Here is a snapshot of what city of Mentor employees have been working on, according to the weekly Mentor city manager memo to City Council:

Economic Development
•    Tom Thielman is participating with the Lake County Port Authority and a coalition of Lake County municipalities’ in preparing a grant application to the US EPA for a countywide “Brownfield” assessment grant.

Finance
•    State Auditor David Yost recently issued a letter to the Ohio Tax Commissioner outlining some of his concerns related to the state’s efforts to centralize the collection of local income taxes. Potential increased costs and delay in receiving local tax dollars were specifically mentioned in his letter.

Fire
• At 9:15 p.m. on Nov. 12, the Fire Department was called to assist Kirtland Fire Department with a technical rescue involving a 58-year-old male pinned under a large tree. The male was found trapped under a tree that he was cutting. The base of the tree measured 42 inches in diameter. The male’s hip and upper leg were pinned under the tree. The male remained conscious and alert throughout the rescue, which took about 47 minutes. The male was then flown to Metro Health Medical Center in stable condition where he was treated for his injuries. 
• Firefighter Adam Georskey underwent surgery to repair multiple fractures in his hand sustained when Squad 1132 was involved in an accident last week on Center Street Bridge He is at home recovering and will be out for an extensive period of time.

Police
• On Nov. 11, a traffic stop was performed on a vehicle driving on I-90 for following too closely to the vehicle ahead. The officer smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the interior of the vehicle. Marijuana, crack cocaine and heroin were located on the male passenger. The driver received a traffic citation and the passenger was charged with several drug trafficking charges.
• Over the weekend of Nov. 12, someone stole approximately 3000 feet of cooper wiring from along the Norfolk and Southern railroad tracks behind Queensdale and Bumpers. An investigation has been initiated.

Public Works
• The activity highlights last week were: repaired garage door soffit and roof at Ice Arena; painted basement at Wildwood; removal of American flags from utility poles; repairing right-of-way sink holes — Maple, Wyant; replacing storm sewer crossover at Garden/Corduroy; inspecting (camera) storm sewer at Fortuna; raising storm manhole casting — Willowbrook; inlet basin repairs — Carter/Ford and Kellog Creek; slabjacking — Harding, Wilderness; cracksealing — Garfield; inventory of used traffic poles; issuing addendum to bid specs for Senior Center generator; and completing court/Mentor Police Department parking lot resurfacing.

Recreation
• The Recreation Department was notified that it received two grants for next year. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has awarded the City a Boating Safety Grant for $17,135. The grant will be used for the purchase of a kayak trailer and additional paddles and safety equipment. During the 10 years that we have offered the boating education classes over 1,700 people have attended. The second grant is from Kaiser Permanente through the Lake County Board of Health for $14,750 and will be used to install a water line, hoses, signage and fencing at the new Wildwood Community Garden. There is currently a list of interested participants that, if all commit, will fill 75 percent of the lots before the start of 2012. The program is open only to residents. Recreation Superintendent Paul Hegreness worked with the Health District to secure this grant.

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