WILL THAT BE A BURRITO OR A BOWL?

Although representatives for developer Lance Osborne have previously been coy about tenants for the soon-to-be redeveloped BP gas station at the corner of Wilson Mills and Alpha Drive, the cat is now out of the bag.

October 13 Planning & Zoning Commission meeting agenda tells the tale:

A Chipotle and a mattress store

I imagine that Qdoba--- just a few doors down in Osborne’s Shoppes at Alpha Place---is none too pleased, but then again I suspect customers tend to be loyal to one burrito palace or the other.

For me it's Chipotle all the way....

CITY SCORES ISSUE 1 GRANT AND NO-INTEREST LOAN
MINER ROAD RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT OFFICIALLY A “GO”

Mayor Scott Coleman seemed mighty pleased last Tuesday given the city’s success in obtaining financing for the Miner Road reconstruction project.

While the city didn’t end up getting the full loan amount it had sought, it will receive a $100,000 outright grant and a $686,800 no-interest, 20 year loan.

A no interest loan! How cool is that?

Taxpayers will pay for this much needed infrastructure work over time, without any interest costs added to the bill.

DOES THE CITY REALLY NEED AN INSURANCE CONSULTANT?

The hot button topic at last Tuesday’s Committee of the Whole meeting was Finance Director Joe Filippo’s request for a contract, continuing Fedeli Health Services’ role as the city’s health insurance consultant.

Although the city’s health insurance plan isn’t changing, Filippo explained:

“I do not have expertise in Affordable Care Act (ACA).
 Once I am comfortable with it we may not need them.

They will talk about our wellness program and other requirements of the ACA.”

Filippo admitted he didn’t think about other alternatives:

“I have a comfort feeling with them.
I’ve been dealing with them.
I wanted to stay with who I knew and trusted.”

The primary problem, as far as Council was concerned, seemed to be Fedeli’s billing practices.
Apparently Fedeli doesn’t submit detailed statements showing the work it performs, how long the work takes, and who did the work.

You know, normal information that most consultants provide to justify their bills.

Filippo didn’t address why, in his professional opinion, refusing to provide a detailed statement of services should be acceptable to the city.
His only explanation was:

“They don’t work that way.”

That apparently was good enough for Filippo.
Also of concern to Council President Cathy Murphy was a clause calling for automatic renewal of the consulting contract.

Murphy insisted that the city be able to reassess its options in the future…which meant the clause had to go.

Despite their reservations, it sounded like Council members are intending to honor Filippo’s request and will approve a revised consulting contract.

LAUNCH OF CITY’S NEW WOODLAND PRESERVE

A nice crowd showed up at the October 11 volunteer event celebrating the launch of the new Bishop Road woodland preserve.

It was an event 20 years in the making.

Residents and supporters hauled trash (lots of trash) and planted woodland-appropriate, deer-resistant plants in several areas of the 12 acre parcel.

Shovels at the ready

An old water well on the property

Volunteers hard at work planting deer resistant plants

One of the 3 Euclid Creek system streams that run through the property

The city contributed $2,000 towards the purchase of the property----a small sum, but helpful in closing the gap: although a state grant paid for most of it, the grant didn’t cover the property’s full purchase price.

So thank you Highland Heights taxpayers!

And thanks, too, to the Friends of Euclid Creek and Claire Posius of the Cuyahoga County Soil and Conservation District, who worked tirelessly pursuing a grant to preserve this important and environmentally sensitive area.

POOL DECK: ROUND 2.

The adjoining neighbors’ appeal of the P&Z decision upholding the permit for the gigantic Rutland Road deck erected next to an above-ground pool will be heard this Wednesday.
7:30 pm. City Hall Council Chambers.