A cheeky fellow in Mentor Walmart tries to concoct drugs, the city’s unemployment rate dips again, and a big business officially opens its doors — those items and more in the latest Mentor city manager memo to

City Council: Manager Comments
 • A male was arrested at Walmart on June 17 for attempting to manufacture methamphetamine inside the store. The suspect was combining camping fuel along with household cleaners to begin the process. Store security alerted MPD of the situation. MPD and the Fire Department both responded and the male was arrested. He was charged with Illegal manufacturing of drugs, illegal assembly of chemicals for drugs, and theft. The substance created by the suspect was secured and disposed of by members of Lake County Narcotics Agency who were contacted and responded to the scene. They were assisted by Mentor Police and Fire.
 • The unemployment rate for Mentor decreased for the third consecutive month to 5.4 percent in May (Mentor’s rate was 6.4 percent in May last year). In Lake County, the unemployment rate decreased 0.2 percent to 5.9 percent. The city has the lowest unemployment rate for any community in Ohio over 50,000 in population. The unemployment rate in Ohio declined to 6.9 percent in May 2012.
• Council President Marn, Councilwoman Bucey, state Rep. Ron Young, Tom Thielman and the city manager attended the Mentor Mitsubishi Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony last Wednesday. The president of Mitsubishi USA was there to help cut the ribbon and celebrate the dealership’s success. Mentor Mitsubishi is currently the No. 1 performing dealership in the U.S.
• Ron Traub and the city manager met with Jim Brown of Classic Auto Group this week and discussed several important issues, including the city’s plans for the 615 detention area once secured. The meeting was productive and a good opportunity to solidify our working partnership.
 • A significant part of the city’s economic development advertising campaign kicks off this week with a 10-week cable schedule featuring Roger Sustar from Fredon Corp. explaining why he “chose Mentor to grow his business.” Approximately 130 commercials will air each week from June 25 through the end of August on select cable channels in portions of Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga and Summit Counties. Spots will air in all day parts (prime, daytime and overnight) on the following networks: CNN, FX, History, TBS, TNT, ESPN, USA, CNBC, MNBC, Golf, AMC, and TVLand. In addition, the campaign includes print ads in Crain’s Cleveland Business and banner ads on www.crainscleveland.com. We will also utilize keyword ad placement on Google for geographically targeted ads (www.Cleveland.com) and pre-roll video and display advertising on www.Newsnet5.com and www.WKYC.com.

 Police Department
• On June 19, at 5:40 pm, a male called the police department requesting to meet an officer at Krueger Park to provide information about recent burglaries. When the officer arrived he ran the license plate of the vehicle the male was driving and found out the vehicle was listed as stolen. The male was outside of his vehicle. As the officer exited his vehicle the male produced a handgun from his waistband. The officer ordered him several times to drop the weapon. Unfortunately, the male shot himself in the head. The officer was not physically injured. Mentor Fire/Rescue responded and transported the male to the hospital. He died the following day from his injury.
 • The 2012 Law Enforcement-Ohio Special Olympics Torch Run came through the city on June 19, at 10 am. Members of the police department and their families participated in this event. The Law Enforcement Torch Run is the single largest year-round fundraising event benefiting Special Olympics Ohio. The annual intrastate relay and its various fundraising projects have two goals: to raise money and to gain awareness for the athletes who participate in Special Olympics Ohio, along with providing officers visibility while giving back to their respective communities.
• On June 21, we conducted an unannounced fire drill in the jail. All procedures were followed properly and movements of the lone prisoner were controlled. This was an important exercise to ensure the safety of everyone in the building, including the prisoners under our care.

 Engineering and Building Department
• 2012 Sidewalk Program: Engineering has completed sidewalk inspections on all streets included in this year’s sidewalk program (Zone 2B) which include: Argee Drive, Barberry Hill, Bellflower Road, Burridge Avenue, Cadle Avenue, Carole Drive, Case Avenue, Center Street, Hart Street, Hollycroft Lane, Lauren J. Drive, Maple Street, Mentor Avenue, Nancy Drive, Nowlen Street, Old Village Lane, Presley Avenue, Prospect Street, Reynolds Road, Rockwell Court, Sharonlee Drive and Station Street. The results of the inspections are currently being reviewed, analyzed and documented in preparation for a public meeting, as well as, for use in cost estimates and inclusion in the “Resolution of Necessity.” • Bellflower Road Repair and Resurfacing Project: The one-way westbound construction zone was scheduled to be placed into effect on Monday. The construction zone set-up will not occur until after 9 a.m. Eastbound traffic will be detoured from Georgetown Drive to Center Street utilizing SR 2 and Lakeshore Boulevard. Two-way traffic will be maintained between Georgetown Drive and SR306. Mentor police officers with patrol cars will be utilized to aid in traffic control along the project, as well as, at other locations along the official and unofficial detour corridors. Fire Department 
• On June 18 at 4:16 p.m., the fire department responded to 5556 Primavera Drive for a report that the electrical meter on the exterior of the home was smoking. Fire crews isolated the area and notified CEI of the faulty service. The home’s interior electrical service was checked and monitored by fire crews as one leg of 120 service had pulled away from the outside meter due to ground settling. CEI arrived on scene and disconnected all service so that the repair could be made. There was no fire extension to the home or reported injuries. 
• On June 19, Deputy Chief Searles and Lieutenant Rob Gandee assisted in a graded table top training exercise at Lake Health in Concord. The training involved a multidiscipline response to a mock hazardous materials incident in Painesville Township and was conducted to meet the annual training requirements set fourth by the State Emergency Response Commission. Deputy Chief Searles served as an evaluator and Lieutenant Gandee served as a controller for the exercise. 
 • Office Personnel Jo Ann Buckley will be retiring on Friday, June 29 after six (6) years with the Mentor Fire Department, for a total of 33 dedicated years in Public Safety Services. 


 Parks and Recreation Department 
• The Mentor Senior Center Health Fair Expo will be Wednesday June 27 from 9 a.m. until noon. This Health Fair promotes ways to improve your health through screenings, health talks and senior living options. The event is free and open to the public. 
• The Wildwood Comedy Club is Wednesday June 27 from 7-9 p.m. Registration is required for this free event, but you will be able to enjoy the smooth comedy style of veteran showman Frank Krupa and preview some of the future comedians. Call Wildwood at 440-974-5735 to register for this program. 
 • On June 21, the Recreation Department hosted the 2012 Junior Olympic Trials at the Mentor High School Stadium. The children ranged in age from 6-13 and they were vying for a spot on the Mentor team when it competes in the Lake County Junior Olympics on June 27 in Wickliffe. This year at the opening ceremonies the athletes heard from Julie Koons, US Olympic Team Short Track Speed Skater in Nagano and Salt Lake City. After speaking with the athletes she led the opening ceremonial walk around the track and stuck around for a while and talked with the kids and signed autographs for them. 
• This past week has been great pool weather. On Wednesday alone we had 1,759 people visit the Civic Center Pool and 400 swimmers at Morton Pool. We have 20 people in our Lifeguarding class and 10 people in our Water Safety Instructor class. We are already hiring more lifeguards and WSI’s to help as substitutes for the summer. 
• During this past week of hot weather we also filled Skate Camp for the first time ever.
• The Fire Department put on a training class in AED/CPR and First Aid for the Civic Ice Arena staff last week. The entire 22 members of the summer staff are all certified and ready to go! 
• The new boat ramp has proved to be a great addition to the Lagoons marina with lots of usage and that has helped alleviate back-ups at the ramp. 
• Dockers that have trailers placed throughout the Marina have been notified that after June 30 any trailer that does not have a storage sticker for 2012 will be removed from the marina and placed outside the fenced area before we impound them and charge a towing and a daily storage fee. 


 Public Works Department 
• The Public Works activity highlights this week were: Durham Court - complete road slab replacement; Camelot Drive - complete repairs to two curb in-let basins; Crack Seal SR 84 from Center to Garfield – westbound lanes is complete; 5563 Fortuna Drive – install inlet in R/W; 7211 Green Valley Drive – complete man-hole structure repair; 7113 Green Valley Drive - ditch maintenance is complete; Park Maintenance, mowing and lining of baseball and soccer fields; Wildwood Cultural Center – install new culvert for overflow parking; Rt 306 from Rt 20 to Essex Drive – programmed new afternoon/ evening traffic signal timing pattern; and North and South side of Bellflower Road – storm sewer cleaning and inspections ongoing. 


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