A new bike trail project is on the way to north Mentor, residents soon can take virtual tours of some city facilities and the city’s senior center use is booming — those items and more in the latest weekly city manager’s report to City Council:

• The Mentor PD assisted the Painesville PD with the arrest of two females responsible for the Monday robbery of KeyBank in Painesville. The suspects were arrested in the area of 306/Rt. 2 during a traffic stop. We also assisted with the execution of a search warrant at their house in the Headlands.

• We were recently informed by the governing board of NOACA that the Jordan Road bike trail from Corduroy to Rambler has officially been funded for FY 2014. This means we may contract for the work as early as October and no later than May 2014.

• Work has begun with Public Information on filming virtual tours of our rental facilities to increase rental revenue. The virtual tours will be posted on the city’s website. Facilities will include the Old Council Hall, Garfield, Mentor Beach Park, Wildwood, the Senior Center and the Community Center. 

• Senior Center stats:  4,592 members in 2012 compared to 4,131 in 2011; 21,203 meals served in 2012 compared to 12,944 in 2011; 39 fitness and wellness classes per week, averaging 788 participants per week compared to 29 classes, averaging 538 participants in 2011; and 522 seniors 85 and older using the center compared to 483 in 2011. 

• As was mentioned at the City Council meeting, four Mentor companies “made” the Weatherhead 100 list: MUM Industries (24), US Endoscopy (44), Empro Job Network/Thomas Employment (75) and Sheet Metal Products (93). The Cities of Cleveland and Akron are “home” to the most companies, followed by Beachwood and Independence with five a piece. Five communities (including Mentor) have four companies in the Weatherhead 100 list.

• Businesses along portions of Tyler Blvd., Spinach, Justin Way and the Corporate Industrial Park were affected by two recent power interruptions; the first was Jan.15 around 1 p.m. and the second at approximately 7:30 a.m. on the 16th. The first outage was the result of a disconnect (switch gear) failure. The disconnect was approximately 11 years old, but had a life expectancy of 30 years. Corrosion was identified as the principal cause of the failure.

As a result of repair work on C phase, the B phase blew on Wednesday morning. Both phases have since been repaired, and phase A was replaced as a cautionary item. We will once again engage FirstEnergy at the highest levels possible to do whatever is necessary to make this portion of the system more reliable and to accelerate their commitment to completely replace the system components. It may also be necessary to consult with the PUCO to evaluate our options.

Fire Department
• On Jan. 12 at 12:19 a.m., paramedics responded to a possible drug overdose. The female was successfully treated at the scene and was transported to TriPoint Hospital.

• On Jan. 12 at 10:40 a.m., paramedics responded to the first motorcycle accident of 2013 after he was cut-off. The driver was traveling at a low speed while avoiding a more severe accident and complained of wrist pain. The patient was splinted and transported to Lake West Hospital.

• On Jan. 13 at 7:37 a.m., Mentor Fire responded to a MVA involving one car that collided with the cement median. The roof of the car had to be cut off to gain access to the two passengers. Both were stabilized and transported to Hillcrest Hospital.

• On Jan. 13 at 1:10 p.m., Mentor Fire responded to a car fire. Upon arrival they found a working engine compartment fire with no danger to any other vehicles or buildings. The fire was extinguished and there were no injuries.

• On Jan. 14 at 4:27 p.m., Mentor Fire Department responded to the Mentor City Jail for an activated smoke alarm. Upon arrival it was discovered the inmate pulled it off of the ceiling. All of the wires were in tact, it was in working condition and there were no injuries.

Police Department
• A house on Center Street was burglarized on  Jan. 11, between the hours of 8:45 a.m. and 1:10 p.m. The suspect used a landscape rock to break a rear window and gain entry to the house. The suspect(s) stole electronic equipment, jewelry and a 1996 Honda Odyssey. The Honda was recovered in Ashtabula city on Jan. 16, after a pursuit with Ashtabula PD. The male driver and female occupant were arrested for having possession of the stolen vehicle. Mentor detectives are currently investigating to connect both suspects to the burglary.

• A male was arrested over the weekend for disorderly conduct/public intoxication. While in the jail he damaged a ceiling tile and a smoke alarm bracket. He did not disable the smoke alarm. Additional charges were filed for the damage he caused.

• In late 2011, the City Police Department was successful in negotiating with Lake Health a revised fee structure for inmate medical expenses. The city is now being charged in the same manner as the County, which by ORC can only be charged the Medicaid allowed amount. We are pleased to say that the total savings from this change amounted to over $46k in calendar year 2012.

• Sgt. Rich Slovenkay has been named the 2012 Terrorism Liaison Officer of the Year by the Northeast Ohio Regional Fusion center. Sergeant Slovenkay has been instrumental in the Terrorism Liaison Officer program over the past several years.

Parks and Recreation Department
• The annual Little Princess Valentine’s Dance for Ages 4 and up is on Feb. 1. There are 30 spaces still available (as of Jan. 18); 165 are currently registered for this event.

• First quarter paper was submitted and approved by ODOT for the Safe Routes to Schools grant. Maggie Kuyasa attended a meeting with area SRTS coordinators in Chagrin Falls; Mentor will host the next meeting. We are working with the schools on a pedometer take-home program and working to tie the program into a “space walk,” which will bring together math, science and walking fitness.

• Black Brook had 163 players on Jan. 11. We are still waiting on additional quotes to build a new tee on #12.

• Black Brook’s revenue for 2012 was $949,532 and expenses were $708,754, leaving an operating balance of $240,778, compared to 2011 at $815,018 revenue, $634,762 expenses and $180,256 operating balance. 

• The United Way has dropped off tickets at the Recreation Office for the charity event, “Harlem Legends vs. the Lake County All Stars” at Mentor High School on Feb. 9. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with a 3-point competition beginning at 6:30 p.m. The game will start at 7:30 p.m. The cost is $20 for VIP reserved seating, $10 general admission or $35 for family (which consists of 2 adults and 3 children). All proceeds benefit the Society for Rehabilitation.

Economic and Community Development
• Ron Traub and prospective businessmen viewed a webinar entitled “How Can a Microbrewery Grow in Your Local Economy.” We have been working with a prospect since November 2011.

• The Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee had its first meeting. The Committee is composed of large manufacturers to small retailers and identified several long- & short-term initiatives.

• Tom Thielman participated as a speaker at Leadership Lake County’s new seminar series called Community Builders. The six part seminar is designed for encumbered workers who are new to leadership roles at their jobs. The Lake County Development Council and AT&T are underwriting the class for 30 participants.

Finance
• Audit fieldwork was completed this week for much of the compliance phase of the City’s 2012 audit. Since the City had approximately $1 million of federal grant expenditures during 2012, the auditors will be required to perform a single audit for federal awarded grants. The auditors will return on-site in late spring to complete the audit of the 2012 financial report.

Public Works Department
• 8728 Rosebud – Install storm sewer crossover and inlet
• Road Maintenance - cold patch Rt. 306, Rt. 84, Hopkins, Munson, Mentor Ave. and Center Street
• Mockingbird at Birdie – remove sediment at headwall
• Police Dept. – renovate office space
• Station 5 – interior renovations, painting/flooring/misc.
• Garfield ballroom – interior renovations, flooring
• Court – installing shelving and replacing shower bay
• Senior Center – interior renovations, painting/flooring
• Storm Sewer Cleaning – Debonaire, Twinbrook, Pine Tree, Edgewood
• Deer Program – assist Mentor Police Dept. and Recreation Dept.
• Plaza Blvd. – pull boxes and conduit installed for traffic signal upgrades
• Heisley Road at Rt. 2 – setup and program of opticom detectors for lane closures

BScott@News-Herald.com, @ReporterBetsy

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