MEMORANDUM
TO: City Council
Members/Department/Division Heads
FROM: Douglas L. Lewis, City
Manager
SUBJECT: Weekly Update
Economic
Development Breakfast:
The Economic Development Breakfast was held on Thursday, October
13, 2005 at the Conneaut Community Center for the Arts. The
objective of the breakfast was to inform manufacturing and
industrial companies from Ashtabula County, Ohio and Erie and
Crawford Counties in Pennsylvania about our approach to economic
development, available opportunities and the benefits of
expansion and/or relocation within the City of Conneaut. In
addition, we arranged for a tour of the Conneaut and Bessemer
Dock Company (CN) and the Port of Conneaut.
The breakfast
attracted approximately fourteen (14) industrial/manufacturing
companies from outside the City of Conneaut. We received a
significant amount of positive feedback regarding the breakfast.
If we are able to attract one business and/or the attendees at
the breakfast talk positive about what we are trying to
accomplish in the City of Conneaut, the breakfast was a
success. Based on the feedback, it was.
A number of
groups must be thanked for their efforts and include: the
members of the Economic Development Committee, the Conneaut Port
Authority, the Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County, the
Conneaut City Council, the Conneaut Community Center for the
Arts and Sister Jean and the catering crew.
Attack
on Home Rule Municipalities:
There are a number of bills pending in the Ohio House of
Representatives and Ohio Senate that, if passed, would
negatively impact Home Rule cities such as Conneaut. Rather than
having local elected officials making decisions about what is
best for our community, legislators in Columbus would make those
decisions for us.
House Bill 304
would have the greatest impact on the City of Conneaut and the
ratepayers of our community. In essence, it is designed to help
landlords get off the hook for unpaid water, sewer and solid
waste bills. Is it fair to have other ratepayers assume the
costs of paying higher water and sewer bills because a select
few skip out of their utility bills? The legislation is
scheduled to be heard before the House Civil and Commercial Law
Committee on Wednesday, October 19, 2005.
Also, on
Wednesday, House Bill 331 will be heard. If passed, it would
establish a modified moratorium on the use of eminent domain for
economic development in unblighted neighborhoods. While the City
of Conneaut has not used eminent domain, we should have the
right to do so to improve our community and enhance development
opportunities.
Finally, on
Thursday, the anti-residency bill will be heard for the third
time in the House Local and Municipal Government and Urban
Revitalization Committee. This bill bans municipalities from
requiring that employees live within the municipality. This bill
attempts to overturn the decision of many municipalities to
require residency of their employees and, as such, is a blatant
attempt to destroy Home Rule.
The City of
Conneaut will be contacting both Representative George Distel
and Senator Marc Dann about the pending legislation. We will
keep you updated as more information becomes available.
Woodworth Road Water Line:
The installation of the Woodworth Road water line was completed
on Wednesday, October 12. All customers have been tied in. The
old line was cut out on Friday, October 14. Paving road cuts and
landscaping remains to be done.
Water
Line Leaks:
On Tuesday, October 11, the Water Treatment Department repaired
another leak on Wrights Avenue between Pearl Street and Lake
Road. This is the second leak that we had in the past few
weeks. We may need to look at replacing the entire line if we
continue to experience problems in this area.
New
Meter Reading System:
On Thursday, October 13, Tom Shupe of Neptune was at the Water
Office for training on the new touchpad reading system. Water
Office employees were trained on uploading the import files,
loading and uploading the handheld equipment and exporting the
readings. The Meter Readers will be trained on Monday, October
17, 2005.
Fire
Prevention Activities:
Firefighters visited the elementary schools in Conneaut this
week conducting fire prevention activities.
Fire
Training Simulator:
The Fire Training Simulator was taken to Geneva on Thursday and
Friday of this past week. It was used to conduct classes for the
Geneva Firefighters.
Police
Calls, Citations/Arrests:
During the week of October 7 through October 14, the Conneaut
Police Department logged 370 service calls and 41
arrests/citations. Included in the above numbers were: 6
speeding citations, 4 oversize or overweight citations, 3 shop
lifting/petty theft citations, 33 traffic stops, 15 juvenile
complaints, 22 registration checks, 8 accidents and 8 disabled
vehicle calls.
MARK
YOUR CALENDARS -- UPCOMING EVENTS:
Mystery
Dinner Theater:
Friday and
Saturday, October 21-22, 2005 at the Conneaut Community Center
for the Arts. I attended and had a great time.
Free
Employee Screenings:
Monday,
October 24, 2005 in the City Council Chambers. UHHS Brown
Memorial will provide fee testing for Blood Sugar, Cholesterol,
and Blood Pressure from 10 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and from 2 – 3:30
p.m. Employees are encouraged to attend.
Council
Meeting:
Monday, October 24, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council
Chambers.
Halloween Parade:
Saturday, October 29, 2005 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
German
Fest:
Saturday, October 29, 2005 at the Conneaut Human Resources
Center
Trick or
Treat:
Monday, October 31, 2005 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Leadership Ashtabula – One Day Program:
Friday, November 4, 2005. See me for more information if you
are interested in attending.
Perch Dinner/Holiday Art Craft Show:
November 4, 2005 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Conneaut Community
Center for the Arts.
Work
Session:
Monday, October 7, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council
Chambers.
