Mentor is wooing a prospect for its slow-to-start business incubator, and the police and fire departments were called to unusual incidents at Target & Walmart, according to the latest weekly city manager’s memo:

Fire Department
• On Monday, Jan. 16 at 10:12 a.m., the department responded to Target at 9669 Mentor Ave. for a report of a “high pressure” gas leak inside the building. Crews arrived within four minutes to find a gas leak in the stockroom of the store. The leak occurred when a lift operator struck a 1” gas service line to a ceiling mounted heater, breaking the line at a 90 degree elbow causing natural gas to free flow throughout the stockroom. Their maintenance employee did a good job shutting down the service line valve which was located on the roof.  The store was evacuated and closed for approximately 10 minutes while fire crews ventilated the building and ensured safe air readings inside the building. There were no reports of injury or medical complaints from the leak. The building was turned back over to the store manager at 10:37 a.m.
• On Jan. 17 at 3:25 a.m., paramedics responded to a possible drug overdose. Crews arrived to find a 21-year-old female in stable condition who felt her drink may have been “spiked” with “Ecstasy” while she was at a private party in Cleveland. Patient was transported to Lake Health West in stable condition.

Police Department
• A 49-year-old male was arrested for aggravated robbery at Walmart on Jan. 13. The male was shoplifting a 31” television when security confronted him exiting the store. The male fought with security trying to escape. The suspect cut a security officer in the neck with a pair of wire cutters. The cut was approximately 1” long but did not require any medical attention. This same male stole a purse from an elderly female’s arm in the lot of Walmart in 2009.
• On  Jan. 14 at 9:07 a.m., police and fire crews responded to a fatal rollover traffic crash in the area of 8141 Tyler Boulevard. The single vehicle accident involved a 1997 Dodge pick-up truck with a snow plow driven by a 62 year old male. The male had been traveling eastbound on Tyler and went off the south side of the roadway. His vehicle flipped over and landed on a concrete culvert trapping him inside the vehicle.  The male was dead on arrival and had to be extricated from his vehicle by fire crews. MPD and the Regional Investigation Unit investigated the cause of the crash.

Economic and Community Development
• Tom Thielman and Ron Traub met with Cliff Somerville of Lake Erie College to discuss the city’s business incubator and met with a “prospect.”

Engineering and Building Department
• Crossfield Avenue Waterline Replacement — A permit has been issued to Aqua Ohio for the installation of 850 feet of 8-inch replacement waterline. The new waterline will be installed on the south side of Crossfield Avenue between Midland Road and Broadmoor Road (SR306). D.B. Bentley, Inc. will be the contractor installing the waterline. Work on this project is expected to begin in early February and should take approximately three to five weeks to complete. Work hours will be limited to 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. During construction, all lanes of traffic will be maintained.

Public Works Department
• The Public Works Activity Highlights last week were:  two demonstrations of sewer cameras; snow and ice control; Christmas tree chipping; renovating senior citizens center kitchen; interior painting and staining at Wildwood Cultural Center; completed bid specs for phase 1 of City Hall HVAC improvement; reviewed/approved shop drawing for senior center generator installation — project ready to begin; pot hole patching; storm sewer repair at 6209 Carolyn; stabilizing small bank failure on Two-town ditch; mail box repair; and, continue to work on the board ramp at the marina.

Parks and Recreation Department
• The Lagoons Marina is making the final adjustments to the dock contracts for the 2012 season. In the next couple of weeks the next reminder for dock payments will go out to all dockers and they will then have the opportunity to complete their payments and sign their contracts for the upcoming season.
• The city is working with the Cleveland Rock Gym to offer Mentor residents a chance to learn how to rock climb in the controlled climate of the gym. This four-section class will introduce you to climbing technique. A session is being offered for those over 16 years old and a youth class for those under 16.
• The new recreation brochure will start to show up in resident houses the last week of this month.

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