakwood’s Public Safety Department is one of approximately 130 triple-certified, consolidated police, fire, and emergency response units in the entire country, providing professional and timely service to all residents and visitors. Public Safety Officer response times to approximately 5,000 calls in 2023 averaged just 2 minutes, and 4.75 minutes on average for fire apparatus response. Personnel respond from one centrally located station. The Public Safety Department has three collective bargaining units representing supervisors, safety officers, and dispatchers.

PUBLIC WORKS — With a staff of 33 and one collective bargaining unit, the department is responsible for a full complement of services including engineering, street maintenance and repair, an ambitious annual street resurfacing program and leaf collection. The city operates its own water distribution system (44 miles of lines), water treatment and well field facilities, and maintains its own sanitary sewer collection and stormwater utility systems. The Department provides snow removal, clearing all public streets and sidewalks, and residential refuse service to each property owner’s rear door to eliminate the need for curbside refuse containers. It also provides year-round yard debris pickup and a comprehensive recycling program.

LEISURE SERVICES — The city maintains an active parks and recreation program, encompassing four neighborhood parks, a designated dog park, Smith Gardens, a Community Center and swimming pool, the Hollinger Memorial Tennis Center, and the Old River Sports Complex, and conducts annual community events including the Ice Cream Social, Family Fall Festival & Scarecrow Row and Holiday of Lights. Designated a Tree City USA, the department also provides a full array of horticultural services and maintains the City’s natural areas and boulevards, including over 9,000 trees.

As a Home-Rule Charter City, Oakwood operates its own Health District and Municipal Court and maintains control over its community development activities, economic development initiatives, code enforcement, and building inspection programs.

As a citizen-centric community, Oakwood City Council encourages citizen involvement in city business. The current list of council-appointed committees and boards includes almost 100 residents who voluntarily advise on matters pertaining to Oakwood public services.