The unemployment rate for Mentor remained at 5.3% in November (Mentor’s rate was 6.6% in November 2010). The City’s unemployment rate was last at 5.3% or lower in November, 2008. In Lake County, the unemployment rate increased 0.3% to 6.2%. The City has the second-lowest unemployment rate of the 65 communities in Ohio for which data is collected. The unemployment rate in Ohio declined to 7.6% (a 0.8% decline) in November 2011.

In other news (from the Mentor City manager’s weekly report to City Council):

Fire Department
• Mentor Fire is joining other Lake County agencies to develop a “hands only” CPR campaign called Cardio-Cerebral Resuscitation. The goal is to train 4,000 Mentor residents in this method of CPR.  Cardio-Cerebral Resuscitation has been shown to greatly increase survival rates from Sudden Cardiac Arrest. 
• The Mentor Part-Time Firefighters Annual Auction raised $2,200 for needy families in the community.

Police Department
• On Monday, the Police Department promoted three officers. Acting Capt. Ken Gunsch was sworn in as captain, Sgt. Dan Molnar as lieutenant and Ptl. Mark Stansbury as sergeant. These officers assume their new duties Jan. 4.
• The City has received a $5,000 donation from Marc’s to help fund our second police canine unit in 2012. A ceremonial check presentation from Marc’s President Kevin Yaugher to City Council will be held  at a January or February meeting of council.
• On the morning of Dec. 14, an officer stopped a vehicle on SR 2 for a license plate violation. When the officer approached the car he could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered a hidden area under the floor shifter. In this compartment, the officer located 1.5 g of crack cocaine, 4.7 g of marijuana, a digital scale and empty baggies. The driver was arrested and charged with trafficking in crack cocaine and marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a citation for the license plate violation. The vehicle, a 1999 Chrysler 300, was seized and the Department will go after forfeiture of the vehicle.

Finance Department
• The City continued its evaluation of an automated time and attendance system by hosting a cost/benefit session with KRONOS. The forum provided a detailed explanation of several potential cost savings areas where automation provides a solution.

Engineering and Building Department
• Over the last several months, Code Enforcement has received numerous complaints regarding a single-family home located on Hendricks Road. The tenant of this property was running a tree-trimming business from the residence. While some progress was made in relocating the heavy equipment to an acceptable location, the property remains in violation of property maintenance codes due to the fact that excess amounts of firewood, cut trees and miscellaneous equipment continue to be stored at this location. A code violation notice was issued to the property owner. When full compliance was not met, a summons was issued. The owner has appeared in Mentor Court. Noticeable progress is currently being made at the property.

Public Works Department
• The Public Works Activity Highlights this week were: repaired more of failing SR 615 bridge deck with flexset; cracksealing – Garfield Rd; coldpatching/durapatching – citywide; replacing old batteries in traffic signal battery backups; completed drainage assistance program Enfield/Erie; cleaning storm sewers – Bellflower; storm sewer repairs  - Johnnycake, Dorrwood; drainage improvement completed on Roosevelt; drainage improvement on Washington; recontoured drainage ditch – Clover; Interior repairs – WWCC; bathroom repairs – Krueger residence; seeking quotes for Garfield building boiler replacement; and property cleanup on Rosemary per code enforcement.

Parks and Recreation Department
• On Jan. 7, the Recreation Department will have its first “Recycle Sports Swap” at Mentor Beach Park starting at 9 a.m. Bring all those outgrown shoes, bats, gloves, sticks, balls, skis. Purchase a table and sell or trade your gently worn sports equipment.  Call and sign-up for a table soon, limited space and tables are going quickly.
• The Chili Open is about a month away. Call the Recreation Department for more information or to sign-up.
• There have been major phone problems with the phones at Wildwood. The line is functioning again.

Economic and Community Development
• MEACO conducted its quarterly Board of Directors meeting. Tom Thielman presented information regarding the current SBA 504 and Mentor Small Business Loan activity. Tom also updated the Board about MEACO’s finances, the Mentor Technology Greenhouse initiative, and the recent changes to some of the SBA programs.
• The MEACO Loan Review Committee approved an SBA 504 loan for Cleveland Geriatrics, Inc. for the purchase of a small office building in downtown Willoughby. MEACO is authorized by the SBA to provide lending across the State of Ohio. MEACO will realize approximately $8,000 in fees for this loan.

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