Water rescues, a canine cop tracking down his first suspect, a Sugar Shack at the lagoons, and good news about a major Mentor road project — those items and more in latest Mentor city manager memo to City Council:

Manager Comments 
• The Bellflower Road Resurfacing Project is proceeding ahead of schedule. Chip sealing was completed July 9 and resurfacing with the intermediate asphalt course was done July 10. Westbound traffic will be switched to the eastbound lane so the contractor can complete the pavement repairs. Based on the progress to date, it is estimated that two-way traffic can be re-established during the week of July 23 and that the asphalt surface course can be completed during the week of July 30. As always, this schedule is weather-dependent.

• We were able to secure a concessions operation at the Lagoons Marina. Since opening on July 3, the “Sugar Shack II” has been well-received by our boating patrons. This year, was intended to be a pilot program to gauge demand and evaluate this new amenity. Presently, this vendor is still adjusting his hours of operation to meet demand. So far, the Administration remains pleased with this new addition to our Marina.

Police Department
• Ptl. Mackey, with K-9 “Bo,” successfully tracked a suspect who ran from officers. The male suspect was wanted for a failure-to-appear warrant and ran from his house when officers arrived. Ptl. Mackey was called to the house and deployed Bo on the search. The suspect was located hiding in a wooded area. This is the first successful track for Bo.

• A 53-year-old male was arrested and charged with three counts of criminal child enticement. The male lured four children into the woods near Western Reserve Condos. While in the woods he attempted to remove his clothes in front of one of the juveniles. The juveniles fled the area when their mother started calling for them. The male was located on Reynolds Road and transported back to the police department. He confessed to the incident during an interview by the arresting officer.

• In March of this year, an officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle and recovered over $97,000 from a shoe box in the vehicle. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency adopted the case for forfeiture of the money from the suspect. After the legal proceedings were completed, the DEA returned $77,599 to the department. The federal government seized the remaining amount. 

Fire Department
• On Sunday, July 8 at 11:24 a.m., the fire department responded to 8365 Harbor Drive, Mentor Lagoons, for a sinking boat. Crews arrived to find a boat that had sunk some, but was secured to the dock. There were no threats to persons or environmental concerns. The lagoons manager was going to notify the owner so that the boat could be removed. Fire units were returned to service.

• On Thursday, July 12 at 7:05 a.m., Mentor Fire Dispatch received several 9-1-1 calls for a person in distress at Veterans Park, 5730 Hopkins Road. Fire crews arrived to find a male stuck in the muck approximately 100 feet from shore. Reportedly, the male wandered out into the muddy area of the pond to rescue his dog that also became stuck in a muck section of the pond. In doing so, the male sunk, unable to free himself, he began yelling for help. Fire crews were able to rescue the male and the dog. Neither was injured.

• Paramedics responded to two separate reports of drug overdoses this past week.  The first was reported on Saturday, July 7 at 10:03 p.m. and the second on Tuesday, July 10 at 9:42 p.m.  Both were younger males who may have taken cocaine. Both patients were administered Narcan by paramedics, which improved their condition, allowing them to be transported to the hospital in stable condition.

• The department, with the assistance of our grant coordinator, made a grant application request to the Assistance to Fire Fighters’ Grant Program. The request was for $81,000 in equipment. It may be several months before the review process of the application is complete and a decision is made by the Department of Homeland Security.

• The Fire and Police Departments hosted Camp 911 this week at Mentor Beach Park where children ages 11 to 14 years of age experience what it’s really like to be a firefighter or a police officer. Eighteen kids were enrolled in the camp program.

Parks and Recreation Department
• Grab everybody and sign-up for “Everything You’ve Always Wanted To Do But Your Mother Wouldn’t Let You … Family Style.” We have been asked many times to do this program so adults could join in the fun. Well, here’s your chance to join the kids and just get messy! From the infamous shake & bake to the wildly popular Mud Slide, families will get to do it all! If you can’t participate, you should stop by the Civic Center Amphitheater on Thursday, July 19 starting at 6:30 p.m. to watch the fun. The event moves to the Civic Center Pool for an hour swim starting at 8 p.m. for everyone to get cooled off and get that egg shampoo rinsed out. Sound like fun? Call the Recreation Department and register today.

• The Cardinal Café is making a summer appearance. The Cardinal Café is part of the Mentor Schools transitional work program for students with special needs. This summer, they have some students that need the experience to train them for future employment. The students bake the cookies and brownies and make the coffee, then bring them over to the Administration building to sell. The café will be open over the next month every Thursday morning from 8:30 until 11 a.m.

Economic and Community Development
• Departments met for a pre-review of a financial institution exploring a branch operation at the corner of Midland and Mentor Avenue.

• Tom Thielman attended the Lake County Development Council Board of Trustees meeting. LCDC agreed to fund a new initiative by Leadership Lake County to start a professional leadership skills class that will be taught in the evenings at Lakeland Community College’s Holden Center.

Finance Department
• The City’s on-site audit is complete. We are currently proofing the 2011 CAFR and expect a favorable audit opinion. Our auditors are planning the audit exit conference by the end of July.

• Accounting Supervisor Bonnie Lingafelter is attending the Ohio Municipal League Income Tax Seminar this week.  The legislative panel on tax uniformity, which includes State Representatives Cheryl Grossman and Mike Henne, as well as Chairman Peter Beck, House Ways and Means Committee, will moderate a panel discussion on the status of tax uniformity.

Public Works Department
•    6323 Hopkins Road – storm sewer repair - complete
•    8649 Johnnycake – Drainage Improvement Project - complete
•    Road Maintenance – hot patch Rt. 84 - 75% complete
•    Sea Pines – rebuilt 2 of 4 Curb inlet Basins
•    Sea Pines – replaced existing road slab
•    Preparations for rugby tournament at Krueger Park
•    Civic Center Pool – maintenance on ladders and showers in locker room
•    Mentor Beach Park – soffit enclosure – 25% complete
•    Dog Park – added three picnic tables
•    Lagoons – creating green space in main parking area
•    Garfield Park – storm sewer repairs at field 5
•    Storm Sewer Cleaning – St. James, Pear Tree and Durham

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