Mentor makes good on more than $1 million in grants, the fire department has a busy week and the city's road repair program starts rolling - those items and more in the latest weekly city manager report to City Council:

Manager Comments
• Officers with the US Marshal’s Violent Fugitive Task Force (Lake, Geauga, Ashtabula), which includes one member of the Mentor Police Department, arrested a male wanted by MPD for the sale of prescription drugs. The male was arrested in Painesville and transported to the Mentor jail.

• Mentor Incentive Grant (MIG) payments were processed for 13 companies that met the MIG Agreement requirements during 2012. The payments totaled over $1 million.

• Ohio Public Works Commission Funding – Round 28 (PY-14) — The Engineering Department is currently preparing preliminary applications for funding through the Ohio Public Works Commission’s Round 28 funding cycle. The applications are being prepared for the Two-Town Retention Basin, Deepwood Boulevard Repair and Resurfacing and the Heisley Road Phase 3 project.

Fire Department
• On April 5 at 5:35 p.m., paramedics were called for a male who was injured when he jumped from a moving ATV and suffered multiple burns and abrasions. Patient was treated and transported to Hillcrest Hospital.

• On April 6 at 1:48 a.m., the Fire Department responded to Grovewood for a report of a home filling with smoke. Crews arrived to find the homeowners outside and smoke throughout the residence. The investigation revealed an electrical problem with the furnace. The furnace was taken apart and power was secured to prevent further damage. After fire crews ventilated the home and reset the smoke detectors the occupants were able to return.

• On April 6 at 9:40 p.m., Mentor Fire responded to a possible structure fire on Green Oak. Upon arrival, a small fire was discovered on one side of the home involving the vinyl siding and mulch bed. Pressurized smoke was found in the door jamb and base molding. Fire was extinguished and there were no injuries.

• On April 10 at 12:01 p.m., paramedics responded to a two car accident. Both drivers were treated and transported to Lake West Health. 

• On April 10 at 3:49 p.m., Paramedics responded to a two-car, head-on accident with heavy front end damage to both cars.  Both drivers required treatment and were transported. One driver was transported to Hillcrest Hospital and the other driver was transported to Lake West Health.

Police Department
• One of the department’s SMART trailers was defaced with spray paint while set up on Edgewood Dr. at Devonshire.  Someone spray painted the letters GJ in green paint on the front of the trailer. The trailer was sent to the road garage to remove the paint.

• Four detectives attended a free 4-day training course at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy-Richfield, titled Investigative Strategies for Missing and Abducted Children. This course covers how to manage a missing or abducted child case, including initial response, as well as an overview of interviewing and interrogation techniques.

Engineering
• 2013 Road Repair Program — Preconstruction meetings were held April 9 for Contract A and Contract B of the 2013 Road Repair Program.  Work for Contract B (concrete repairs) is anticipated to begin on Monday, April 15 in the vicinity of Quail Point, Galaxie Drive and Silver Court. Markings of concrete repair areas by the Engineering staff continue.  Work for Contract A (asphalt paving) is anticipated to begin on or about April 30. All asphalt resurfacing areas have been marked by the Engineering staff. Completion date for both contracts is September 27. Further updates will be provided as the projects progress.

• 2013 Sidewalk Repair Program — The Engineering Department has started sidewalk inspections for Zone 3B this week which is bounded by Bellflower Rd., SR306, Lakeshore Blvd. and Melshore Dr. Currently, Chase Drive and part of Reynolds Road have been inspected.

• 2012 Sidewalk Repair Program – The Engineering Department met with TC Construction this week to discuss construction aspects of the sidewalk program in Ward 2 from last year’s inspection. TC Construction will begin working on the east side of Zone 2B staring Monday (Burridge Rd.) and progress to the west. Engineering will be providing on-site inspection during the construction process.

• Reedhurst Farms #2 Subdivision – JTO, Inc. has started construction of the new residential subdivision located off of Green Valley Dr. The new subdivision will be improved to have 13 new residential sub lots. The Engineering Department will be overseeing the project.

• State Urban Paving Program - The Ohio Department of Transportation has indicated that the resurfacing of SR84 (from SR306 to Garfield Road) is currently scheduled to take place during state fiscal year 2016, which begins July 2015. The resurfacing of SR615 (Center Street from Bellflower Road to Munson Road) is currently scheduled for state fiscal year 2017, which begins July 2016. The state would typically provide funding for 80% of the cost of a simple asphalt overlay. The City would typically be responsible for pavement repairs, plan preparation and construction oversight.

Parks and Recreation Department
• The Public Works Department is currently working on the parking addition at Garfield Park, so it can be ready for the upcoming baseball season.

• As a result of the use of ATV’s during the winter on trails at Morton and Lagoons Parks, trail repair work will start soon.  The Public Works crew reviewed the site for needed material and equipment.

• The video surveillance camera system has been installed at Black Brook Golf Course. Drainage improvements to the fairways have been completed.

Economic and Community Development
• Ron Traub participated in a webinar entitled “How to Bring Retail Home” in preparation for the forthcoming ICSC (International Conference of Shopping Centers) conference.

• The City Manager was joined by Kevin Malecek, President  & CEO of the Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce and Ron Traub at the Time-Warner store front ribbon cutting on Plaza Boulevard.

• Tom Thielman met with a manufacturing company considering relocating to Mentor. The company employs approximately 45 people and requested information regarding utilities and SBA 504 financing opportunities.

Finance
• Legislation is being prepared for next month relative to next year’s street lighting assessments to benefiting properties. The assessment rate was calculated at $.95 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. This rate is the same as the previous year. The rate is adjusted each year to account for factors such as changes to assessed property valuation and the cost of electricity.

Public Works Department
• Athletic field maintenance - soccer, baseball, football
• Added 25 tons of conditioner to Civic Center fields #3 and #4
• Layed out and tilled 32 community garden plots
• Began opening/cleaning of Morton Pool
• Inlet basin rebuilds - Tyler/SR 615, SR 306/Culver, SR 306/Texas
• 75% complete with upgrade of signalized intersections on Plaza Blvd.
• All traffic signal battery backup systems successfully tested
• Completed improvements at Black Brook Golf Course driving range
• Storm sewer cleaning - Jasani, McKinley, Taft, Grant, Hayes
• Roadside ditch re-profiling - Jordan
• Crack sealed - Fairfax
• Completing expansion of Garfield Park parking lot
• Tree Commission will host Arbor Day observance May 3 at 1:00 p.m. at Sterling Morton Elementary School
• Matt Schweikert participated in a phone conference hosted by Michelle Stys regarding the development of sharing agreement software

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