A Mentor police report provides more insight into the death of a woman after her “friend” failed to call for help. That and more in the latest weekly city manager memo to City Council:

Police Department
• A male was arrested after he failed to provide aid to a female friend who overdosed on drugs and died. The male was charged with tampering with evidence and obstructing official business. For more details, see: http://bit.ly/11yy3DM

• A female suspect was positively identified after a surveillance photo of her was posted on Facebook. The female was captured on video stealing a wallet at Mentor Family Foods. She was charged with one count of theft.

• A new community policing App was launched this week, iWatchNEOhio. This free App allows citizens to report suspicious or criminal activity via text, e-mail or voice, to include photos or video. Mentor is one of 16 law enforcement agencies from Northeast Ohio participating in this program, which is administered by the North East Ohio Regional Fusion Center.

Fire Department
• The Fire Department responded to four overdoses where the patients were treated and transported to Lake Health West.

• The Fire Department responded to three incidences for choking victims:

- On May 10 at 12:26 p.m., Paramedics responded to a male choking on a chicken bone. Patient was treated and transported to Lake Health West where he coughed up the bone.

- On May 12 at 5:36 p.m., Paramedics responded to a residence for a choking victim. Upon arrival it was discovered that a family member had performed the Heimlich Maneuver on her, which cleared her airway. The patient signed a release and was not transported.

- On May 12 at 7:03 p.m., Paramedics responded to a restaurant for a choking victim. Upon arrival it was discovered that one of the restaurant employees assisted the woman.  Paramedics treated her and removed remaining food. The patient signed a release and was not transported.

• On May 12 at 4:08 p.m., Station #4 responded to a MVA involving two vehicles on Route 306. Upon arrival, there were two patients who were treated and transported to Lake Health West. Three other people refused treatment and signed releases.

• On May 13 at 12:03 p.m., Paramedics responded to a school where a student was unresponsive in the lunch room. Patient was treated and transported to Lake Health West.

• On May 13 at 3:05 p.m., Station #3 responded to a MABAS Alarm request in Willoughby Hills for a structure fire at the Willoughby Hills Towers. 

• On May 13 at 7:18 p.m., Station #4 responded to Bellflower Park, where a small dog was found in a sewer pipe. The dog was eventually chased out of the pipe by floating a soccer ball upstream through a manhole. The dog was secured until the Humane Society rescue van arrived to take possession of the dog. There were no injuries.

• On May 14 at 6:18 p.m., Station #3 responded to a truck on fire on Norton Parkway. Upon arrival there was a fully involved truck fire. Owners stated the vehicle was unoccupied. The Fire Department extinguished the fire. The truck was a total loss; there were no reported injuries.

• On May 14 at 3:19 p.m., Mentor Fire Stations #4 and #5 responded to a structure fire.  Upon arrival it was discovered that a bag of leaves by the house was on fire. The fire was extinguished and the house was checked.

• On May 15 at 3:46 p.m., Paramedics responded to a person with a broken ankle. The person had been jogging on the Mentor Headlands Marsh jogging trail and broke his ankle approximately one-half mile into the woods. Paramedics responded and located him on a narrow trail. The patient was carried to a waiting ATV from Station #4, which transported him to the squad. He was treated and transported to Tri-Point Medical Center.

Manager Comments
• We received the first of two payments from the 2013 Lake County Community Residential Recycling Grant. The total amount of the grant is $84,619.

Engineering
• The restriping of Center Street was completed this week. Final pavement markings are much clearer and easier to follow. Work was done in the overnight hours. We have not yet received the schedule for the restriping of Heisley Road.

• Dominion East Ohio Gas Open Cut Repairs — On May 20, Dominion East Ohio Gas is planning to begin final repairs of two open cuts on Mentor Avenue at Middlesex Road.  These repairs are expected to take between two to four days to complete. An off-duty Mentor Police Officer will assist with traffic control during the work hours (9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.).

• On May 16, Dave Swiger and Bob Kovac met with County Engineer, Jim Gills and members of his bridge maintenance division to review the condition of County maintained bridges throughout the City. The County Engineer maintains 11 bridges in the City. Mr. Gills indicated that they recently made repairs to the Hoose Road Bridge, just north of the Hoose Road Dam.

Also, the County is planning to replace the Hopkins Road Bridge over Marsh Creek, north of Hendricks Road in 2018. They are also planning to seal the concrete deck of the Hendricks Road Bridge over Marsh Creek just west of Hopkins Road. They will also be sharing GIS mapping data for us to incorporate onto our system.

Parks and Recreation Department
• Many upgrades will be made to the pools before the season starts; they include installing ADA lifts at Morton and Garfield, new large umbrella and new lane lines at Civic Center and new showers at Garfield. The Public Works crew has done an excellent job on the showers. The new safety surface has already been installed in the wading pool at Civic center.

• Safe Routes to School Coordinator Maggie Kuyasa lead a National Bike to School event at Orchard Hollow School May 15 with over 120 bikers.

• The Memorial Day Ceremony is Monday. The parade steps off at 9:30 a.m. from Heinen’s parking lot and the program begins at 10 a.m.

• The installation of the new cooling tower for the Civic Ice Arena started this week.

Public Works Department
•    Installed storm water overflow at Garfield Park pond
•    Storm sewer cleaning - Warrendale, Hayes, McKinley, Harding
•    Storm sewer televising - Edgehill, Evergreen
•    Storm sewer repair - Warrendale, Jordan
•    Asphalt road repair - Rosebud
•    Completed rebuild of 7 inlet basins - Sugarbush
•    Roadway signage retro-reflectivity upgrades - ongoing
•    Pickleball courts are now open
•    Installed flags on utility poles
•    Crack sealing - various
•    Hot mix patching - various
•    Reviewing drainage concerns at fire stations

-- Betsy Scott, BScott@News-Herald.com, @ReporterBetsy

Mentor actually got a refund from its insurance company; the city is seeking funding assistance on behalf of Red, Wine & Brew for a $1.95 million building project; and things are heating up for the police, fire and recreation departments. Those items and more in the city manager’s latest report to City Council:


Fire Department
 • On May 9 at 6 p.m., paramedics responded to a 28-year-old choking patient who had a metal part of a game controller lodged in her throat. Patient was treated and transported to Lake West Health. (Fire Chief Richard Harvey said there was little more information he knew/could share about the incident.)

• On May 4 at 12:52 p.m., paramedics were called for person who was hit by a golf ball at a driving range. Upon arrival, it was discovered the person was accidentally hit by a swinging golf club. Patient was treated and transported to Tri-Point Medical Center.

• On May 5 at 7:04 p.m., Fire Station #1 responded to Longview Avenue for a reported gas can fire. Upon arrival, it was discovered that an excessive amount of trash was being burned in a fire pit when a gas can tipped over and caught fire. The fire was within 10 feet of the home and caused heat damage to the wood deck, as well as the siding of the home. 

• On May 5 at 7:59 p.m., Fire Stations 3 and 1 responded to a semi truck with a fire coming from it. Upon arrival, rear tires of the truck were on fire. The trailer was detached prior to FD arrival and was in no danger. The exit ramp from westbound Rt. 90 to Rt. 306 was closed for about 15 minutes while the fire was extinguished. There were no injuries.

• On May 6, the Children’s Fire Safety House opened for the third-graders’ annual visit.  The sessions will continue through May 17 and will have demonstrated fire safety, water safety, kitchen safety, litter control, the Mentor Historical Museum and a session about bullying from Crossroads. About 900 children from Mentor public and private schools, as well as St. Gabriel’s will have participated.

• On May 7 at 6:14 a.m., Mentor Fire responded to a business where a male fell 10 to 14 feet onto concrete flooring sustaining a head injury. He was treated and transported to Hillcrest Hospital Level II Trauma Center.

• On May 7 at 2:40 p.m., Paramedics responded to a car vs. pole. Upon arrival, the patient was being attended to by bystanders. The patient was treated and transported to Hillcrest Hospital Level II Trauma Center.

• On May 8 at 9:11 p.m., Paramedics responded to a possible overdose. Upon arrival, there was an unconscious male in his parked car who had been discovered by a friend. He was treated and transported to Lake West. He was awake by arrival.

• Mentor Firefighter Paramedics Richard Campola and Christian Lim received Andy Nowacki Foundation Hero Awards on May 5. These awards were received for their actions in rescuing an 18-month and a 3-year-old trapped in rubble and beneath a car that crashed into a house at the end of Iroquois Road.

Police Department
• A male was arrested for drug trafficking and carrying a concealed weapon. The male was stopped for a traffic violation on SR2. The officer called for K-9 Bo to conduct a drug sniff of the vehicle.  Bo alerted to the presence of narcotics. Officers searched the vehicle and located a half kilo of heroin, three-quarter kilo of Cocaine, a loaded handgun and over $100,000 in cash.

• The department’s new video forensic computer was delivered this week from Ocean Systems Inc. The computer is used to analyze and enhance surveillance video. The cost of the computer was covered with a grant.  

• Patrolman Kupchik is participating in the Police Unity Tour, a 325 mile bicycle ride from New Jersey to Washington D.C. The purpose of the ride is to raise awareness of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty and to raise financial support for the national Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

• National Police Memorial week is May 12th to May 18. All Mentor officers will wear black mourning bands during the week to recognize law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.
Manager Comments
• On May 5 at 9:43 a.m., Fire Stations 1, 3 and 5 responded to the Mentor Trailer Park for a trailer fire with people trapped. Stations 2 and 4 were added. Upon arrival, fire was coming from the skylight, door and large middle windows with heavy smoke coming from remaining windows. Police officers reported that one occupant was confirmed to still be trapped inside. The male, with minor burns and smoke inhalation, (and a neighbor) had broken the windows in an attempt to remove the smoke and heat. He was attempting to fight the fire with a garden hose.

A fire attack and search was made locating the second occupant unconscious in the back bedroom. She was removed from the structure and enroute to Lake West Health within 9 minutes of arrival of the first fire unit. The male (less serious injuries) was treated at the scene and transported to Lake West Health. Both were flown by Life Flight to Metro Health Medical Center. The male has been released and the female is improving.

The cause of this fire is still under investigation. The trailer was a total loss but was insured.  Mentor Avenue was closed for about one hour. Concord, Grand River, Mentor-on-the-Lake, Painesville and Willoughby provided assistance with other calls or station fills.

• The Mentor Economic Assistance Corporation has submitted for approval to the U.S. Small Business Administration a 504 loan package for Red, Wine & Brew. The total project cost is $1.95 million with MEACO providing $667K in financing towards the construction of a 16,000-square-foot retail building at 9620 Old Johnnycake Road.

• Last year, the administration negotiated a unique aspect into our health insurance premium agreement with Medical Mutual. We were the first of their public sector clients to negotiate a “performance-based” clause that rewarded the city for outperforming the expected claims-to-premium ratio, which is the primary basis for determining premium cost. I am pleased to report we learned this week that approximately $170,000 will be returned to the city from our 2012 premium payments.

Engineering
• As of May 10, the following streets from the 2013 Road Repair Program have been completed:

* Asphalt — Clearair Drive, Magnolia Drive, Lotus Lane, Wedgewood Drive, Barton Drive, Victoria Drive, Kephart Drive and Hart Street

* Concrete — Quail Point Lane, Galaxie Drive, Silver Court, Birchwood Drive, Findley Drive, Pilgrim Drive, Wilderness Drive Frontier Drive, Troy Court, Preston Hill Court, Hackberry Drive and Alder Court

Restoration operations on these streets will be completed in the near future.  All remaining streets in the Road Repair Program are anticipated to be complete by the end of May.

• Shown below is a summary of Building Division activity comparing March, 2013 with April, 2013:

    Prior Month                Month of
     March 2013          April 2013
New Permits Issued    188    365   
  Valued at    $4,578,745.17    $6,874,695.00

Building Permit Inspections    748    757
New Plan Review Cases    58    100
Engr/Bldg Permit Plan Reviews    197    311
New Contractor Registrations    67    90

• Progress on some of the notable projects currently happening in the city includes:
*  Masonry walls being erected at the Achievement Office buildings at Center Street and Bellflower Road
* Site work and fire suppression is ready to start at Burger Fi on Mentor Avenue
* A building permit has been issued for a new building for Red, Wine & Brew on Old Johnnycake Ridge Road
* Classic Hyundai has begun the facade improvements for their new space.

Parks and Recreation Department
• Several important park improvements are recently completed just in time for the busy season. The six planned Pickleball Courts at the Civic Center are complete, with all paint and fencing finished this week. We are thankful to all the volunteers who gave their time and enthusiasm.

The walking path at Edward Walsh Park was paved this week and the permanent entry sign was also recently installed. The administration intends to allocate funding each year for the improvement and upkeep of our multipurpose recreation paths throughout the city. Finally, the additional parking area at Garfield Park was completed.

• The Recreation Department has added a Black Brook Golf Course Facebook page and will soon be adding a Mentor Lagoons Marina Facebook page.

• The Golf Channel has been airing Black Brook Golf Course commercials this month promoting the new Practice Center.

• Reminder that pool passes are on sale at the Recreation Department on Monday, Wednesday & Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 pm. and on Tuesday and Thursday from  a.m. to 6 p.m.  Please remember to bring proof of residence.

• The Recreation Department is still interviewing for open positions for lifeguards at area pools; all Day Camp staff has been hired and staff training takes place next week.

• The installation of the new cooling tower for the Civic Ice Arena will begin the week of May 13. The Civic Center Staff is taking advantage of the shutdown and getting a lot of needed work completed. We have been painting the exterior stucco this week.

• The Wildwood Garden Club Plant Sale will be Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be a great selection of hardy plants and flowers at very reasonable prices.

• The Wildwood Garden Club was busy this week spreading mulch in the planter beds and cleaning up the planters for spring. We appreciate all the work this group does to keep the grounds at Wildwood looking so good!

• The Mentor Lagoons Park Marina has been a busy place with 50% of the boats launched. There are 38 dock holders who still owe the remainder of their dock fees for the upcoming season. The final deadline for payment is May 18.

Economic and Community Development
• Ron Traub and Tom Thielman met with the prospective purchaser of a historic building in the Old Village; financing and other possible issues were discussed.

• The 2013 Lake County Business Symposium will be held at Lakeland Community College on Wednesday, May 15, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Experts from finance, marketing, technology and operations will conduct workshops on various topics which are on the minds of small business owners and entrepreneurs. MEACO is sponsor of this event and providing technical support.

Finance
• The City received $206,000 from Time Warner and AT&T for video service franchise fees for the first quarter of calendar year 2013. Annual revenues from this source are estimated at $798,000.

• The State House Ways and Means Committee heard testimony in favor of and in opposition to House Bill 5 on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. HB5 is the municipal income tax reform bill that would impact local control and revenues if passed as written in its current version.

Public Works Department
•    Top soiling community garden plots
•    Morton pool ADA chairlift installation
•    Preparing ball fields for opening day
•    Prepping Garfield Park pool for painting
•    Storm sewer cleaning - Grant, Harding, Hayes, Truman
•    Assist with grass cutting and weed whipping at Cemetery
•    Began rebuild of 7 inlet basins - Sugarbush and Red Oak
•    Painted parking lot stripes at MPD/Court and Garfield Park
•    Installed signage at Iroquois and Commanche
•    Crack seaking - Rushton area
•    Regrading Krueger Park spoils area

-- Betsy Scott, BScott@News-Herald.com, @ReporterBetsy

Mentor city officials get tough with Waste Management, hope to dress up a (quite frankly ugly) gateway to the city and get some good news about the new beach festival. Those items and more in the latest weekly manager memo to City Council:

Manager Comments
• Council will recall that a couple of weeks ago a resident brought to our attention the fact that Waste Management began the practice of charging residents a $35 “service resumption” fee for late accounts. We quickly contacted our account representatives and informed them that the city’s position was that the fee violates our current contract, which obligates WM to serve all single-family homes at the contracted rates for all current accounts.

They acknowledge the error and we have since learned about $60,000 in these fees were collectively charged to Mentor residents. Mentor residents affected will have the full amount credited to their third-quarter bill, which was processed this week. In addition, WM will mail letters around June 1 to the same residents explaining the error. We have requested a complete list of all Mentor households charged so we may have a record to reference going forward.

• We are currently considering alternatives to better illuminate and beautify the road median on Route 306 as you are approaching Rt. 84 from the south. This could include curbing and expanding the median and adding decorative lighting similar in style to that near the 615/90 interchange. We are considering this now in light of the resurfacing of this section of 306 later this year.

• The City of Mentor has received a Grant award in the amount of $7,000 from the Lake County Visitor’s Bureau Arts and Culture Fund for the “Headlands Beachfest,” which takes place this summer on July 27. A great job by Kathie Pohl and Abe Bruckman.

• The unemployment rate for the City of Mentor decreased 0.8%, from 6.8% to 6.0%, in March 2013. That is the same as the rate a year ago in the same month. In Lake County, the unemployment rate decreased 0.9% to 6.8%. The City of Mentor’s unemployment rate ranked third-lowest among communities with a population over 50,000, behind Cleveland Heights and Lakewood, and among the top third of the 65 for which percentages are calculated. Ohio’s unemployment rate decreased 0.5% to 7.3%.

Fire Department
• On April 19, Paramedics responded to a possible overdose. Upon arrival, the patient was treated and transported to Lake West Health.

• On April 20 at 5:59 p.m., Mentor Fire responded to an open burning complaint. Upon arrival, a family of four was found cooking hotdogs around an approved fire pit. The homeowner was advised to extinguish the fire when finished. At 6:41 p.m., Mentor Fire responded to another complaint at this home.

Upon arrival there was excessive white smoke coming from the fire pit. The homeowner had dumped leaves in the fire which created the white smoke. Homeowner was told to extinguish the fire at once and was advised of the City’s Ordinance on open burning.

• On April 21 at 2:50 p.m., Fire Stations 3, 1 and 5 responded to an odor of something burning at the Great Lakes Mall. Upon arrival, it was discovered that a belt inside of an arcade game had overheated. The machine was taken outside and they were advised to have an electrician inspect the outlet.

• On April 22 at 9:03 a.m., Mentor Fire responded to a sprinkler head activated in a Mentor business. Upon arrival, we discovered that the water supply line in the bathroom had ruptured and it was not a fire suppression system problem. We assisted in clean up and advised business owner that they would need to contact their maintenance department for repair.

• Spring fire hydrant testing will continue throughout the City until mid-May.

Police Department
• The homeowner at 7144 Maple St. reported a burglary had occurred sometime on April 21. The homeowner said he suspected that some friends of his daughter were involved. An officer responded to the suspect’s house and spoke to an adult and two juvenile suspects. The officer observed some of the stolen property in plain view. All of the stolen items were recovered in the house. The adult and one juvenile were arrested and charged with the burglary.

• Capt. Gunsch and Lt. Allen attended a two-day active shooter executive law enforcement conference sponsored by the F.B.I. Topics included pre-event attack behaviors and indicators, managing the media in complex incidents, counseling of victims and first-responders, evidence processing of active shooter/mass casualty scenes. The training also included a discussion by the Chardon Police Department regarding the 2012 Chardon High School shooting.

Engineering
• 2013 Road Repair Program — Concrete repairs have begun on Quail Point, Galaxie and Silver Court. The first concrete pour on Quail Point took place April 23. Concrete removal and replacement operations will continue as weather permits. Asphalt milling operations were expected to begin Tuesday on Robinwood Drive. Further updates will be provided as the projects progress.

• With regards to the 2012 Sidewalk Repair Program, TC Construction has been replacing sidewalks on Maple Street and will be progressing to Nowlen Street in the next week.

Parks and Recreation Department
• This is the last weekend for Open Skating at the Civic Ice Arena. The Arena will close for maintenance on Monday and will reopen for summer June 10.

• Black Brook Golf Course will be installing a Thorguard Lightning Protection System on the course. The system will provide an audible sound to alert golfers of potential lightning.

• May 15 will be our “National Bike to School Day” at Orchard Hollow School, which is being sponsored by the Safe Routes to School Program. Recreation Specialist Maggie Kuyasa, who supervises the program, said that the children will meet at 8:15 a.m. at Pinegate Pool and ride as a group to school.

• The Safe Routes to School Program will also be sponsoring the “Base Runners Club” starting May 3 at Orchard Hollow School. Children can join the club and track their steps and turn them into laps around a Major League Baseball Diamond! Maggie Kuyasa said, “All children who join the club will get to keep the pedometer that Safe Routes to School supplies and have a chance to win two tickets to an Indians Baseball game!”

• The new surface has been installed in the wading pool at Civic Center pool.

• Letters have been mailed to local Veterans groups inviting them to the Memorial Day service on May 27.

Economic and Community Development
• Ken Filipiak, Ron Traub, and Tom Thielman attended a Coffee & Conversation with Congressman David Joyce sponsored by the Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce.

• Staff met with an attorney who specializes in façade easements and historic preservation tax credits regarding repurposing of a historic building.

• Representatives of several departments met with a Mentor manufacturer regarding a prospective building addition.

Finance
• On April 24,the Finance Director attended the public hearings on house Bill 5 held at the State House in Columbus for members of the House Ways and Means Committee. Testimony was provided to the committee by several representatives of various Ohio businesses and by Mr. Tom Zaino spokesperson for the Municipal Tax Reform Coalition, a group of 28 state and local trade and professional associations and state and regional Chambers of Commerce.

A significant amount of time was allotted to Mr. Zaino. Several questions were directed to the coalition by House representatives: Does the coalition know the dollar impact of H.B. 5 to municipalities? Are there any municipalities that are in favor of the current bill? The lack of clear responses to these direct questions leads one to conclude that the current bill will likely require further compromises and modifications.

The coalition was tasked by one representative to “reach out” to Mayors, Managers, Finance Directors, etc. of the more than 600 municipalities imposing a local tax to come up with an acceptable bill. The other proponent testimony came almost exclusively from “service” types of businesses, such as commercial clearing services, heating and cooling, plumbing, and general contracting. The nature of these types of businesses requires their employees to work in several different localities.

The number of returns processed and the excessive cost of compliance was the recurring theme of testimony provided by business owners. The current bill would likely not solve the business owners concerns, unless the bill ultimately led to the elimination of the tax liability itself. Further hearings, including testimony in opposition of H.B. 5 are planned for next week.

Public Works Department
• Repairing sod damage - Citywide
• Jetted storm sewer - Civic Center ball fields
• Plumbing improvements at MMF to improve vehicle washing facility
• Replaced 12 sections of stockade fence at Center Street Ballfield Park
• Installed pickle ball posts
• Painted kitchen and restrooms at Mentor Beach Park
• Inlet basin rebuilds - Market and Munson - in preparation for resurfacing
• Crack sealing - Tyler Blvd.
• Expansion of Garfield Park parking lot

-- Betsy Scott, BScott@News-Herald.com, @ReporterBetsy

A Mentor hotel got a major makeover (on the inside), drug dogs swept the high school and it appears that more grant money is rolling toward a bikeway connector project in the Headlands. Those items and more in the latest, weekly city manager memo to City Council.

Manager Comments
• U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce spoke Friday at the newly renovated Holiday Inn on Route 306 (former Comfort Inn). He discussed the status of budget discussions, important pending legislation (such as his co-sponsorship of a bill that would eliminate the medical device tax in the Affordable Care Act), and answered numerous questions. Afterward, some were treated to a tour of the renovated hotel, which came out beautifully. A total of $5 million was invested in the complete renovation of all rooms and facilities.

• On Tuesday, 12 K-9 units from Mentor and surrounding law enforcement agencies conducted a drug sweep at Mentor High School. The sweep was requested by the school administration and coordinated by Mentor Police.  All of the lockers were searched, including locker room lockers. The K-9s alerted on a few lockers, which were searched by school administrators. No drugs were located in any of the lockers.

• Friday morning the NOACA Regional Transportation Investment Subcommittee voted to approve our request for approximately $115,000 in additional funding ($715,000 total) for the Morton Headlands Trail Connector Phase 2 Project. This project is currently listed in our cap plan as the Corduroy Bikeway Connector Phase 1 project and constructs bike lanes along Jordan Drive from Corduroy Road to South Rambler. The recommendation now goes to the Transportation Advisory Committee, and then to the Governing Board final approval. It is very likely the additional fund will be granted.

Fire Department
• On April 12 at 12:56 p.m., Paramedics responded to a person hit by a car. Upon arrival, the patient was seated in a store with knee pain. Patient refused to be transported at this time. A release was signed.

• On April 12 at 3:12 p.m., Paramedics responded to a possible overdose. Upon arrival, the patient was treated and transported to Lake West Health.

• On April 12 at 4:06 p.m., Mentor Fire responded to a dumpster fire next to a loading dock on Tyler Boulevard.  Upon arrival, it was discovered the fire was contained to the dumpster; however, smoke filled the building. Due to the height of the dumpster, the aerial ladder was set up to apply water directly from above the fire. Smoke was cleared in the building; through an inspection it was discovered that an overhead door next to the fire had burned.  Value was estimated at $500.

• On April 14 at 1:15 p.m., Mentor Fire responded to a possible structure fire on Shandle Boulevard. Upon arrival, there was a working fire on the exterior of the home.  Per the home owner, cold ashes from the food smoker were dumped into the garbage can and apparently caught the siding on fire. Fire was extinguished, live power lines were secured. Loss is estimated at $25,000. There were no injuries.

• On April 15 at 1:38 p.m., Mentor Fire responded to an oven fire at a church. Upon arrival, they found an electric heating element was broken causing arcing and burning. Electric was disconnected and the church was advised not to turn power back on until serviced by a qualified appliance repair person.

• On April 16 at 10:32 a.m., Paramedics responded to a home on Beechwood Drive for a patient with chest pains.  Upon arrival it was discovered that the home was in the process of having a search warrant carried out by Mentor Police Department and the Bureau of Criminal Investigations. The patient refused treatment at this time.

Police Department
• On April 13, a male was arrested for possession of ecstasy and carrying a concealed weapon. Officers conducted a traffic stop and questioned the driver. The male was nervous and said the pants he was wearing were not his. Officers located one ecstasy pill in his pocket. Officers also located a loaded semi-auto handgun in the vehicle.

• On Wednesday, Ptl. Erik Kupchik, a member of the U.S. Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Force, participated in the execution of several search warrants of Internet Cafés in Cuyahoga County. The Task Force was responsible for recovering any and all electronic equipment associated with the illegal activities at the Cafés.  The Electronic Crimes Task Force is a multi-agency unit consisting of Federal, State and Local law enforcement officers.  The unit is responsible for the recovery and forensic examination of computers, cell phones and other electronic devices.

• Congratulations to Lt. Ken Zbiegien who has been chosen as the “Outstanding Criminal Justice Student/Graduate for 2013.” Lt. Zbiegien will be receiving his award at the Lakeland Community College Academic Awards Ceremony on May 9. Lt. Zbiegien is currently working on his sssociate’s degree at Lakeland.

Engineering
• 2013 Sidewalk Repair Program — The Engineering Department is continuing with sidewalk inspections for Zone 3B. Brambleside Lane, Union Street, Chase Drive, Inland Shores Drive, Captains Ct., Lighthouse Ct., Anchor Drive, Bay Ridge Ct., Manry Ct., Melshore Drive, Reynolds Rd., Ford Drive, Carter Blvd., Faye Lane and parts of Lakeshore Blvd. and Brooks Blvd. have been inspected for sidewalk deficiencies. Sidewalks that are identified as deficient have been marked with paint in the field.

• TC Construction has begun working on Burridge Avenue and will be progressing to the west, making repairs on sidewalks in Zone 2B under the 2012 Sidewalk Repair Program.

• Station Street Resurfacing Project — On April 29, Karvo Paving is scheduled to begin work on the resurfacing of Station Street from Jackson Street to Center Street. The scheduled completion date for this project is June 12.

Parks and Recreation Department
• Black Brook Golf Course updates:
o There were 84 participants in the 51st Annual Mud Open
o Adult and Junior Golf Schools started this week. Five adults were registered for Tuesday; Thursday’s adult class and Saturday’s junior class are full
o The practice center is finished on the right side and seeded.
• Mentor Lagoons updates:
o Yearly dredging has begun at the Lagoons’ channel entrance.
o Water service was turned on at docks A, B and C; D and E will be on by the weekend and the public restrooms are functional. 
• There were 287 clients served through AARP at the Mentor Senior Center during this tax season.
• The Summer Brochure has been reviewed and sent to the printer. Distribution date is April 25 and will also be available online. Summer registration beings April 29 for residents and May 2 for nonresidents.
• Plans are moving ahead for the Marines to be in Mentor for the “Take Pride in America” presentation on June 19.
• Preparation has started for opening the pools this year. The filtration system plans for Garfield Pool have been approved by the State Department of Public Health. Once the paperwork is received and reviewed, the project will be placed out to bid.
• The 50th Anniversary Lecture program has gone very well and the five-lecture series program will be offered again in the fall.
• Memorial Day Parade letters have been sent to Mentor Veterans organizations, the schools and past participants asking for their participation again this year.

Economic and Community Development
• Tom Thielman participated in his monthly radio show on 1330 WELW. Topic of conversation was the upcoming Lake County Business Symposium at Lakeland Community College on May 15, 2013. MEACO is involved in planning the day’s speakers and helps sponsor the event, which features seminars on marketing, finance, operations, and technology for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

• Tom Thielman met with Julie Burden-Lindner, Vice President, and Dawn Huber, Business Banker, both from JP Morgan Chase, regarding the benefits of working with the Mentor Economic Assistance Corporation, and provided information about the Mentor Small Business Micro-Loan Program.

• Ron Traub met with representatives of the Comptroller of the Currency, Administrator of National Banks, regarding an overview of the local economy.

Finance
• Hearings on H.B. 5 are expected to restart next week. The bill is purportedly designed to make municipal tax laws uniform across the state. Opposition to the bill continues to be centered around the potential significant reductions in local tax revenues and the loss of critical control for Ohio cities.

Public Works Department
• Sod repair - Citywide
• Cleaned storm sewer - Garfield Park
• Leaf removal from storm ditch at Mentor Lagoons
• Re-defining ditches on Jordan Drive
• Cleared storm sewer blockage - 7651 SR 84
• Cleaning planting beds – Wildwood CC, Norton Parkway
• Morton pool prep and draining
• Ball field maintenance
• Replacing restroom floors at Mentor Beach Park
• Civic Center pool preparation
• Inlet basin rebuilds - Qual Point
• Crack sealing - Tyler Blvd.
• Cut pavement for new traffic loops - Plaza Blvd.

-- Betsy Scott, BScott@News-Herald.com, @ReporterBetsy

Mentor makes good on more than $1 million in grants, the fire department has a busy week and the city's road repair program starts rolling - those items and more in the latest weekly city manager report to City Council:

Manager Comments
• Officers with the US Marshal’s Violent Fugitive Task Force (Lake, Geauga, Ashtabula), which includes one member of the Mentor Police Department, arrested a male wanted by MPD for the sale of prescription drugs. The male was arrested in Painesville and transported to the Mentor jail.

• Mentor Incentive Grant (MIG) payments were processed for 13 companies that met the MIG Agreement requirements during 2012. The payments totaled over $1 million.

• Ohio Public Works Commission Funding – Round 28 (PY-14) — The Engineering Department is currently preparing preliminary applications for funding through the Ohio Public Works Commission’s Round 28 funding cycle. The applications are being prepared for the Two-Town Retention Basin, Deepwood Boulevard Repair and Resurfacing and the Heisley Road Phase 3 project.

Fire Department
• On April 5 at 5:35 p.m., paramedics were called for a male who was injured when he jumped from a moving ATV and suffered multiple burns and abrasions. Patient was treated and transported to Hillcrest Hospital.

• On April 6 at 1:48 a.m., the Fire Department responded to Grovewood for a report of a home filling with smoke. Crews arrived to find the homeowners outside and smoke throughout the residence. The investigation revealed an electrical problem with the furnace. The furnace was taken apart and power was secured to prevent further damage. After fire crews ventilated the home and reset the smoke detectors the occupants were able to return.

• On April 6 at 9:40 p.m., Mentor Fire responded to a possible structure fire on Green Oak. Upon arrival, a small fire was discovered on one side of the home involving the vinyl siding and mulch bed. Pressurized smoke was found in the door jamb and base molding. Fire was extinguished and there were no injuries.

• On April 10 at 12:01 p.m., paramedics responded to a two car accident. Both drivers were treated and transported to Lake West Health. 

• On April 10 at 3:49 p.m., Paramedics responded to a two-car, head-on accident with heavy front end damage to both cars.  Both drivers required treatment and were transported. One driver was transported to Hillcrest Hospital and the other driver was transported to Lake West Health.

Police Department
• One of the department’s SMART trailers was defaced with spray paint while set up on Edgewood Dr. at Devonshire.  Someone spray painted the letters GJ in green paint on the front of the trailer. The trailer was sent to the road garage to remove the paint.

• Four detectives attended a free 4-day training course at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy-Richfield, titled Investigative Strategies for Missing and Abducted Children. This course covers how to manage a missing or abducted child case, including initial response, as well as an overview of interviewing and interrogation techniques.

Engineering
• 2013 Road Repair Program — Preconstruction meetings were held April 9 for Contract A and Contract B of the 2013 Road Repair Program.  Work for Contract B (concrete repairs) is anticipated to begin on Monday, April 15 in the vicinity of Quail Point, Galaxie Drive and Silver Court. Markings of concrete repair areas by the Engineering staff continue.  Work for Contract A (asphalt paving) is anticipated to begin on or about April 30. All asphalt resurfacing areas have been marked by the Engineering staff. Completion date for both contracts is September 27. Further updates will be provided as the projects progress.

• 2013 Sidewalk Repair Program — The Engineering Department has started sidewalk inspections for Zone 3B this week which is bounded by Bellflower Rd., SR306, Lakeshore Blvd. and Melshore Dr. Currently, Chase Drive and part of Reynolds Road have been inspected.

• 2012 Sidewalk Repair Program – The Engineering Department met with TC Construction this week to discuss construction aspects of the sidewalk program in Ward 2 from last year’s inspection. TC Construction will begin working on the east side of Zone 2B staring Monday (Burridge Rd.) and progress to the west. Engineering will be providing on-site inspection during the construction process.

• Reedhurst Farms #2 Subdivision – JTO, Inc. has started construction of the new residential subdivision located off of Green Valley Dr. The new subdivision will be improved to have 13 new residential sub lots. The Engineering Department will be overseeing the project.

• State Urban Paving Program - The Ohio Department of Transportation has indicated that the resurfacing of SR84 (from SR306 to Garfield Road) is currently scheduled to take place during state fiscal year 2016, which begins July 2015. The resurfacing of SR615 (Center Street from Bellflower Road to Munson Road) is currently scheduled for state fiscal year 2017, which begins July 2016. The state would typically provide funding for 80% of the cost of a simple asphalt overlay. The City would typically be responsible for pavement repairs, plan preparation and construction oversight.

Parks and Recreation Department
• The Public Works Department is currently working on the parking addition at Garfield Park, so it can be ready for the upcoming baseball season.

• As a result of the use of ATV’s during the winter on trails at Morton and Lagoons Parks, trail repair work will start soon.  The Public Works crew reviewed the site for needed material and equipment.

• The video surveillance camera system has been installed at Black Brook Golf Course. Drainage improvements to the fairways have been completed.

Economic and Community Development
• Ron Traub participated in a webinar entitled “How to Bring Retail Home” in preparation for the forthcoming ICSC (International Conference of Shopping Centers) conference.

• The City Manager was joined by Kevin Malecek, President  & CEO of the Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce and Ron Traub at the Time-Warner store front ribbon cutting on Plaza Boulevard.

• Tom Thielman met with a manufacturing company considering relocating to Mentor. The company employs approximately 45 people and requested information regarding utilities and SBA 504 financing opportunities.

Finance
• Legislation is being prepared for next month relative to next year’s street lighting assessments to benefiting properties. The assessment rate was calculated at $.95 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. This rate is the same as the previous year. The rate is adjusted each year to account for factors such as changes to assessed property valuation and the cost of electricity.

Public Works Department
• Athletic field maintenance - soccer, baseball, football
• Added 25 tons of conditioner to Civic Center fields #3 and #4
• Layed out and tilled 32 community garden plots
• Began opening/cleaning of Morton Pool
• Inlet basin rebuilds - Tyler/SR 615, SR 306/Culver, SR 306/Texas
• 75% complete with upgrade of signalized intersections on Plaza Blvd.
• All traffic signal battery backup systems successfully tested
• Completed improvements at Black Brook Golf Course driving range
• Storm sewer cleaning - Jasani, McKinley, Taft, Grant, Hayes
• Roadside ditch re-profiling - Jordan
• Crack sealed - Fairfax
• Completing expansion of Garfield Park parking lot
• Tree Commission will host Arbor Day observance May 3 at 1:00 p.m. at Sterling Morton Elementary School
• Matt Schweikert participated in a phone conference hosted by Michelle Stys regarding the development of sharing agreement software

-- Betsy Scott, BScott@News-Herald.com, @ReporterBetsy

A baby that wouldn’t wait for paramedics, a criminal who couldn’t hide from the law, and the latest developments on the city’s Turkey Watch — those items and more in the most recent Mentor City manager’s memo to City Council:

Fire Department
• On March 29 at 12:22 a.m., paramedics from Station #1 responded to a woman in labor and found a baby already born in a van. Paramedics transported mom and baby boy to the hospital; both are doing great.

• On March 22 at 4:36 p.m., Mentor Fire Department responded to a three-car MVA on Center Street and Mentor Avenue. One person was treated and transported to Lake West Hospital.

Police Department
• Officers located a male, who was wanted for a felony warrant and other criminal charges, at his home on Meldon Drive. When officers entered the home, the male was hiding in a bedroom and refused to surrender to officers. K-9 Titan was on scene and the suspect was ordered numerous times to surrender. The suspect refused to cooperate and Titan was sent in to the room to locate the suspect. Titan found the suspect and pulled him from his hiding spot. The suspect received bite marks on his arm and leg.

• Six juveniles and one adult were located inside a vacant house on Hart Street. The juveniles and adult illegally entered the house and were having a party. Alcohol was found in one of the bedrooms. Everyone was arrested for criminal trespass and the adult was also charged with underage possession of alcohol.

Parks and Recreation Department
• The elusive turkey is part of the daily activity of the Natural Resource Specialists and, to date, it has not been captured. Since it is considered wildlife, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is ultimately responsible for the removal of the turkey from the area. We will be proposing to ODNR the idea of hiring a professional trapper on Monday.

• City Council is an integral part of the community and the driving force behind CITYfest. The Recreation Department is working hard and needs your help to secure volunteers to work at CITYfest. Please contact Bob Martin, Parks & Recreation with names of business owners that we can contact about sponsorships.

• The first of six “50th Anniversary Lectures” is scheduled for Thursday, April 4 at Wildwood from 7-9:30 p.m. All who signed up for this lecture will learn why Mentor was “A Grower’s Paradise.” All lectures are sold out.


Manager Comments 
• The City has been informed by the Ohio Public Works Commission that our grant/loan for the Plaza Blvd. Extension project has been approved. The district approved a $450,000 grant and $450,000 loan. We anticipate the project will be able to go to bid soon after July 1.

• The Administration will be proposing a significant revision to its Off-Street Parking and Loading ordinance that will head to the Planning Commission for their next meeting. Changes include parking space requirements and rules, accommodations for bicycle parking, parking surface requirements and residential parking changes. This is the next phase of the long-term goal of updating our zoning code.

• This week the city collected $200,000 in TIF revenues as part of the first half real estate settlement distributed by the Lake County Treasurer. The TIF fund balance is now over $1.4 million. We appropriated $1 million in this year’s budget toward the cost of the Plaza Boulevard extension.

Economic and Community Development
• Tom Thielman participated in the annual U.S. Small Business Administration — Cleveland District Community Development Corporation lender roundtable. CDC’s from throughout the State of Ohio attended and provided an update on activities, issues, upcoming legislation regarding SBA lending, advocacy, and strategies for the future.

• Congratulations and Best Wishes to Carol VanKorngut, administrative secretary for the Department of Economic and Community Development, regarding her retirement after 25 years of service.

Engineering
• FEMA is in the process of revising the flood insurance rate maps for the entire US Great Lakes Coast. As part of the study, FEMA contractors will be performing land use reconnaissance surveys in Lake County. While in the field, the Contractors will make every effort to stay on public land and rights-of-way; however, it may be necessary from time to time for the engineers to enter upon privately owned property for short periods of time to gather survey information.

Should this occur, they will make every attempt possible to contact the homeowner in advance and seek permission. The field crews will be in and around the area from April 8 through 12. Upon request, the engineers will identify themselves by employee ID badge, driver’s license and a letter of introduction. City of Mentor Engineering and Building Department personnel will be coordinating these efforts and any questions should be directed to the department.

Public Works Department
• Snow operations
• Garfield Park pool bathroom renovations and ballroom renovations
• Replaced ped pole at SR 306 and SR 2 that was hit by motorist
• Black Brook Golf Course – stump removal at driving range; storm sewer installation
• Storm sewer televising - Hart, Maple and Murray
• Prepping soccer fields
• Wildwood Cultural Center interior improvements
• Completed playground inspections
• Met with Parks Dept. staff to review Division of Public Work’s support for CITYfest

-- Betsy Scott, BScott@News-Herald.com, @ReporterBetsy

Traffic improvement talks for Diamond Centre and Lake Shore Boulevard, a jewel heist investigation, and bid opening for a major drainage project are among the recent goings-on in Mentor. Those items and more in the latest, weekly city manager memo to City Council:

Manager Comments 
• Tony Zampedro and I met Doug Lewis, Painesville acting city manager, last Monday to discuss the long-term approach to the highway improvement involving the Diamond Center/Shamrock developing area. We discussed the obstacles and options for moving a project forward and agreed to continue exploring opportunities for cooperation.

• Letters are being sent this week to all property owners on streets included in the 2013 sidewalk repair program. A public meeting is scheduled for April 4 at 6 p.m. at the Mentor Senior Center to review details of this year’s program. One of only a few minor changes to this year’s program includes adjusting the vertical separation standard from 1-inch to ¾-inch to better address the trip hazard defect.

Fire Department
• On March 15 at 4:21 p.m., Mentor Fire Department responded to a MABAS box for a dryer fire in Mentor-on-the-Lake. Mentor Fire assisted in ventilating the home and locating two house cats. 

• On March 20 at 3:05 p.m., a male walked into the station with food lodged in his throat. He was treated and transported to Lake Health in stable condition.

• Public Education Specialist Nathan Peters has been teaching “Hands Only CPR” to the Mentor Police Department.

Police Department
• On March 16, officers responded to a theft at JB Robinson Jewelers at the Great Lakes Mall. The theft had occurred the night before, during business hours. The thief got away with almost $24,000 worth of jewelry. The case is currently under investigation by the Detective Bureau.

• At the City Council meeting on Tuesday evening, the Officer of the Year, Lt. Tom Powers and Civilian of the Year, Dispatcher Linda Hulderman awards were presented for 2012. This is the second-consecutive year winning the award for Linda.

• On March 18, the police department assisted with and attended the funeral of Judge Ted Klammer, father of City Prosecutor Lisa Klammer.

Engineering
• Traffic counts for the Lakeshore Blvd. Capacity Improvements Study are scheduled to commence on March 26 throughout the corridor. These counts will analyze traffic at the following intersections:

• Lakeshore Boulevard and Campbell Road
• Lakeshore Boulevard and State Route 306
• Lakeshore Boulevard and Inland Shores/Thistlewood
• Lakeshore Boulevard and Dale R. Rice Elementary School Driveway
• Lakeshore Boulevard and Meadowbrook Drive
• Lakeshore Boulevard and Andrews Road
• Munson Road and Lakeway Boulevard
• Munson Road and Center Street

Results of the study will be presented later this summer with recommendations to be considered for future capital improvement programs.

• Fifteen bids were opened March 8 for the Beechwood Drive Storm Sewer Improvement. This project consists of removing approximately 640 feet of undersized and deteriorating storm sewer on the east side of Beechwood Drive. The old storm sewer will be replaced with a 12-inch storm sewer on the east side. 

Additionally, storm sewer inlets will be installed on the west side where there were previously no storm sewer facilities. The total length of the project is approximately 1,336 feet. The low bid of $85,357.44 was received was from Davis Diggers Inc. of Mentor. This bid is significantly lower that the engineer’s estimate of $160,000.00.

Work is expected to begin by June 2013 and should be completed by October 2013. A recommendation to award a contract to Davis Diggers Inc. is expected to be presented at the April 4 Council Meeting.

Economic and Community Development
• Data from CBRE was assembled to analyze retail vacancy for Greater Cleveland, which tracks over 104 million square feet of retail space in the eight county areas. The Greater Cleveland vacancy rate was 10.27 percent in 2012. Lorain County exhibited the highest vacancy rate at 13.6 percent, while Stark County had the lowest vacancy rate at 8.0 percent. In Lake County, the vacancy rate was 9.8 percent. Of the 28 properties “tracked” in Mentor, the vacancy rate was 4.6 percent.

In Mentor there are 11 regional shopping centers (76,000 sq. ft.+), which represent approximately 2.8 million square feet of retail space. The vacancy rate of these larger centers was 5.9 percent or approximately 170,000 sq. ft. with the largest vacancies being in the Points East Plaza, Great Lakes Mall and Town Square.

There is almost 600,000 sq. ft. of retail space in 27 “convenience” shopping centers in Mentor, which range in size from 11,000 to 45,800 sq. ft. (Retail Vacancy 2013).  The vacancy among these convenience centers is 15.4 percent, down from 17 percent in the 2012 report. The overall vacancy rate for the 38 shopping centers in the City is approximately 7.5 percent; a one-half percent decrease from 2012.

Parks and Recreation Department
• New-member meetings will be held at the Senior Center on April 18 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. to introduce the Senior Center facility and its functions.

• The new boiler for the Senior Center and the new security camera system at Black Brook Golf Course will be installed in April.

• Sign-ups for the 50th Anniversary Lecture Series are going well with 25 registered in each series so far.

Finance
• Recent State of Ohio statutory changes affect prior, current and future individuals hired as independent contractors, or other classifications for which no retirement contributions were or will be made to OPERS. Timeliness for notice and requests were changed by recent legislation. Employers must now notify by Sept. 7 those individuals who provided personal services prior to Jan. 7, 2013, for which no retirement contributions were withheld. Individuals now have until Aug. 7, 2014, to request a membership determination from OPERS.

Public Works Department
• Completed installation of perforated drainage pipe at Black Brook Golf Course
• Completing rough grade for work above
• Storm sewer inspections – Ward 2 – 50% complete
• Storm sewer repair – 8425 Grenway
• Lowered drainage outlet and re-defined roadside ditch – Willowbrook
• Garfield Park pool restroom improvement – ongoing
• Plaza Blvd. signal upgrades – tied-in conduits and pulled loop wire
• Cold patching – City-wide
• Constructing game boards for CityFest
• Black Brook Golf Course security system installed

-- Betsy Scott, BScott@News-Herald.com, @ReporterBetsy