A K-9 cop captures a purse-snatcher, there was a huge water leak in Mentor’s industrial corridor and city leaders appear to be dabbling in Building One America. Those items and more in the latest weekly city manager memo to City Council:

Police Department
• A male was arrested for theft after stealing a purse from an employee at the Petticoat Junction. The male stole the purse and ran northbound on Center Street. Another employee from the Petticoat chased the suspect, but lost sight of him near SR2. Police units arrived on scene to include K-9 Bo. Bo was able to track the suspect and found him hiding in the construction site at Market and Center Streets. The suspect still had the purse in his possession.

Fire Department
• On Oct. 23 at approximately 9:45 p.m., the department was notified of a major water leak that occurred in the fire main at 8200 Tyler Blvd. The on-site fire pump operated for many hours before the exterior leak was detected and the leak isolated. Between 500,000 and 1 million gallons of water escaped. Repairs will be completed by late Friday.

• On Oct. 18 at 11:24 a.m. and 3:32 p.m., the department responded to two overdoses. The patients were treated and transported. 

• On Oct. 24 at 9:05 a.m., the department responded to a suicide by gunshot.

Manager Comments 
• On Wednesday, Tony Zampedro and I went to the Building One America meeting held in Wickliffe. This organization is attempting to put together a coalition of hundreds of communities, including school, business and civic leaders, along with local government officials, for the purpose of identifying issues of common concern and the ability to present a united front in dealing with state and federal government. At this time, our involvement is very preliminary and it has yet to be determined how participation will advance our local interest.

• Tony Zampedro and I met with Painesville Assistant City Manager, Doug Lewis to discuss ongoing issues important to both cities, including access on the Diamond Center corridor.

• Most will probably agree that the altered 615 lane designations are an improvement over the original layout. The Engineering department and the Traffic Working Group have made some additional recommendations to improve the corridor and have submitted them to ODOT for their consideration.

Parks and Recreation Department
• The Ghost Tour series received a good response for a first-time program. The series will feature programs at the Mentor Cemetery on Friday and Sunday evenings only. The tours will be led by Dale Vokurka and other members of the Mentor Ohio Paranormal Research Society.

• The City of Mentor Recreation Department has again worked with the Kalahari Resort for a special group getaway rate for Nov. 9 of $144 (a $229 value) for a family of four, which includes overnight accommodations and admission to the water park. For more information or to make reservations, call the Kalahari Resort at 877-525-2427 and request the “City of Mentor Group Rate.”

• The Mentor Civic Ice Arena is offering a Hockey Clinic from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. on Saturday for 4 - 8 year olds. They will be outfitted and given a basic hockey lesson. For more information or to sign up, call the Mentor Civic Ice Arena at 440-974-5730.

• This week, the Mentor Lagoons Marina lost power. After inspecting the lines, the cause was determined to be the meltdown of the transformers on E Dock. D & E Docks will not have power for at least three weeks while new transformers are ordered and installed.

Engineering
• Union Industrial Contractors, Inc. performed warranty painting repairs to the sidewalks on the Center Street Bridge over the railroad tracks.  The work is expected to be completed this week.

• Chagrin Valley Paving has been performing punch list items this week for the Bellflower Road Resurfacing Project. Items of note include adjusting the height of a catch basin in the west bound lane, just east of Georgetown Drive, as well as, performing “test patches” at the Weatherby Drive intersection to address rough pavement surface areas at the intersection. 

• Karvo Paving delivered storm sewer pipe to the Station Street Resurfacing and Drainage Improvement project and saw cut the pavement in anticipation of beginning work on the project next week. It is anticipated that storm sewer installation will begin on Monday.

Economic and Community Development
• Ron Traub met with a manufacturing company regarding relocation, which is contingent on sale of existing building, anticipated in several weeks.

• Ron Traub met with the operator of a new daycare in the city; application for CUP anticipated for the next Planning Commission meeting.

Personnel
• Firefighter/Paramedic Mike Toman was sworn-in on Tuesday and started in his new position. He is assigned to Fire Station #5 on “C” shift.  Mike fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Firefighter/Paramedic Al Prizzi on April 22. 

• Battalion Chief Terry Szabo retired Oct. 21 after 32 years of service.

• Firefighter Grant Hoyt retires Wednesday after 33 years of service.

Finance
• This month, we returned $300,000 of temporary cash advances back to the city’s general fund for completed road projects.  During the current preparation of the 2013 budget, we anticipate several more project close-outs and new cash advances for next year’s projects.

Public Works Department
• Storm sewer repair - Carter Blvd.
• Excavated trench @ FS #1 for training purposes
• Storm sewer cleaning - Mentor Ave.
• Marigold - cleaned storm sewer and located lateral for resident
• Raised 4 storm sewer castings - Bellflower area
• South Shandle r-o-w drainage improvement - ongoing
• Dura patching - Roselawn, Demshar and King Memorial
• Completed repair of six inlet basin/concrete road slabs - LaSalle area
• Installed updated software program for sign making
• Crack sealing - Thunderbird, Industrial Park, Terrace Park
• Digging 70 (approx.) headstone footers at cemetery
• Winterizing city facilities

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