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