University Heights City Council meeting highlights 9-24-12
SEPTEMBER 24, 2012
- Veterans Job Fair
- Commercial property rates
- South Euclid-Lyndhurst Recreation move
- JCU Murphy Hall Renovation
- Tax budget
- Solid waste management plan
- Police department honored
- Emergency repair
- Gas line
Council member Phillip Ertel was excused.
Veterans Job Fair
The Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services will hold a Veterans Job Fair on Nov. 5 at Quicken Loans Arena.
Commercial property rates
Commercial property rates seem to be holding steady in University Heights, showing a rise of 1.4 percent.
South Euclid-Lyndhurst Recreation move
South Euclid-Lyndhurst Recreation programming has been transferred to the Hillcrest YMCA.
JCU Murphy Hall Renovation
Council approved the preliminary development plan submitted by John Carroll University (JCU) for the renovation of Murphy Hall, a student residence. This will make Murphy Hall ADA-compliant for 90 percent of the rooms and the chapel. Elevators, ramps and six “special needs” spaces will be added. To maintain the Gothic appearance of the front, the elevators will be built into the interior of the building. Two projections on the back of the building will extend out 18 feet. JCU plans to replace the roofs, tuckpoint, add sprinklers, and put in new windows keeping the divided panes. JCU will seek LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for energy sustainability.
Tax budget
Council authorized the levying of taxes as determined by the Cuyahoga County Budget Commission and certified them to the Cuyahoga County Fiscal Officer. The amount is based on the tax budget and is the same as 2012. The amount will change in 2014 when the swimming pool debt has been paid off.
Solid waste management plan
Council adopted the Solid Waste Management Plan, which includes recycling programs, for the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste Management District.
Police department honored
Police Chief Steven Hammett announced that the University Heights Police Department is one of a handful of departments to be honored by the Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Prevention Center.
Emergency storm sewer repair
Jeffrey Pokorney, service director, announced that another emergency repair had been made to the storm sewer on Eaton Road. This repair nearly exhausts the funds allotted for emergency repairs for 2012, and additional funding might be needed. They have begun grinding out and removing the fifty tree stumps left behind.
Gas line
Joe Ciuni, city engineer, announced that Dominion East Ohio will be running a new main gas line by Cedar and Warrensville roads, to provide gas service to the new Walmart. Some minor traffic and sidewalk blockage will occur for a short period. Business owners will be notified before the work begins.
LWV observer: Wendy Deuring.
Unfortunately the Heights Chapter of the League of Women Voters of Cuyahoga Area is only able to cover one meeting per month of the University Heights City Council due to a shortage of volunteers. We will continue to cover at least one meeting per month and seek more volunteers with the hope of returning to full coverage. If you appreciate and enjoy reading our reports perhaps you would like to help us continue this service to the community by joining League and our Observer Corps. To learn more please contact Maryann Barnes by e-mail (mbarnes9515@gmail.com) or by phone (216-321-7525).
These meeting summaries are abstracted from LWV observers’ written reports. The summaries have been edited and prepared by Anne McFarland, Charlene Morse, and Maryann Barnes. To receive e-mail postings of full reports, send an e-mail to mbarnes9515@gmail.com or join through Google groups using “lwv-chuh observer reports” as a search phrase.
These reports contain member observation and selected highlights of public meetings and are not official statements of the Heights Chapter of the League of Women Voters Cuyahoga Area. This disclaimer must accompany any redistribution of these reports.