QUIET TIME
Late winter is usually a quiet time for City Council.
This year is no different.
Their main task in February was finalizing the city’s 2016
budget.
The budget books have been compiled.
Council will discuss the budget during a March 1st
Committee of the Whole meeting.
Finance Director Joe Filippo told Council last week that preliminarily the
budget shows a $275,000 surplus in the general fund.
That's the fund used to cover the City’s routine operating expenses.
That's the fund used to cover the City’s routine operating expenses.
Council is also finalizing 2.5 % pay raises for city employees, both union and nonunion.
Given current low inflation and interest rates that's a nice raise, not merely a cost-of-living increase.
I wish every working stiff got such good treatment from their employers!
FORMER MAYOR FRAN HOGG
STILL COMMITTED TO BETTERING OUR COMMUNITY
STILL COMMITTED TO BETTERING OUR COMMUNITY
Former Highland Heights Mayor Fran Hogg came to last week’s Council meeting to pitch a
vital community organization: The Friends of Euclid Creek.
Their mission, according to Hogg:
To raise awareness about, and to preserve, the natural features of the Euclid Creek Watershed.
What's that you say?
All of the creeks running through the city are part of the Euclid Creek Watershed.
Preserving and protecting the Euclid Creek Watershed is important to us all.
The water from those creeks eventually empty into our drinking water source: Lake Erie.
And a healthy watershed absorbs and holds waters, protecting residential neighborhoods from flooding.
The water from those creeks eventually empty into our drinking water source: Lake Erie.
And a healthy watershed absorbs and holds waters, protecting residential neighborhoods from flooding.
Hogg explained the group works closely with Claire Possius
of the Cuyahoga County Water and Soil Conservation District.
Last year the group, working with the District and a land conservation organization, were critical players in the purchase and preservation, in perpetuity, of 12 wooded, wetland acres off Hawthorne Drive in Highland Heights.
Last year the group, working with the District and a land conservation organization, were critical players in the purchase and preservation, in perpetuity, of 12 wooded, wetland acres off Hawthorne Drive in Highland Heights.
Hogg told Council:
Friend of Euclid Creek is a volunteer organization.
Often we are the ones who provide actual digging in the ground….
Please keep in mind what we do.
Be aware of projects we might be able to help you with.We can partner on projects and help you.
The only thing Hogg asked in return?
Some promotion and publicity for the group, on the City’s
website and in the City's quarterly newsletters.
Sounds like a good deal to me.
