CITY OF CONNEAUT OFFICE OF THE C

CITY OF CONNEAUT
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER

Douglas L. Lewis City Hall Building
City Manager 294 Main Street
Conneaut, OH
44030
Ph 440-593-7401
Fax 440-593-6908

MEMORANDUM

TO: City Council Members/Department/Division Heads
FROM: Douglas L. Lewis, City Manager
SUBJECT: City Manager Report
DATE: September 25, 2006

Precision Manufacturing Institute (PMI): Precision Manufacturing Institute (PMI) in partnership with St. Mary's/St. Frances Cabrini, Jim Strubbe, Infinity Resources and Kent State University will be offering classes in Conneaut beginning October 16, 2006. After receiving the surveys and determining the needs of the industries in Ashtabula County, Ohio and Erie County, Pennsylvania, a class schedule has been established and placed in each of your mailboxes.

As with the Cleveland Hotel Project, much of the credit must go to Mr. Walt Poff of Nova Star Real Estate for making the key introductions. Since that time, approximately a year and a half later, the partners listed above have been working together to make PMI Conneaut a reality. Also instrumental in working with PMI was Joe Mayernick of Growth Partnership of Ashtabula County, the City of Conneaut, and Julie Michael Smith with the Governor’s Office for Economic Development.

Between now and October 16, 2006, PMI will be recruiting and registering students. Interested parties should contact PMI at (877) 701-9204. A reception/ribbon cutting will be planned for the grand opening.

Interstate 90 at State Route 7 Project: The project continues to move forward as the developers are encouraged with the number of acres along Interstate 90 that may available for development. Dr. Edward Hauser, Wetland Consultant, identified the wetlands on the property to the southwest of Interstate 90 and will be working with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers on behalf of the developers to certify the wetlands study.

In addition to the wetlands study, CT Consultants has re-submitted the required information to the ODOT District 4 in order to break the limited access. Once their concerns have been addressed and we receive approval to break the limited access, it will be necessary for ODOT to obtain appraisals on the property for the areas where the limited access will be broken. We will keep you updated as additional information becomes available.

Remote Water Reading: Harry Runnion, Water Superintendent, John Williams, Finance Director, and I met with representatives of Neptune to discuss the feasibility of converting all existing water meters to a radio read meter system. This would enable the Water Department to drive by a home and download the water usage information into a laptop computer. Once obtained, it be taken back and downloaded into the Utility Billing Software.

Neptune is preparing a cost benefit analysis that we expect to be presented within the next month. If the cost of converting the existing meters to radio read meters provides a return on investment, we will be presenting information to the City Council. For more information, please visit their website at http://www.neptunetg.com/water.cfm .

Street Improvement Projects – Mill and Grandview: Mill Street was milled on Monday, September 18th and the scratch coat was applied on Wednesday, September 20th. However, before the top coat can be applied, the sewers must be lined and the curbs must be removed and replaced. The low bidder, TC Construction, is tentatively scheduled to begin the curb replacement project within the next two (2) weeks.

On Monday, September 18th, the Public Works Department milled Grandview Avenue. The scratch coat was applied on Wednesday. All of the manholes were adjusted to grade on Thursday and the topcoat was applied on Friday, September 22nd. The paving is complete on Grandview and the sealing will follow.

Sewer Lining Project: United Survey was here this past week to do the prep work for the pipe-lining project on Maple Avenue, Whitney Road and Mill Street. The lining of Mill Street must occur prior to the paving.

Recycling Improvements: The recycling bins at Sav-A-Lot Grocery Store have been removed from the front of Sav-A-Lot Grocery Store and have been replaced with a roll-off for recycling. This will save the Parks/Recycling Department a considerable amount of time because, in the past, it required Parks/Recycling Department to pick up the recycling materials from Sav-A-Lot and transport them to Lake Road for pick-up. The Public Works and Parks/Recycling Departments should be commended on their efforts to improve and streamline the recycling process. Job well done!

Cemetery Mowing: The Public Works Department is continuing to mow and trim the six (6) City cemeteries. We have received several complaints about high grass. Due to the paving schedule, the wet weather and lack of manpower, we are not able to stay ahead of the growing grass.

Maple Avenue Water Lines: We have been experiencing a lot of problems with water line breaks on Maple Avenue due to the construction for the new bridge. We received numerous calls due to the fact that this area covers Route 20 to Creek Road and to Lake Road.

Fire Hydrant Flushing Program: This program is continuing to go well and on schedule. There haven’t been any complaints so far from the hydrant flushing.

September 27 South Parrish, Gore Road from Route 20 to Salisbury, Townsand, Leih
Walk, Cedar, Oakland Blvd., Highland, Dibble Road, and Fairwinds.

September 28 Creek Road to Creek Road Water Tank, Janet Drive, Joann Drive,
Bridgeview, South Amboy, North Amboy

September 29 Gore Road from Salisbury to Kingsville Conneaut Line, Salisbury
Road, Parrish Road from Lake Road to Chamberlain Blvd., Lake Road
from Parrish Road to Conneaut Kingsville Line, Burlington Hts.,
Salisbury Road, Robb Road, Brandon, Margor

Parrish Road Pump Station Bids: Wednesday, September 13th the bids were opened for this project. All bids exceeded the engineering estimate. A date has not been set for re-biding this project as of this date.

Hypochlorite System: The storage tank and the day tank have been installed and all feed lines have been installed also. Most of the electrical work has been completed. The vent lines still need to be installed.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS – IMPORTANT DATES:

Fall Fest: Friday – Sunday, September 29 – October 1, 2006 at the Conneaut Human Resources Center. Parade to take place on Saturday, September 30 at 3:00 pm in the city parking lot to Main Street to State Route 7 to Human Resources Center.

Economic Development Recruitment Breakfast: Thursday, October 5, 2006 at 7:00 a.m. at the Conneaut Community Center for the Arts.

Conneaut Medical Center: Saturday, October 7, 2006 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m at the UHHS Brown Memorial Hospital.

Moose Lodge Membership Meeting: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 at 8:00 p.m. to discuss Lakefront Improvements.

Covered Bridge Festival: Saturday and Sunday, October 14 - 15, 2006 at Middle Road Covered Bridge and Creek Road Covered Bridge and Keefus Road Covered Bridge.

Chamber of Commerce – Business After Hours: Thursday, October 19, 2006 from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. at the Conneaut Area City Schools Administrative Offices located at 400 Mill Street, Suite B.

Ashtabula County Leadership – Discover the Highlights – Friday, November 3, 2006. For more information, please see information placed in your mailbox.

Christmas Song Fest – Caroling will take place on Saturday, December 16, 2006 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. in front of City Hall.