Check out this news release with information about what's going on in Cleveland on July 13:

Cleveland, Ohio, June 26, 2013  –  Sterle’s Country House will be home to The Cleveland Flea on Saturday, July 13.  This pop-up urban flea market is a mix of artisans, food trucks, pop-up and bricks-and-mortar retail, and educational demonstrations. It offers shoppers the opportunity to meet the makers, learn new skills, engage in new experiences, taste locally sourced foods, and so much more.  More than 50 vendors will be on hand, selling handmade artisan goods, architectural salvage, vintage clothing, books, baked goods, and fantastic flea finds.

Sterle’s Country House will have Flea vendors both inside and outside of the iconic restaurant.  The Bier Garden will be open with food and beer and the inside bar will be open as well.

Rick Semersky, owner of Sterles, states, “This event is a great example of the neighborhood passion that results in collaboration.  Sterle’s is an important anchor in the St. Clair/Superior area and we are thrilled to be working with The Cleveland Flea to host this truly unique event.  Just another illustration of the creativity that exists in Cleveland.”

The St. Clair Superior Development Corporation and artist/entrepreneur Stephanie Sheldon have partnered to create this new tradition in Cleveland. Occurring on the second Saturday of every month through December, The Cleveland Flea features a curated selection of Cleveland artisans.  This partnership is an outgrowth of the St. Clair Superior's Retail Ready project, which has lured new businesses to the area by working with local landlords to offer inexpensive rent, funding and marketing assistance.

"The Cleveland Flea is a modern, curated market that comes alive once a month with creativity, energy and people who are excited about selling, shopping and staying local.  I like to think of The Flea as a treasure hunt, and just as guests find treasures within the flea, they are also introduced on a larger scale to the treasures within our city, Sterle's being one of them.  It feels so 'Cleveland' to be at Sterle's and I'm excited to be a part of celebrating that with the rest of the city" states Stephanie Sheldon, founder of The Cleveland Flea.

Hours of the event are 10:00 am until 5:00 pm.  Sterle's is located at 1401 E. 55th Street, Cleveland, OH.  For more information, please visit http://theclevelandflea.com/ and http://sterlescountryhouse.com/

Sidewalks are being added near a Mentor school, “Fairy Houses” make their debut at Wildwood and a major drainage project is a step closer to grant funding — those items and more in latest weekly city manager memo to City Council.

Highlights:
• The OPWC District 7 Lake County Local Integrating Committee met this week and recommended five Local Transportation Improvement Program projects and six state Capital Improvement Program projects to be presented to the full integrating committee. Of these, one Mentor project — the Two Town Detention Basin — was recommended for grant and loan funding. Final award and funding amount will be determined after approval by the full committee.

• Infinity Paving began construction on the Safe Routes to School Project Friday. Work will begin with construction of a sidewalk along Hendricks Road from Eagles Nest to Orchard Hollow Elementary. The remaining work consists of the construction of curb ramps on Jordan Drive at Spinnaker Court, an update to the school flashers at Shore Middle School and a path constructed on Shore Middle School property from the school to Washington Avenue. Bike racks will also be placed at each of the three schools.

• The “Fairy Houses” were delivered and installed at Wildwood last week with the cooperation of the Wildwood Garden Club. The 10 houses are the first of their kind in the area and the artist hopes that people will enjoy the new attraction in the Wildwood Gardens.

Manager Comments
• On June 18, the Mentor Senior Center held a 40th Anniversary Celebration. A photo montage was presented that covered the history of the center. Past Center Director Laura Imbornoni and Recreation Programmer Kim Nolan, who witnessed the metamorphosis of the center, were on hand to talk about where we were and how we got here today.

• On June 17, supervisors for the fire and police departments joined participants from Mentor Schools and Mentor-on-the-Lake Fire Department, in a joint table-top training exercise at the Mentor High School. The purpose of the exercise was to enhance our community response to school-based emergencies and provide school officials and public safety forces an opportunity to train together and discuss procedures, resources and response capabilities, and pre-event response actions. The exercise was a very important step in ongoing work toward better emergency preparedness between the schools and the city.

Fire Department
• On June 13 at 7:38 p.m., the Fire Department responded to a roll-over injury accident on SR 2 West of 306. This was a single car accident where two patients suffered significant injuries.

• On June 13 at 8:12 p.m., the Fire Department responded to a car vs. tree accident on Harvest Home.  Paramedics arrived to find a vehicle in the road that had moderate damage from the tree. The driver had left the scene on foot and was later located by the police. The driver was injured, but refused care.

• On June 13 at 11:06 p.m., paramedics responded to a car vs. deer accident. Upon arrival, the patient was a restrained driver who hit a deer at 60 mph. The patient was unharmed and signed a release.

• On June 14 at 11:43 p.m., Paramedics responded to a motorcycle accident. Upon arrival, the patient was unresponsive at the scene, treated for severe injuries and transported to Lake Catholic School where a landing zone was set up for Life Flight. The patient was then transported to MetroHealth Level II Trauma Center.

• On June 14 at 12:11 p.m., Paramedics responded to a multicar MVA. Upon arrival, there were four cars with moderate damage. One patient was extricated from his vehicle and treated at the scene and then transported to Lake Health West. Three other patients refused treatment and signed releases.

• On June 20 at 12:33 p.m., the Fire Department responded to a pedestrian struck by a pick-up truck at Mentor Avenue and Hopkins. The female pedestrian was struck while crossing Mentor Avenue. She was treated and transported in stable condition. The driver denied any injuries.

• On June 20 at 12:24 p.m., the Fire Department responded to a hotel on Reynolds Road for smoke in the hallway. Crews arrived to find the building partially evacuated and smoke on the third and fourth floors. The cause was later determined to be a faulty HVAC unit; there was no fire. Fire crews shut down the unit and ventilated the building with little disruption to the hotel.

Police Department
• The juvenile arrested for making a bomb threat at Ridge Middle school in February was ordered by Juvenile Court to pay $1,000 restitution to the city of Mentor. The restitution is for the cost of the city safety forces that responded to the false alarm.

• Channel 19 interviewed Capt. Gunsch regarding the implementation of the mobile app iWatchNEOhio. The story was shown on the 4 and 6 p.m. broadcasts. Channel 19 did a good job promoting the use of the app and encouraging citizens to work in a partnership with the police department.

Engineering
• Bids were opened for the Hoose Road resurfacing project on June 18. Bids were favorable and legislation is being prepared for council consideration at the July 2 Council Meeting.

• Bids were opened for the SR 306 concrete repair project on June 18. Bids were favorable and legislation is being prepared for Council consideration at the July 2 Council Meeting.

Parks and Recreation Department
• The first of the Summer Concerts will be held Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Civic Center Amphitheatre.  Contra Band will kickoff the season with a blend of Motown favorites and Classic Rock. We’d like to thank Dollar Bank for their sponsorship of the summer concerts.

• More than 300 swimmers joined the staff at Civic Center Pool on June 18 to try to break the record for the largest swimming lesson. The results will be in at the beginning of July.

• The 33rd Wildwood Fine Arts Festival will be held Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Wildwood Cultural Center. We will feature pottery, painting, ceramics, and photography, along with entertainment and light refreshments. There is a $2 donation.

Economic and Community Development
• The Single-Family Housing Rehabilitation program is well under way for the season, having completed, begun or reviewed projects for 10 households. If anyone has knowledge of a low-to-moderate income individual or a family that needs housing rehabilitation assistance, please have them contact Tom O’Hara in Community Development. The program usually assists between 15 and 20 households per year with a variety of home rehabilitation projects.

Finance
• We were notified by the Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA) that the city will be receiving $569,583 as its share of refunded retainer fees. Our total net costs of collection to the agency after the refund equals 1.5 percent. The refund is $75,000 higher than last year’s refund.

Public Works Department
• Pre-con next week with DuraMark in advance of striping in July
• Seeking quotes for inlet basin repairs on Tyler
• Issued purchase requisition for removal of dead trees on Brooks and Dawson median
• Jail renovations - ongoing
• FS #2 - roof and gutter repairs
• Inlet basin rebuilds - Steeplechase, Civic Center
• 11 code enforcement projects
• Prepping for curbing at Marina
• Storm sewer cleaning - King Memorial, Cadle
• Storm sewer televising - King Memorial, Seminole, Cadle
• Storm sewer repair - 8205 Lakeshore
• Crack sealing - Foothill, Bernard, Stonybrook, Hodgson, Market
• NOPEC is having a meeting on July 17. One of the topics is additional grant funding.

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

Mentor’s mall might have a new eatery on the way, deer management planning is under way again, and the city is launching a campaign to attract a younger crowd — those items and more in the latest, weekly city manager memo to City Council:

Highlights:
• The city’s economic development campaign targeted to the Millennial generation will run from now through Labor Day. The city will promote the benefits of living and raising a family in Mentor on various social media, including Facebook, Linked In and Pandora Internet and Mobile Radio. Working with the city of Mentor, Burges & Burges created two Facebook ads designed to draw Facebook users to the city’s website and to increase its Facebook presence.  The ads began on Saturday, June 8 and will run through Monday, Sept. 2. Besides drawing Facebook users to the city’s website, the ads have also increased the city’s number of Facebook “Likes.”

• City officials met Tuesday with an ODNR representative to review last year’s deer management program efforts and preview the upcoming season. ODNR is very pleased with the overall conduct of our program and continues to offer assistance toward a successful upcoming year. Likely changes in ORC were reviewed and a discussion was had about changes to this year’s program to reach other parts of the city.

• MEACO (Mentor Economic Assistance Corp.) has approved a $25,000 Mentor Small Business Loan for equipment expenses to Masala World LLC, a start-up business that will be opening a new “Indian” styled restaurant in the Great Lakes Mall Food Court. Masala World will feature non-greasy, healthy food with spice, and an array of Indian breads, wraps, rolls, dips and chutneys. (Editors note: A mall rep said there currently is no lease with Masala World.)

Fire Department
• On June 8 at 12:20 p.m., Mentor Fire responded to a gas line struck on Mentor Avenue. Upon arrival, officials closed two lanes of Mentor Avenue for about 20 minutes while the situation was evaluated. It was found that workers digging for a radio station antenna accidentally struck the 4-inch gas line. The gas company was called to secure the line. The road was then opened. There were no injuries.

• On June 9 at 9:53 a.m., Mentor Fire Stations 1, 2, 3 and 5 responded to Mentor Avenue for a MVA involving two cars, one of which was a convertible. The two patients in the convertible were treated at the scene and transported to Meridia Hillcrest Trauma Unit after freeing them with hydraulic extrication tools. The driver of the second car was treated at the scene and transported to Lake Health West and then to Metro Level I Trauma Center via Life Flight.

• On June 6, Mentor and Willoughby Fire and Police handled a rollover accident on eastbound Rt. 2 at the Mentor/Willoughby border. Two patients with significant trauma injuries were treated and transported.

• Chief Harvey and Deputy Chief Searles continue to work with the Police Department and Mentor Schools with School Safety Planning.

Police Department
• The police department was busy with traffic concerns as a result of the storm on June 12. The storm caused a few trees to fall across Mentor Avenue and the flooding of the underpass on SR 306. This resulted in some road closures until Public Works and CEI arrived to clear the trees and downed wires.

• Sergeants Valley and Majernik graduated from the 11-week Leadership and Management Course for Law Enforcement. The course was presented by The Ohio State University.

Engineering
• SR 2 Widening and Reconstruction: ODOT has finished paving mainline SR 2 and has placed final pavement markings along the corridor, including the Heisley Road/Diamond Centre area. The recent weather has delayed the start of the Center Street improvements near the Classic Chevy property. Once work begins, it is anticipated to be completed within three weeks.

• Traffic signals along the Center Street corridor were switched to their permanent configuration June 11. Communication between signals has been re-established allowing for better coordination. Work continues on the adjusting of the signals and detectors along the corridor to provide more efficient operation. Traffic operations along the corridor are currently being observed and final adjustments to the signal timing will be made when the signal work has been completed.

• The City will be publishing a Public Notice for the estimated assessments that were developed for the 2012 Sidewalk Repair and Pedestrian Safety Program. The notice will be published for the weeks in The News Herald. Residents will have until July 22 to make written objections to the assessment cost, which will be reviewed by the administration during this period for possible adjustments. Council will then be asked to certify the final assessment costs for placement on those owners’ property taxes.

Parks and Recreation Department
• Pools and Spray-grounds opened Friday for the season.

• Day Camps got under way this week. For information, go to www.cityofmentor.com/play and click “Summer Camps.”

Economic and Community Development
• Tom Thielman attended the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Initiative “orientation” meeting at the Mentor Holiday Inn. The event was in cooperation with the city of Mentor, JumpStart and the Mentor Chamber of Commerce. Goldman Sachs is providing free training to existing business owners on how to create a “growth plan.” Businesses need to have at least four employees and $150,000 in annual sales to be eligible.

Finance
• The city’s financial audit exit conference is scheduled for next Thursday, June 20 from 9-10 a.m. at City Hall in the second floor conference room. At the direction of our outside auditors, all Council members are invited to attend.  (Attendance is not mandatory).

• This week, the city received a check for $169,455 from our medical insurance provider Medical Mutual as a result of our favorable claims experience for calendar year 2012. The check is a positive result of the City’s negotiating efforts last year to include for the first time a contingent premium settlement clause in our health insurance contract.

Personnel
• Carey Baughman, Office Assistant II, will be retiring after 13 years of service to the city of Mentor, Engineering & Building Department. Carey’s last day in the office will be June 20.

Public Works Department
•    Excavated and set base for type 6 curb at Marina/Lagoons
•    Raised castings and cleaned sewers on Mallard, Hayes and Warrendale
•    Storm sewer televising - 8205 Lakeshore
•    Storm sewer repair Warrendale @ Nearing Circle
•    Raised two inlet basins - Homewood
•    Inlet basin rebuilds (2) - Paddock
•    Response to 6/12 storm
•    Cemetery clean-up
•    Prepping pools and spray parks
•    Full depth asphalt repairs - Edgehill and Murray
•    Repaired failed section of bike path near Ice Arena

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

Mentor police issued nearly 100 seatbelt violations, the city’s “Take Pride in America” show will be pursued for next year, and an event to boost small businesses is happening this week — those items & more in the weekly city manager memo to City Council.

Highlights:
• Sadly, we have had to cancel the “Take Pride In America” event due to travel restrictions on the Armed Forces. We will try to schedule the 20th Anniversary of this event in 2014. (Background: http://bit.ly/17ZZYi1)

• The city of Mentor in cooperation with the Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce and JumpStart Inc. will be co-sponsoring Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business “orientation” meeting at the Mentor Holiday Inn, 7701 Reynolds Road from 7:30–9 a.m. on Thursday. This free mini MBA program is targeted to small businesses of three or more employees and sales of at least $150,000.

• The annual “Click It or Ticket” campaign concluded on June 2. During this two-week period, the Police Department issued 96 safety belt violation citations, including two child safety seat violation citations.

Other goings-on in the city this past week:
Fire Department
• On May 31 at 3:42 p.m., Fire Stations 1, 3 and 5 responded to a possible roof fire at JCPenney.  Upon arrival, it was discovered that roof workers had accidentally set some of the roof on fire while repairing it. Two small areas of the fascias board were found smoldering. Overhaul was done and the business was on fire watch until the work was completed.

• On June 1 at 3:42 p.m., Mentor Fire Department responded to an incident where a baby deer was stuck between two fences. The animal was freed and unharmed.

• On June 2 at 3:01 p.m., paramedics responded to a pedestrian hit by a car. The female was treated and transported to Lake Health West in stable condition.

• On June 3 at 10:24 p.m., Mentor Fire Station 5 assisted two area residents who were lost in the Lagoons; they were hiking when their GPS battery went dead. MPD and MFD responded and led them back to the trail. There were no injuries.

• On June 4 at 3:47 a.m., Mentor Fire Stations 1 and 5 responded to a possible dryer fire. Upon arrival, the fire was extinguished and the dryer was shut down. Charring to the surrounding areas of the dryer was removed and the dryer was removed from the house. Occupants were checked for injuries and a working smoke detector was installed.

• On June 4 at 5:09 p.m., Mentor Fire Stations 3 and 4 responded to Colonial Plaza for an electrical problem. Upon arrival, there was arcing coming from defective wiring. CEI was on the scene and turned off power in the electrical room. Management was informed by CEI that they will need an electrical inspection completed prior to having the electricity turned back on.
 
• On June 4, three members of Mentor Fire were promoted and sworn in. Ron Zak to Battalion Chief and Bill Malovrh and Tony Higginbotham to Lieutenant.

• Spring fire hydrant testing continues throughout the City.

Engineering
• Center Street Detention Basin: Hallmark Excavating is in the process of completing the detention basin capacity improvements at SR 2 and SR 615 (just north of Classic Chevrolet).  Once completed, the project will provide extended detention times and provide water quality treatment by metering the discharge through a reduced orifice.

• The contractor for the Beechwood Drive Storm Sewer Improvement from Elm Street to Evergreen Drive is postponing the start date of the project to August 2013. The completion date for the project is unchanged (10/18/13).

• Reedhurst Farms Phase 2, located off Green Valley Drive, is currently under construction. The contractor, JTO Inc., is proof-rolling the subgrade of the roadway to test for proper compaction and will follow up shortly with pavement installation.

• Newell Creek Phase 7 is currently under construction. This phase consists of 28 lots of attached town houses in the northeast corner of the Newell Creek Development off Overton Drive. Utilities, such as sanitary sewer/storm sewer service, are being installed.

Parks and Recreation Department
• Two of the city’s swimming pools opened last weekend — Morton Park Swimming Pool and Splash Park and the Splash Park at Edward R. Walsh Park. Civic Center and Garfield Pools will open Friday. All pools will operate from 1 to 8 p.m. daily through Aug. 18.

• The Recreation Department is set for the beginning of summer with over 150 Day Camps, starting June 17; the Civic Ice Arena re-opens on June 10 with many classes and open skates for the whole family; the Summer Concerts start June 25 featuring a different band each Tuesday; and, there will be 19 Special Events throughout the summer.

• Tuesday, Jill Korsok and Bob Martin were invited to the WMJI 105.7FM studios to promote Cityfest and compete in the Tuesday Trivia Challenge. We appreciate the opportunity to talk about Cityfest with the Morning Team.

• Black Brook Golf Course has been busy with golf schools. The course condition is showing improvement and the asphalt repairs and path to the Practice Center have been completed.

• The Senior Center is working with United Way on the “Day of Caring” to have a group come to the Senior Center and work on the planter beds.

• The Senior Center started planning trips for the 2014 trip program with a meeting of interested members.

Economic and Community Development
• The Department of Economic and Community Development is pleased to welcome Jennifer Potoczak as our new Administrative Secretary. If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting her yet, don’t hesitate to stop by and introduce yourself.

• Ron Traub participated in a webinar entitled, “Five Key Strategies for a Skilled Workforce.”  Reports show that 600,000 manufacturing jobs are going unfilled in the U.S. and 50 percent of HR Directors say workforce recruitment is their largest challenge. The webinar addressed key strategies that a region could use to improve its skilled workforce population.

• Next week, MEACO is closing a SBA 504 Loan with Cleveland Plumbing Supply Company (CPS). CPS purchased 7272 Mentor Ave. (former Clark Dodge site) and remodeled the facility for its Mentor distribution and showroom operations. Total project cost was just under $1 million, with MEACO lending $394,000. Also, Red, Wine & Brew has started construction of its 16,000- square-foot building at 9620 Old Johnnycake Road. This is a $1.95 million SBA 504 project in partnership with Lake National Bank.

• The clock at the corner of Little Mountain Rd. and Mentor Ave., initially installed by the Verdi’s when they owned and operated Great Harvest Bread Company (and now Verdi’s Imported Foods), has been repaired.

• Ron Traub attended the Jobs Ohio/Ohio Development Services Agency mid-year briefing. Of the approximately 300 economic development practitioners in attendance, no one else from Lake County was represented and only a few Cuyahoga County representatives were present.  Content-wise, on the Jobs Ohio side, presentations on the Ohio Insite program (state operated site selection service) and Foreign Direct Investment program were insightful. Several spokesmen for the Ohio Development Services Agency reviewed new business financing options and the workforce development initiatives of which the administration tries to utilize as part of the City’s economic development initiative.

Finance
• This week the City received $262,000 of estate tax revenue. The revenue was generated from pre 2013 inheritance tax return activity. The State of Ohio eliminated this source of revenue effective 2013. Any future distributions are residual amounts for pre 2013 tax returns. No estate tax revenue was factored into the 2013 revenue budget.

• Income tax collections for the month of May were up $705,000 when compared to May of last year. The current total year collections through May as compared to last year are up 2.4 percent.

Public Works Department
•    Rebuilt inlet basin - SR 615
•    Coordinated repair of traffic loops damaged during paving
•    Began jail renovations
•    Repaired vandalism damage at Mentor Beach Park
•    Roof repairs – Fire Station #2
•    Meeting with LC General Health Department regarding spray park start up
•    Window and roof repairs – Wildwood Cultural Center
•    Excavating/prepping for curbing at Marina
•    Storm sewer cleaning - Station, Wilson, Iroquois
•    Storm sewer inspection - Chase, Wilson, Barkwood, Mallard
•    Storm sewer repair - 8843 Hendricks, 7109 W Jefferson
•    20 property maintenance projects

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

More lane closures on a congested Mentor road, more news about the new CityFest, and some youths are charged with vandalizing a city park building — those items and more in the latest weekly city manager memo:

 Police Department
• Three juveniles were arrested for breaking into the building at Mentor Beach Park on Memorial Day and causing damage, which consisted of holes in the drywall, broken ceiling tiles, light fixtures, and a broken window. Entry to the building was gained through an unlocked window. All three juveniles were charged by Mentor-on-the-Lake Police with breaking and entering and vandalism.

There was over $2,500 of damage done. The park caretaker reported the teens to Mentor-on-the-Lake Police. Park crews began repairs on Tuesday morning. Mentor-on-the-Lake Police also have charged two teens for spray-painting on the back walls of the Mentor Beach Park building.

• A traffic stop on a vehicle resulted in two males being arrested for trafficking in cocaine, possession of cocaine and marijuana. The vehicle was stopped on I-90 by officers participating in the ACE unit. The officer smelled an odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle. The vehicle was searched and marijuana was located. The two male occupants were searched and cocaine and crack cocaine were located on both males. The drugs, along with the suspect’s vehicle, cell phones and $860 in cash were seized.

• The mobile app iWatchNEOhio is functioning and ready for download from all mobile app stores by smart phone users. Choose “Mentor Police” as the home department. Citizens can send tips regarding criminal and suspicious activity anonymously to the Police Department. This mobile app allows our citizens to partner with law enforcement to help protect our community. 

Manager Comments
• Lake Health has agreed to be the naming sponsor for CityFest. Its two-year commitment will equal $25,000 and will allow Lake Health to be listed on all advertising just below the “Mentor CityFest” logo.

• SR 2 Widening & Reconstruction — Paving of mainline Route 2 is scheduled to be completed this week and the Route 615 lane adjustment work at Classic Chevy is scheduled to begin. It is anticipated that daily lane closures will occur during the widening operations. Traffic signal work on Route 615 is anticipated to be complete the week of June 10. Heisley Road traffic signal work is anticipated to be complete in early July. Noise wall work adjacent to west Heisley is anticipated to be complete by the end of June.

Fire Department
• On May 28 at 5:05 p.m., Fire Station 1 responded to Lincoln Electric for an industrial accident. A 1,000-pound bale of wire fell onto a 23-year-old male’s lower leg. The coil was removed prior to Station 1’s arrival. The patient was treated and transported to Lake Health West.

• On May 29 at 4:23 p.m., Fire Station 4 responded to a car vs. bike accident on Bellflower Rd. A 10-year-old male was not wearing a helmet; he complained of back, leg pain and had multiple contusions throughout his body. The patient was treated and transported to Hillcrest Pediatric ER.

Engineering
• Due to weather conditions last week, the Heisley Road Bridge project Stage II traffic control was moved to May 31. During Stage II, traffic across the bridge will remain northbound only. The northbound traffic will be shifted onto the newly placed bridge deck utilizing crossovers to the southbound side of the roadway. This traffic shift will be between the exit and entrance ramps only and all traffic will be back to its original location past these ramps. The southbound traffic detour will remain unchanged (SR 2 West to SR 615 to SR 2 East). Periodic off-peak lane closures will continue on SR 2 under Heisley Road Bridge.

• 2013 Road Repair Program — The Market Street and Munson Road intersection area was paved May 29. All streets included in the Road Repair Program have now been paved. Punch list work items have been sent to the contractor for their attention.

• Station Street Resurfacing — The asphalt surface course was placed May 30 on Station Street from Jackson Street to Center Street. This should complete all work items on the project with the exception of restoration.

Parks and Recreation Department
• Pool pass sales have started to increase along with the temperatures. All pools were filled this week (that’s 1.2 million gallons of water!) and the filtration systems are running.

• The Civic Ice Arena has been busy with annual maintenance and projects. The Women’s coaches’ room move has been completed and the Men’s coaches’ room is under remodel. The old ceiling in the studio rink has been removed and replaced. The west cooling tower has been removed and the new tower was installed and operational.

Economic and Community Development
• Tom Thielman met with a prospective new restaurateur interested in opening a “fast-food” Indian-style restaurant in the Great Lakes Mall food court. The Mentor Small Business Loan fund was discussed and may be a possible source for some of the funding.  

• MEACO is currently reviewing two new applications for the Mentor Small Business Loan program and a new SBA 504 loan application for a chain restaurant in Ashtabula.  MEACO is authorized by the U.S. Small Business Administration to provide financing throughout the State of Ohio. Each loan that is approved and funded is added to MEACO’s loan portfolio, which then generates both upfront and annual fees.

• The City of Mentor, in cooperation with the Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce and JumpStart Inc., will be co-sponsoring Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business “orientation” meeting at the Mentor Holiday Inn, 7701 Reynolds Road from 7:30 – 9 a.m., June 13. This free mini MBA program is targeted to small businesses of three or more employees and sales of at least $150,000.

Personnel
• On May 30, Fire Lieutenant Scott Parcell retired after 28 years of dedicated service to the Fire Department. We wish Scott well in his retirement.

• The Promotional Board, as specified in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, took place on May 29. Effective June 3, 2013, Fire Lieutenant Ron Zak will be promoted to the Battalion Chief and Firefighter/Paramedics Tony Higginbotham and Bill Malovrh will be promoted to Fire Lieutenant. The swearing-in ceremony will be on June 4 at 8 a.m. in Council Chambers.

Public Works Department
• Prepping base for curbing at Marina
• Exposed utilities at Lagoons with Vacall
• Storm sewer repair – 7538 Murray
• All swimming pools prepped and being filled
• Inlet basin rebuilds (3) – Sugarbush
• Sign upgrades – ongoing
• Pool restroom upgrades at EBG
• Vandalism repair at Mentor Beach Park
• Crack sealing – Headlands Rd.
• Coordinated/installed generator at FS #1
• Approx. 15 property maintenance cleanups

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