Mentor’s K-9 cops were sent sniffing in three middle schools, police hope to school local bank leaders on better security, and some more drainage-relief projects are in the works — those items and more in the latest weekly city manager memo to City Council.

Police Department
• The Police Department’s Community Services Unit is sponsoring an informational session Nov. 28 on the recent bank robberies in and around the Mentor area. Members of the detective bureau and local FBI have made observations regarding the security surrounding several local banks. These observations will be shared and suggestions will be made on how to upgrade overall security. This session is for bank security personnel and banks managers, not tellers.

• On Nov. 20, the Police Department’s two K-9’s conducted a drug sniff of lockers and vehicles at the three middle schools. The Mentor school system requested this service to provide a drug-free environment. No drugs were found in any of the schools. Additional searches will be conducted before the end of the school year. 

• A female was involved in a domestic violence incident with her live-in boyfriend. As a result of the abuse, the female suffered an injury that severed part of her ear. The boyfriend was arrested and charged with felonious assault.

• An accident occurred at The News-Herald, where an employee was struck and pinned against a loading dock. The employee was directing a vehicle to the loading dock when the driver’s foot slipped off the brake and onto the gas pedal. The employee suffered a significant injury to his leg. 

Fire Department
• On Nov. 16 at 9:11 a.m., Mentor Fire was dispatched to a water line break on Tyler Blvd. On arrival, it was discovered that contractors had been installing a new hydrant when a valve assembly separated. Water entered the building, and the Fire Department assisted with water removal and providing power for a trash pump to clear water from excavation.

• On Nov. 16 at 12:19 p.m., paramedics were called to a residence for a 20-month-old baby with his leg caught in a crib. Paramedics manipulated his leg free with no injury.

• On Nov. 18 at 2:06 a.m., paramedics transported a male with a near leg amputated from being pinned between a loading dock and a truck bumper. Patient was stabilized, transported to Lake West and flown to the Level I Trauma Center at Cleveland Metro Hospital.

• The Mentor Fire Department responded to several reported assaults over the past several days. Some of these assaults were related to family disputes between juveniles and their parents. 

Engineering
• The Engineering Department will be requesting quotes until Dec. 7 from several contractors to perform modifications to the outfall of the detention basin at SR-615 and SR-2. The basin is located on the east side of SR 615 just north of Classic Chevrolet. The purpose of the project is to provide a restricted outlet in the detention basin and to utilize the available storage capacity to provide additional stormwater management, thereby reducing peak flows through the downstream watershed. The anticipated completion date of the project is June 30, 2013 to allow for restoration to take place.

• A preconstruction meeting was held Nov. 19 with A-Action Waterproofing pertaining to the city’s Drainage Assistance Program. The contractor expects to start work on six drainage assistance projects beginning next week. Projects scheduled to be completed are located on Hoover Ct., Brainard Ct., Coolidge Ct., Bellflower Rd., Palmerston Dr., McKinley St. and Edgehill Rd.

Parks and Recreation Department
• The Recreation Department staff has been working to secure the headline act for the concert to be held on Saturday night at next year’s CityFest. Contract negotiation is process and is approaching finalization.  Recreation Manager Jill Korsok is working with staff on creating the logo for the event, which we hope to have very soon.

• The Senior Center is planning some exciting trips for 2013. Tour operators will present trip information with detailed fliers and visuals at a meeting on Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m. Trip registration will open at the conclusion of the meeting.

• The 33rd Wildwood Cultural Center Holiday Display & Craft Show will be on Sunday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. This annual event offers one-of-a-kind centerpieces and wreaths made with live greens. All items are handcrafted by the Wildwood Garden Club.

• Design your own Fresh Green Holiday Centerpiece with Instructor Chris Amos. Chris will demonstrate how to create centerpieces using greens, flowers, candles and other holiday novelties. To register for this or other holiday decorating classes, call the Recreation Office at 440-974-5720 or go online at www.cityofmentor.com/play.

• The Wildwood Singers Holiday Concert is on Dec. 7 at the Mentor Senior Center. This free concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

• The Recreation Department wants to remind you to stay active over the holiday season. Join Mentor In Motion to keep a record of your activity miles. A daily 30-minute walk can help relieve stress and help you feel better overall. Contact the Recreation Office or go online to register.

Economic and Community Development
• Ron Traub met with a representative of a local developer regarding mixed-use opportunities in Mentor.

• Ron Traub met with Larry Villines, chair of the Mentor Chamber of Commerce’s new Economic Development Committee.

• Ron Traub and representatives of the Building & Engineering Department and Fire Department met with representatives of a local manufacturer regarding a significant lease in the former Caterpillar building for product storage. 

Finance
• In an effort to reduce costs and broaden the distribution of contract bid specifications, Finance and IT have implemented the first phase of an online bid specification project. Electronic bid specification forms can now be made available to bidders on the city’s website. The first two bid packages available online are for Tree Purchase/Planting and Multi-function Device Leases. Future enhancements under review include interactive capability, such as submitting bids online.

Public Works Department
• Hot patching - SR 306
• Concrete slab replacement - Weatherby
• Inlet basin rebuilds (5) - Spinach
• Installed pull boxes on Plaza Blvd. in conjunction with Signal upgrade program
• Completed sand stone wall at Lagoons entrance
• Storm sewer cleaning - Melshore, Cumberland, Cambridge Park
• Storm sewer televising - Bellflower, Edgewood, Mansion, Westport and Market
• South Shandle r-o-w improvement completed
• Storm sewer repair - 6321 Dunbar
• White Pine detention pond - removed restrictor plate

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