The weekly Mentor City manager memo to council includes a big traffic stop, a suspicious typewriter and a report on a problem bridge:

Police
• One of our Mentor Police Officers conducted a traffic stop on I-90 as part of our Aggressive Criminal Enforcement (ACE) detail. The traffic stop resulted in both occupants being arrested for traffic and drug offenses, along with the seizure of $15,000 dollars located in the vehicle and on their persons.
• An intoxicated male forced entry into an apartment at Mentor Mall Village Apartments, 7950 Mentor Ave. The male confronted the female resident and asked if an unknown male lived in the apartment. The female ran to her bathroom, locked the door and called police. The suspect fled but was located behind another apartment building in the complex.The male was charged with burglary and carrying a concealed weapon (8” folding knife). 
• A press release was sent out to the local media attempting to identify a male responsible for a shoplifting/robbery at Macy’s from Jan. 10. The day after the article was run in The News-Herald, which included a photo of the suspect, an anonymous tip was received and the male was identified. The male was arrested and charged.

Fire Department
• On Jan. 29, at 1:40 p.m., paramedics responded to another reported heroin overdose. This call was on Edgehill.  Paramedics arrived to find a 23-year-old male refusing their treatment. The scene was turned over to the police department.
• On Jan. 30, at 10:53 a.m., the fire department assisted the bomb squad with a suspicious package that was reported outside of 6966 Heisley Road. Bomb Squad Technicians were able to determine that the device was an old typewriter and there was no threat. Fire units were re-turned to service at 12:29 p.m.
• On  Jan. 30 at 4:46 p.m., the fire department assisted with the search for a missing 2-year-old that had been reported missing for 15-20 minutes. Shortly after beginning the search, the child was found in his house.

Economic and Community Development
• Ron Traub and Tom Thielman met with the owner of the former Little Mountain Farmers Market site regarding its redevelopment opportunities.
• Abe Bruckman and Ron Traub met with Amy Brennan, Chagrin River Watershed Partners, regarding the use of green technologies to address storm water run-off.
• Ron Traub met with the owners of the Polo building to discuss their involvement in the Mentor Technology Greenhouse initiative.
• Ron Traub attended the “ribbon cutting” for Gotta Dance Ohio located at 8824 Mentor Avenue.
• MEACO is working on producing a series of video snippets to post on its website and YouTube to help educate businesses of the benefits of SBA lending and the Mentor Small Business Loan program.

Engineering and Building Department
• The city received a much-anticipated Mentor Harbor Bridge inspection report prepared by the Lake County Engineer at the city’s request. The report indicates the overall condition of the bridge is serious, although some components of the bridge are better than others. The administration will use this report to support potential application for outside sources of funding for demolition and removal. The next step is to pursue an estimate of removal cost.
• SR2 Widening Phase 3 — All median lighting from the Willoughby Corp line to Hopkins Road has been installed and is operational. Work activity on SR2 is expected to be minimal until spring, at which time, SR615 widening will begin. 

Manager Comments 
• The city has obtained a copy of the Resolution passed by the County Commissioners requesting that the Lake County Budget Commission repeal the alternative distribution formula for Local Government Funds. It is being reviewed by the law director and administration to determine what steps, if any, must be taken by the city and when. We are also reviewing the original agreement memorializing the present alternative formula adopted in 1982. The agreement indicates that when the recent action by the Commissioners is certified to the Budget Commission, which we assume it has been, the Budget Commission must appoint a committee to recommend an alternative formula. I am intending to send a letter to the Budget Commission requesting that Mentor is proportionally represented on that committee. The administration will take no other steps without direction from the law director.
• In consideration of tax season, extended hours for the on-site satellite R.I.T.A. office at Mentor City Hall will be in effect during March and April. The office will be open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from March 1 thru April 26.

Parks and Recreation Department
• With the spring-like temps on Tuesday we had nearly 100 golfers (58 nine-hole rounds and 37, 18-hole rounds.)  The tennis and basketball courts also saw a lot of action.
• Spring registration, including registration for summer camps began Monday with an impressive first day total of $25,037. Half of all registration is now being done online.
• During the two-week holiday season the arena had 4,410 open skaters. This is an increase of 350 from last year.

Public Works Department
• The Public works Activity Highlights this week were: repaired trench drain at MMF; poured footer for new boat ramp at marina; storm sewer repairs — Culver and Arrowwood; cleaned storm sewers at Jasani and at SR 306/Two Town ditch; re-profiled ditch at 6554 Elmwood; removed restrictor plate from storm structure at 7853 Chapelway; walking/inspecting ditches in southwest area of City of Mentor; testing conflict monitors; tree pruning on Norton Parkway; prepping for installation of fence and waterline at WWCC; plumbing repairs — MPD; Coordinating electric work at FS #4 re: generator; requesting quotes for new boiler at Garfield Park building; and bids for City Hall HVAC project (phase 1) due on Feb. 26.

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