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Retiring official has seen big changes in suburb
(by Sue Reid - July 07, 2010)
Retiring official has seen big changes in suburb
By SUE REID
When David E. Hromco began working for the City of Solon as an inspector in 1977, residential development was a primary focus.
Industrial roads, including Davis and Bruce industrial parkways and Ambina Drive, also were going in, and new subdivisions, sewers, streets and waterlines were popping up throughout the community. As Mr. Hromco's role in the city changed through the 1980s and 1990s, so did the city itself.
Rising through the ranks and assuming titles that included assistant to the city engineer, manager of engineering and now assistant public works director, Mr. Hromco saw residential development quiet down and new buildings being erected. He played a part in numerous projects, including the Solon Community Center, the Solon Public Library, Fire Stations No. 2 and No. 3 and the veterans memorial park.
After 33 years of service to the city, Mr. Hromco, 58, will retire this month. He is leaving the city much different from when he began.
"Life changes, and people change," said Mr. Hromco, a resident of Sagamore Hills. "Solon has gone from being the developing city in Cuyahoga County and an outer-ring suburb to a middle-ring suburb at this point."
The Pittsburgh native has worked under five mayors during his tenure in Solon, including Dorothy Portz, Charles Smercina, Robert A. Paulson, Kevin C. Patton and now Susan A. Drucker. He said it has been interesting working with the different administrations and their styles and approaches to getting things done. "Everyone is unique in their own style of leadership," he said.
Mrs. Drucker said Mr. Hromco is a man of few words "but is truly a gentleman and exemplary employee.
"He's been dedicated to the city's engineering projects and has handled several projects over the years," Mrs. Drucker said. "He has always been a truly dedicated employee to city. He holds Solon in his heart, and it shows how he conducts himself day in and day out. He will be missed, but I congratulate him on his retirement."
Mr. Hromco, who holds a degree in history and English from Kent State University, said highlights of his career in Solon include some of the bigger projects he has worked on.
"The bigger projects are always the ones you remember," Mr. Hromco said. "The city buildings have all been interesting. You look at a building a lot differently then you do a street or sewer.
"A building is always there looking back at you," Mr. Hromco said.
He said the community center, which was dedicated to public use in July 2003, was by far the largest project he was a part of. As far as the most challenging, Mr. Hromco cited the various sewer projects in the city.
"The city decided to sewer all of the unsewered areas with sanitary sewers," he recalled. "Due to the type of sewers, these were assessment projects. "The assessment projects were always interesting public-relations projects."
Public Works Director James S. Stanek said that Mr. Hromco probably has been the best example that he has ever seen of using "proper diplomacy in dealing with issues.
"He has been in some difficult situations, but is the consummate professional," Mr. Stanek said. Mr. Hromco also has been a "valued resource" to the city because of his tenure, Mr. Stanek said.
"He probably knows as much about the city as anybody currently working," Mr. Stanek said. "In that perspective, he is certainly going to be missed."
Mr. Hromco, who has earned a number of college credits in business, surveying and engineering, said he has pretty much spent his whole career in engineering. As a result, he said, he did not get to spend much time in other city departments, such as service and water reclamation, which are all part of the public works division.
"I didn't get out to see some of the things going on in those areas," Mr. Hromco said.
Mr. Hromco, who grew up in Northfield and graduated from Chanel High School in Bedford, said that in retirement he will catch up on some things in his personal life, as well as hobbies such as golf, reading and bicycling. He also will spend time in Florida, where he has a second home.
"I look forward to the retirement," Mr. Hromco said. He said it will be quite a change to not wake up and go to work each day.
"After you've been indoctrinated to getting up every weekday and heading off to the City of Solon, it will be different. Every change is a little bit different to deal with."
What he will miss most from his time in Solon, he said, are the people he has come to know and work with.
"I'm thankful for all of the people I have run into," Mr. Hromco said. "It's been a real slice of life. Everyone I've dealt with has had the better interest of Solon at heart.
"They have combined to create what I think is a very nice community."
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