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MEMORANDUM
TO:
City Council Members/Department/Division Heads
FROM: Douglas L. Lewis, City
Manager
SUBJECT: City Manager Update
WRRSP
SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT:
Mr. Roloson of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources recently
informed me that twenty-seven (27) properties are currently being
appraised. The first appraisal is expected back in a week or two. The
appraisals then have to be approved by ODNR, Real Estate and Land
Management.
Once approved, Mr.
Steve Roloson and Mr. Chuck English will schedule meetings to make
offers and re-execute the contracts based on the survey and final
determination of the acreage. If accepted by any of the property owners,
a closing will then be scheduled. It is anticipated that it will be two
(2) months or so before the first closing.
ISSUE II
MEETING:
Mr. Harry Runnion, Water Superintendent and I attended the O.P.W.C.
District 7 County Integrating Subcommittee meeting at the Ashtabula
County Engineer’s Office. The purpose of the meeting was to review the
initial ranking of the projects submitted from
municipalities/villages/townships throughout Ashtabula County.
The City of Conneaut
submitted two projects. The first project included the replacement of
the Center Road Booster Pump Station. The amount requested in grants was
$100,000 with $32,000 in 0% interest loans. The second project included
the replacement of the finished water pump at the Water Treatment Plant.
The amount requested in grants was $35,000.
In order to move the
City of Conneaut’s projects up on the priority list in order to get
funded, we had to combine the projects and increase the loan amount.
Combined, we modified the request to include $117,000 in grants and
$50,000 in 0% interest loans. Based on the changes, it appeared that
both projects will be recommended for O.P.W. C. Issue II funding by Mr.
Tim Martin, Ashtabula County Engineer.
CRA
APPLICATION:
Ms. Lori Lamer, Law Director, informed me that she has submitted the
petition for CRA certification to the Ohio Department of Development.
We anticipate that it will be two weeks before we receive approval of
the modifications to the CRA.
PORT AUTHORITY
PROJECT:
The Army Corp of Engineers out of Buffalo, New York and representatives
from Presque Isle met for a site visit at the Conneaut Port Authority on
July 20, 2005. Representatives from the Conneaut Port Authority,
Presque Isle Park Board, the ODNR (Ohio and Pennsylvania) and the City
of Conneaut were in attendance – including Councilmember Stan Wojtowicz.
The visit was the
first step in identifying the magnitude of the problem in order to
develop a plan to address the sand in Conneaut Harbor. At the meeting,
it was learned that the Army Corp of Engineers had reprogrammed $25,000
in FY2005/2006 to analyze the sand in Conneaut Harbor and on Township
Beach. Participants have been asked to send
information that
their agencies have with respect to any environmental studies, habitat
studies, information on threatened and endangered species or other
studies that might be applicable for the feasibility study.
Following the site
visit in Conneaut, the Army Corp of Engineers toured Presque Isle to
examine the scope of their problem with regards to erosion of the
beaches. The goal is to assist Presque Isle replenish their beaches
while accomplishing the Port Authority’s goal of removing sand from
Conneaut Harbor.
The Conneaut Port
Authority is working with U.S. Representative LaTourette and Senator’s
DeWine and Voinovich to obtain the additional $300,000 necessary to
complete the feasibility studies. We will keep you updated as more
information becomes available.
ELECTRIC AND
NATURAL GAS AGGREGATION
– On Wednesday, July
13, 2005, North Kingsville Mayor Ron McVoy and I attended an N.O.P.E.C.
meeting in Independence, Ohio. During the meeting, representatives from
N.O.P.E.C. updated us on the status of electric and natural gas
aggregation. Opt-out notices for electric will be sent to the residents
of Conneaut the week of July 18th. If residents wish to
opt-out, they must fill out the post card included in their packet of
information and return it to N.O.P.E.C. Prices for natural gas have
risen significantly from a year ago. N.O.P.E.C. is evaluating the
situation and will lock in rates when they think consumers will receive
the best value and lowest price for natural gas.
UPGRADE
INTERSECTION:
The Ohio
Department of Transportation Central Office recently informed us that
the intersection upgrade at SR7 and Gateway Avenue has been selected for
funding through the Small Cities Grant Program. However, the selection
is pending approval of a final project scope with ODOT representatives
and the completion of an updated signal warrant analysis. Upon
completing the project scope and signal warrant analysis, ODOT will
determine the amount of funding and the year the funds will be made
available. Staff will be meeting with representatives from ODOT on
Tuesday, August 9th. The amount requested for upgrading the
signalization, street lights and signage is $115,280 in grants with a
total estimated project cost of $157,200.
122 THOMAS
DRIVE:
This address has been officially tapped into the sanitary sewer. The
road will now need to be repaired. The City of Conneaut will be seeking
damages for the costs of the repairs.
HEADQUARTERS
PROPERTY (CORNER OF CHESTNUT AND JACKSON):
This property is still presenting difficult ownership problems. The
owner has filed bankruptcy and the bankruptcy trustee has waived any
rights to the property. There is a lien on the property, which may be
restricting the transfer of the property by the owner. The owner
obviously does not have the money to make repairs to the property. For
this reason, staff recommends demolition in order to abate the
nuisance.
454 STATE
STREET (GARY
HARRIS BUILDING):
It is the Fire Department’s understanding that this property is
scheduled to be auctioned off in the near future. Hopefully, someone
will purchase the property that will restore it to its original beauty.
WATER
FILTRATION PUMPS:
During
this past week, the Water Filtration Plant experienced problems with a
bad motor starter on the number one pump for the backwash holding tank.
The pump has been isolated and placed out of service. We are in the
process of locating a starter for this pump and anticipate having it on
order by the end of the week. The number two pump will handle the full
load until the new starter for the number one pump is in service.
HIGH SERVICE
PUMP:
The main breaker on the 100hp high service pump went down this past
week. Since the high service pump is more critical than the low service
pump, the Water Filtration Plant exchanged the breakers between the two
and a new breaker is on order.
CAVE IN AT
WATER PLANT:
There was a cave in on the north side of the main service building at
the Water Plant. It was thought that it was coming from the filter
backwash line but after excavation, it was discovered that the 6” storm
roof drain was broken and had collapsed. They replaced about 20 feet of
the line.
HYDRANT
FLUSHING:
On July 13, 2005, the Water Treatment Department flushed fire hydrants
on Route 20 from Parrish Road to the end of Gore Road. The Water
Department received a number of complaints regarding the red water in
this area. However, every effort was made to inform residents prior to
the hydrants being flushed.
WATER TOWER
INSPECTIONS:
Corrpro Waterworks were onsite Friday, July 15th for our
annual maintenance of our water towers. Included in the maintenance
this year will be the lights at the top of the tanks. They will be
inspected and changed if needed.
LAKEVIEW PARK
NETTING:
This past week, the Public Works Department hung the net at the slow
pitch field at Lakeview Park. There have been some liability issues over
the netting and we hope that this will help alleviate future problems.
PUBLIC WORKS
DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS:
Two weeks ago, the road was ditched and graded at Blue Bell Campground.
Over the past week, the Public Works Department ditched on Horton Road,
South Parrish Road and Underridge Road.
SEWER CALLS
FOR SERVICE:
To date, the Wastewater Department has responded to 69 sewer calls,
reamed 3,935 feet of pipe, and jetted 31,602 feet of sewer line.
BROAD STREET
CAVE-IN:
The Public Works and Wastewater Departments worked together to repair
the sewer lateral cave-in on Board Street. Staff noticed that the road
had sunk after the base coat of asphalt was applied. In order to make
the repairs prior to the final layer of asphalt being applied, the
Public Works Department and the Wastewater Department had to take quick
action. Much thanks goes to both departments for preventing a road cut
on the newly paved Broad Street.
POLICE
CALLS/CITATIONS/ARRESTS:
During the week of July 8 through July 15, the Police Department logged
524 service calls and 69 arrests/citations. Included in these calls were
105 traffic stops, 42 registration checks, 12 domestic situations, 12
disabled vehicles, 11 juvenile complaints, 10 alarm/burglary calls, 10
traffic violations, 28 speeding citations, and four disorderly conduct
citations.
POLICE
CALLS/CITATIONS/ARRESTS:
During the week of July 15 through July 22, the Police Department logged
538 service calls and issued 76 citations. These numbers include 10
disturbance calls, 11 animal calls, 10 domestic situations146 traffic
stops, 40 registration checks and 31 speeding violations.
DOWNTOWN
BENCHES/PLANTERS:
The Public Works Department made adjustments and fixed the planters in
the downtown area this week. A bottom fell out causing the flowers, dirt
and mulch to drop down. We determined that the weight from the dirt,
flowers and mulch, in addition to the recent rains that we had, were
just more weight than the planters could hold. Assuming this would
continue to happen, they re-enforced all the planter boxes in the
downtown area.
Ms. Michelle Logan
of the Economic Development Committee informed us that 84 Lumber
has agreed to donate the lumber for the fifteen (15) remaining
benches/planters and new garbage containers. The Public Works Department
will be picking up the lumber this week. LECI will be building the
benches/planters and garbage containers. Much thanks goes to 84
Lumber out of Ashtabula for their generous donation.
REFUSE
COLLECTION/RECYCLING SERVICES:
On Monday, July 25, 2005, staff will be meeting with Geneva City Manager
Jim Pearson and North Kingsville Mayor Ron McVoy to determine if they
would be interested in contracting out for refuse collection/recycling
services. As presented to the City Council, with only one provider
remaining in Conneaut, it makes sense to contract out or negotiate the
terms of an agreement with Waste Management. I will keep you updated as
to the interest expressed by Geneva and North Kingsville.
MARK YOUR
CALENDARS:
KELLY MILLER
CIRCUS:
July 27, 2005 at 4:30 and 7:00 p.m. in Lakeview Park
CONNEAUT NIGHT AT
THE JAKE:
The Conneaut Chamber of Commerce has a limited number of tickets for
Conneaut Night at the Jake on August 2, 2005 at 5:00 p.m. If you are
interested, please contact Mr. Geoff Klein at 593-2402.
CONNEAUT
APPRECIATION DAYS:
August 3rd
– 14th, 2005. Contact the Conneaut Chamber of Commerce for
more information.
CONNEAUT CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE APPRECIATION BREAKFAST:
Thursday, August 4, 2005 at 7:30 a.m. at the Villa at the Lake.
The retail marketing analysis will be the topic of discussion. If you
plan on attending, please let me know ASAP as we need to purchase
tickets.
SENIORS TOGETHER
LUNCHEON:
August 10, 2005 at 11:30 a.m. at the CHRC.
EMPLOYEE PICNIC:
August
19, 2005 from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. at Township Park, Lower Pavilion.
D-DAY EVENT:
September
17, 2005 at 12:00 and 4:00 p.m. at Conneaut Township Park |
