NEW BUDGET…. ALREADY BLOWN?

There was a lot of optimism after the city handed out 6 bid packets for the big Miner Road renovation project.

More bidders = more competition = (hopefully) lower cost.

Unfortunately for city taxpayers, only 2 companies actually submitted bids.

The “lowest and best” bid, submitted by C.A. Agresta Construction Co., was way more than the city expected to pay.

Engineer Brian Mader estimated the project might cost $3.2 million.

The city budgeted $3 million for it.

The winning bid: $3,460.358.40.

Council President Cathy Murphy delivered the bad news at a March 24^th Committee of the Whole meeting:

“It came in over budget.
We allocated $3million for the project. It came in at $3,460,000”

When asked to explain the lack of bidders, Service Director Thom Evans could only speculate:

I don’t know for sure.
I have a little bit of suspicion it’s because the project was fragmented out…
It will take several different subs (subcontractors) for asphalt, concrete and drainage work…
If the value of the project is only 45% to the bidder, they are putting up a bond for a large project. That’s pretty expensive.”

Murphy focused on some discrepancies between the 2 submitted bids:

On item 614 (traffic control) Agresta  bid $257,500. The losing bidder quoted $77,000.

Evans explained:

Because Agresta is the low bidder, they obviously were lower on other items.
All contractors have their own way to figure it (their bid) out.

Murphy also commented on the large amount ($200,000) that Mader (who put the bid package together for the city) set as set aside as a “discretionary allowance”.
Evans commented:

Discretionary  allowances are for items that are unforeseen or for quantities that change during the course of a contract.
The contractor is only paid for what they perform….
It (the allowance) is quite a lot to work with.”

Several major projects that Mader’s predecessor worked on went $100,000.00 over budget.

Here’s hoping Mader does a good job keeping costs under control.

THE SOLUTION? BORROW MORE MONEY

Council’s Legislative & Finance Committee (L&F), comprised of President Cathy Murphy and Council Members Chuck Brunello and Leo Lombardo, met with Mayor Scott Coleman and city Finance Director Joe Filippo on April 10^th to discuss the over-budget Miner Road Project Contract.

Their solution: borrow more money.

Coleman later explained to the full Council:

Last year we took out short term notes (i.e. borrowed money) because the cost of carrying the notes (i.e. interest rates) were so low.
The notes are coming due.
We have to pay them off or secure another year of short term notes…
We plan to take out two notes: $4.2 million (to replace a 2014 $3.65 million note) and $500,000.00 notes ($4.7 million total).
In 2014 we took out a $3.65 million note to pay for repaving Ford Road, replacing a Highland Road culvert and for the Miner Road project….
We spent $1.2 million on Ford Road.

We are including some additional money for $500,000 in road improvements.

At the end of 2016 when the notes come due we can look for more (borrowing) for Highland Road (water main replacement project), pay some of it down or bond it (the debt) out.”

Councilman Bob Mastrangelo (M) understood the strategy but questioned the figures.
He focused on the fact that the city won’t actually be picking up the entire cost pay for the entire Miner Road project.
That led to this exchange with Finance Director Joe Filippo (F).

M: Why are we getting a note on the $1.8 million that will be refunded   (through an already awarded county grant and 0% interest loan---0% being a better rate than the note interest rate)?
F: We need the money to pay off first.
    The county award is a reimbursement.
    We have to spend the money to get the (county) money. 

M: We do have the money (to cover the $1.8 million) in the General Fund.

F:  This way, at the end of the year will we have a $1.8 million in the Capital Fund.

Mastrangelo’s point?

Does it make sense to borrow money and incur interest costs for the $1.8 million county award when the city has more than enough money to cover that cost during the relatively short pre-reimbursement period?

Both the Mayor and L&F recommended the deal…so their answer, clearly, is Yes.

MAYFIELD SCHOOLS:

STILL NOT STEPPING UP TO THE SERVING LINE

The Mayfield High School tennis teams took it in the shorts several years ago, thanks to the “Wildcat Park” football stadium boosters.

The high school tennis courts were ripped out to make room for a new stadium parking lot.
“Wildcat Park” phase 2, currently underway, focuses on adding a party pavilion at the stadium.

Replacing the tennis courts clearly isn’t a priority for the Mayfield School Board or the “Wildcat Park” booster crew.

In order to keep the teams going, Mayfield tennis players have been trekking over to, and using, the tennis courts at our Community Park.

The Mayfield Schools haven’t paid a dime for its priority access to, and use of, the taxpayer-maintained Highland Heights tennis courts.

On Tuesday night, Recreation Director Dave Ianiro asked for Council’s OK to advertise and accept bids to resurface all 8 tennis courts.

Ianiro said:

They were last done 15 years ago.
We only have a certain time frame to get them done.
Mayfield (schools) use them in the spring and fall.

Ianiro said that he had spoken to the Mayfield Athletic Director.
He told Council members:

 “…they are going to assist on different things we do to improve the park. 
We have to put in some Porta-Potties (for the tennis players) because the bathrooms aren’t open yet.
They (Mayfield Schools) will assist with payment for that.
It’s a minimum cost, but it’s a start for them to start paying for the cost of (the school’s) using (the tennis courts) in fall and spring.”

Well that's certainly one way to look at it.

If the Mayfield Schools really wanted to step up to the serving line they’d pay for resurfacing the tennis courts, not renting some cheap portable toilets.

After all, the community tennis courts now function as the Mayfield Schools' Tennis Stadium, and will continue to do so for an unknown number of years to come.

FAREWELL JEAN BUCHAK!

Mayor Scott Coleman and Council members gave a nice farewell to Jean Buchak on March 24^th.
Buchak served as Clerk of Council for the last 33 years.

They apparently took her by surprise.

When Council President Cathy Murphy began reading a “Resolution of Appreciation” in her honor, Buchak---who usually types every Council resolution—asked:

Where did you get that?

Buchak started working for the city in 1964.
Her first job was police clerk.
She became the city’s first police dispatcher and later retired (before being rehired by the city) as Police Chief Jim Cook’s secretary.
Cook commented:

She’s been great to work with.
She taught me a lot.
It’s been an honor to be with her.

He then added with a laugh:

I don’t know if I’d call her my secretary. She was more telling me what to do.

Councilman Ed Hargate remarked on the tumultuous times that marked Buchak’s beginning year as Clerk of Council:

The Resolution (of Appreciation) mentions that Jean was first appointed (as Clerk of Council) on a temporary basis.
The reason why is that the position had become a political football.
(Former) Mayor Tom Hughes was running for reelection against 3 members of council.
There was a need for someone who was above politics and someone who was able to work with everyone.
It is a testament to Jean that she was always able to work with everyone and was above politics.

 Mayor Scott Coleman shared this anecdote:

I remember my 1^st council meeting (20 years ago).
I didn’t say a word.
I remember walking out and Jean came up to me and said, “ Good job tonight.”
I told her I didn’t say anything 
“Don’t worry,” she told me, “you will”.

Every Council member wished her well.
When the accolades ended Buchak demonstrated her noted good humor, commenting:

I think I’ll keep this (meeting) recording. I’ve never had a nicer one.

Jean Buchak's (with flowers) Council Farewell
front(L to R): Lisa Stickan, Ann D'Amico, Jean Buchak, Chuck Brunello
rear (L to R): Ed Hargate, Scott Coleman, Cathy Murphy, Leo Lombardo, Bob Mastrangelo, Tim Paluf

President Cathy Murphy (in pink) insisted on a "funny" picture to mark the occasion

CITY HALL GETS SPIFFED UP

There’s been a lot of work going on at City Hall.
A new HVAC system has been installed.
The public bathrooms outside the Council Chambers have been renovated and made ADA-compliant.

Walls have been painted, new furniture has been ordered, and new rugs installed.
Here are a couple snapshots showing the spiffy results.

Newly painted and carpeted inner office area

A new dining area for city hall staff

Renovated City Hall conference room

BIDDERS HOT FOR HIGHLAND HEIGHTS

There is going to be a good deal of major infrastructure work going on in the city this year and next.
First up: an extension of the Alpha Drive sewer line.
According to engineer Brian Mader, the city did quite well bidding that project out.

9 companies submitted bids for the work.
The winner?
Longo Sewer Construction Company.
Winning bid? $100,461.

6 companies have taken out bid packets for the city’s next project:  the widening  and repaving of Miner Road.

FORECLOSURES DOWN
Building Commissioner Dale Grabfelder gave some good news to Council on March 10^th: foreclosures were down in the city last year:

“There were only 10 foreclosures (in 2014) versus 38 in 2013.
Most of them (the city’s foreclosed homes) have sold.
They sell very quickly after they go on the market.”

THE TIMES THEY ARE A’CHANGING
COMMUNITY DAY WITHOUT CARMELINA…?!

Councilman Chuck Brunello is once again heading up the planning for this year’s Community Day event.
He told Council that his committee is exploring the idea of adding food trucks to the culinary mix.
Brunello also dropped a bombshell:

"Carmelina is retired….at least from doing festivals."

So for the first time in quite a long time, there will be no Carmelina to wow the crowd this July 25^th.
No doubt that will come as a huge disappointment to her devoted fans.

NO NEW IDEAS: DEER CONTROL
Council President Cathy Murphy recently attended an area-wide meeting.

The topic: urban deer management.
Her impression:

“There were a lot of handouts.
I can’t say the meeting had a lot of substance.
It was a little disappointing there.
It was well attended. Close to 80 (people) or so.
They didn’t seem to offer a lot of substance.”

Murphy said she intended to sit down with Mayor Scott Coleman and go over the meeting items with him, to see if they could come up with anything to bring to Council on the deer overpopulation issue.

BISHOP ROAD ACCIDENT
I live on a short cul de sac street off a major city thru-street.
The wail of sirens and the rumble of traffic are constant and familiar sounds to residents like me, who live near or along Bishop Road.

A week ago the sirens stopped at the end of my street.
Soon neighbors were phoning neighbors, checking in and passing along the news.
You didn't read about it in the Sun Messenger.

An eyewitness said that a south-bound driver suddenly veered across the northbound lane of Bishop Road, crossed Hawthorne Drive, and ended up plowing into a tree.
Emergency responders used the "Jaws of Life" to remove her from the car.
I was told that the driver, a woman, was wounded but talking before being transported to the hospital.

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS GREEN TASK FORCE
DISCUSSES FRAC DRILLING

 

Alsion Auciello, a spokesperson for Food and Water Watch, will be the featured speaker at the Green Task Force's upcoming April 1st meeting.
Her topic: "frac" (fractional) drilling in Ohio.

The environmental impact of frac drilling is no April Fool's joke.

Frac drilling involves using water, sand and chemicals (some toxic) to fracture shale rock deep underground to release trapped gas, oil and other substances.
Not all of the frac fluid returns to the surface, and released gas can travel underground along fissures in the rock.
The house explosion in Bainbridge is an example of what can go wrong when frac drilling is undertaken in urban neighborhoods.
Ohio has halted the use of some old wellsites as "production water" (i.e. drilling byproduct) disposal sites due to earthquake risk.

The meeting notice states that Ms. Auciello:

"...will be traveling from the Cincinnati area to share with us what is fracking and where is it happening in Ohio?
Why has Ohio become a regional dumping ground for the toxic, radioactive waste from fracking?
What policies have been implemented to regulate the oil and gas industry?
Learn the answers to these questions and, most importantly, find out what you can do on the local, state and national level to help stop this dangerous and shortsighted energy policy."

The meeting is Wednesday April 1st, 7 to 9pm, Highland Heights Community Center.

OUT OF THE LOOP…!?

The February 24th Council meeting began with a gift presentation.

And what a gift….

Several representatives from University Hospital (UH)---including the EMS director---presented the city with a “Lucas Chest Compression System,” an automated device that, according to them, “does perfect CPR”.
The device is used by emergency medical personnel on patients in cardiac distress.
Fire Chief Bill Turner commented:

“It’s a $15,000 piece of equipment….
It is as beneficial to us as to the patient. It’s truly a benefit to our (fire) personnel. It frees up the firefighter in the back of the rescue squad (vehicle). It allows him to be seat belted in (during transport).”

Turner mentioned, in passing, that the city (which previously had a close affiliation with the Cleveland Clinic) was now partnering with UH.

That comment clearly caught some on Council by surprise.

Councilman Bob Mastrangelo asked:

"The city is switching services to University Hospital from the (Cleveland) Clinic?

Maybe that memo got lost in the mail…

Turner explained:

“We were approached by UH and they made a proposal that was hard to pass up.
They offered not just equipment, but also ongoing training and access to their emergency department.
It does not change our operation, where we take patients...
We transport (to hospitals) based on patient choice if the patient is stable.

Today all cardiac and trauma cases go to (Clinic-affiliated) Hillcrest Hospital. That’s state law (based on Hillcrest’s trauma level  certification).
As Ahuja Medical Center (in Beachwood) continues to grow, more residents are UH users.

It’s still patient choice or medically the best service.”

Councilwoman Ann D’Amico asked Turner whether the city transports residents to hospital main campuses (downtown).
Turner responded:

"We will transport to main campuses.
We charge for transportation. If someone pays for the service, we owe it to them. …But they have to be (medically) stable.
There is a financial issue.
For them to get transferred again (if we bring residents to a hospital not of their choosing), their insurance will not pay for that.
We try to provide best service we can.”

Of course they do. …
They are the Highland Heights Fire Department.

REGISTERING COMPLAINTS
ABOUT THE GIANT GARBAGE TOTERS

At the same meeting, a Glencoe Lane resident shared his concerns about the giant toters which are required under the city’s new automated garbage contract

The fast-tracked contract that 4 Council members recently approved.

The resident told Council:

“I am 78 years old. ….15 yrs ago I had bypass surgery…
Let me tell you what I do now (with my garbage).My driveway is at an angle.

 I put my garbage in my car, drive down to the end of my driveway and leave it there.

What you are asking is more difficult for me to do….It will be dangerous in the winter.

I would like to see if it (the requirement that he use a giant garbage toter) could be modified …or if I can continue to put 2 bags (of garbage) in my car so I can drive them to the curb and put them there..I am asking for an accommodation for my disability.”

Speaking in the first person, Council President Cathy Murphy replied,

“I have always intended that this be addressed on a case by case basis.
Please provide your name and phone number to the Clerk of Council.
We will try to be in touch before system is rolled out.”

 Residents wanting or needing an exemption from the giant toter requirement now know what to do:

Get your name on the Clerk of Council's exemption list..

Contact information for the Clerk, Jean Buchak:

440 461-2440, ext. 151 jbuchak@highlandhts.com

And if anyone gives you a hard time about putting your name on the list, tell them:
You are just doing what the Council President told residents to do.

Of course one resident had a different idea for dealing with the giant toters.
She proposed that residents park them at the Council President’s house (or the home of their ward Council rep) during the mandatory 60 day shakedown period….

Do you suppose that would get the message across?

CONGRATULATIONS AND BON VOYAGE
JEAN BUCHAK
If you want to get on Council Clerk Jean Buchak’s NO GIANT TOTER list you need to act fast.

After 50 years working for the city, Buchak is set to retire at the end of March.

Council will advertise the part-time position.
Resumes can be sent to Council President Cathy Murphy.

Act fast.
Council will be discussing filling the position during an executive session at a special meeting next Wednesday.

LET THEM DRINK….AND I DON’T MEAN WATER

Law Director Tim Paluf told Council on February 24^th that the new Chipotle (being constructed on the former Walt’s BP site, Wilson Mills and Alpha Drive) has applied for a beer license.
Residents will be able to sip beer and Margaritas on an outside veranda this summer-----

That is, if summer ever comes....

Paluf also reported that Grindburger’s (Wilson Mills and Brainard) liquor license (presumably the one originally owned by Catalano’s) doesn’t allow hard liquor to be served on Sunday.
Not a good thing for a restaurant…

And how old fashioned is that?

Residents will have to approve expanding the license.
No doubt Council will be asked to place an issue on the ballot allowing 7 day full liquor service at the restaurant.

If not, Grindburger can petition to get the issue before voters this fall.

UPCOMING CITY EVENTS:

March 14^th, 11 am to 1 pm. HHts. Fire Department Open House. Everyone welcome.

March 14^th, 10 am to noon. Community Center. Family Easter party. Fee charged.

May 4^th, 7 pm, Community Center. Community discussion of city flooding and drainage issues.
May 15^th. Noon. Community Center.  New garbage contract informational meeting.

May 20^th. 7 pm. Community Center. New garbage contract informational meeting.

July 25^th. Community Day (also Councilwoman Lisa Stickan’s wedding day---congrats and best wishes!)