Here is a sample of what city of Mentor employees have been up to, from the latest weekly city manager report to City Council:

Fire Department

• On Monday, Oct. 17, at  3:42 p.m., fire crews were called to State Route 2 westbound east of State Route 306 for a report of a fire on the freeway. Crews arrived to find four separate areas burning next to the new concrete jersey barrier. It appears that the strong winds blew straw into the storm sewers and perhaps discarded cigarettes from passing motorists ignited the straw creating fires in the storm drainage piping. Fire Crews worked with the police to divert traffic (using a small section of the new roadway) while they extinguished the fires underground. The City Engineer was alerted to the fact that the plastic drain piping in the affected area may be damaged.

Police Department

           

• On Oct.14 a 23-year-old male was arrested while burglarizing an apartment at Mentor Garden Apartments, 7559 Mentor Ave. The male is also a suspect in a second burglary at the same apartment complex. Investigation is continuing regarding the second burglary.

Engineering and Building Department

• ODOT SR2 Widening: ODOT will continue concrete demolition and removal over the next two weeks. The noise levels associated with this work should be reduced after that time. Work following the demolition of pavement will include base preparation and paving. Work on the SR 2 ramps at SR 615 continues. ODOT has switched traffic to the new pavement for the SR 2 eastbound on ramp to SR 2. It is anticipated that ODOT will wrap up a majority of its operations for the winter by Thanksgiving with work resuming in March of 2012.

Public Works Department

• The Public Works Activity Highlights this week were: Roof and floor repairs – Old Council Hall; Plumbing repairs  - WWCC basement; Electrical repairs/ improvements – FS #1, City Hall, SR Center; Preparing bid specs for Senior Center generator installation; Completed installation of motion sensitive lights at City Hall restrooms; Working with consultant to prepare bid specs for City Hall HVAC improvements; Cracksealing – SR 306; Chipsealing of Marina roads; Durapatching – Headlands area; Hotpatching – Kittery Cove, Ohio Street; Working on Center Street lights to allow for installation of induction lights; Created “punch list” for signal work at SR 306 and SR 2; Drainage improvement project on Coronado – 35 percent complete; Misc. storm sewer repairs – Ohio, Bauer, Mentor Ave; Began dredging of Whalers Cove pond; and, Inlet basin rebuild/concrete road replacement – Carter.

Finance Department

• Preliminary 2012 budget reviews have been completed. Compilation of a line item budget and Capital Improvement Program for the 2012 budget is under way with the anticipation of a formal City Council budget work session prior to the City council meeting on Nov. 15.

Parks and Recreation Department

• The Midwest Regional Skating Championships went so well that the city has been asked to submit a proposal to host the US Figure Skating Adult Nationals for 2013 or 2014.

 Economic and Community Development

• Ron Traub has been conducting limited retail outreach to national retailers exploring Ohio locations. 

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