GETTING YOUR MONEYS WORTH........

Alot of the posts seem to think the citizens are being shortchanged by the Painesville City Administration. One caught my attention. "We pay Saks 5th. Ave. prices for Family Dollar merchandise." That raises the question are we being served, by the people at the top? The overall pay package for the mamager and her assistant is over $210,000. In contrast the mayor of Willoughby makes $85,000 a year without an assistant. I agree it's hard to compare apples to oranges, but whats the consensus?

YOUNG AFRICAN AMERICAN PROGRAM

I received an e-mail today about this program at Lakeland College."Summer Enrichment Program" is open to males in the 8th,9th,10th, and 11th grades. The program starts July 7,2008. A bus will pick-up students at Harvey High at 8:00a.m. breakfast and lunch will also be provided. for more information check out;
www.freedomschools.org Thanks

ANDYS PICNIC

HAD A GOOD TIME AT COUNCILMAN FLOCKS CITY PICNIC AT REC. PARK. GREAT FOOD, GREAT CONVERSATIONS AND REALLY GREAT PEOPLE.
T.TORRE WON THE CONTEST , "WHO CAN EAT THE MOST HOT DOGS IN 3 MINUTES?"
SOMEONE IN TOWN KNOWS HOW TO PREPARE BAKED BEANS!

NO "POLYANNIA" HERE

I AM SO GLAD PEOPLE GO ON THIS BLOG. TO GET NEWS OUT, GOOD OR BAD. BUT FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT GET ANGRY ABOUT DIFFERENT POSTS OR COMMENTS ....TO BAD. THIS IS NOT THE "PAINESVILLE PRIDE" OR SOME NEWSLETTER FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT TELLS YOU EVERYTHING IS WONDERFUL! NO THIS BLOG. DEALS IN REALITY NOTHING ELSE. ASK SOMEONE WHO GREW UP HERE OR LIVED HERE 5 TO 25 YEARS AGO, AND THE QUESTION THEY ALWAYS ASK IS
'WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?" THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE SO HAPPY GOD BLESS YOU. THOSE THAT WANT IMPROVEMENT HERES A PLACE TO LET YOUR IDEAS BE KNOWN. THINGS CAN BE CHANGED. I WAS AT A MEETING ONCE AND THE QUESTION WAS "WHEN WAS THE BEST TIMES FOR PAINESVILLE?' A CITY COUNCILPERSON SAID FROM THE AUDIENCE "RIGHT NOW!" YOU MUST BE KINDING RIGHT. ALL I ASK IS CIVILITY AND HONESTY. TO THOSE THAT THIS MAKES THEM ANGRY SO BE IT.

COMMUNICATION COMMUNICATION................

WENT TO THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY AT 6:00 P.M. BY 6:30 P.M. I REALIZED THAT THE LOAN FOR THE SEWER TREATMENT PLANT UPGRADES WERE TIED INTO THE GRISTMILL PROJECT? IF I UNDERSTAND THIS RIGHT THE INTEREST ON THE LOAN AT THE TREATMENT PLANT WILL BE PUT TOWARDS THE GRISTMILL PROJECT BY THE STATE OF OHIO. COMES TO ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS GIVE OR TAKE A FEW $100,000 WHICH WE DO A LOT OF AROUND HERE. NO COUNCILMAN WILL DO ANYTHING TO STOP THE FLOODED RESIDENTS FROM GETTING THEIR MONEY, BUT ONLY A FEW KNEW THIS PROPERTY WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO BE USED IN HE FUTURE.FOR ANY KIND OF DEVELOPMENT, USED FOR CROSS COUNTY SKING, AN AMPHITHEATER OR ANY OTHER GOOD USE IT WILL GO BACK TO ITS NATURAL STATE PERIOD. THE SAD THING IS THIS WILL BECOME A SANCTUARY FOR THE "HOMELESS". WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF YOU CAN PUT A BENCH, TABLE OR A BATHROOM THERE. WE AS A CITY WILL HAVE NO SAY WHAT CAN BE THERE. THE CITY MANAGER CLAIMED ABOUT TWO FEET OF FILL WOULD TAKE THIS OUT OF THE FLOOD PLAIN? HERE IN PAINESVILLE WEVE GOT PRETTY GOOD AT MOVING DIRT AROUND. NOW THANKS TO THE MANAGMENT OF THIS CITY WE WILL HAVE TWO PIECES OF LAND ALONG THE RIVER WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH. DON'T FORGET THAT 16 ACRES BY WINDJAMMERS CONDO'S THAT WE PAID $250,000 A FEW YEARS AGO AND IS MOSTLY UNDER WATER.
ONE EXTRA COMMENT COUNCLMAN FLOCK LET THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CITY KNOW HE WANTS BETTER COMMUNICATION THEN HE AND A FEW OTHER COUNCILPEOPLE HAVE BEEN GETTING. THE CITY MANAGER CLAIMS EVERYONE WAS KEPT INFORMED. MS. BECKS SAID "THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN THIS LETTER?" THE MANAGER AGREED SHE JUST RECIEVED IT TODAY.
I THINK THE RUBBER STAMP DAYS ARE BEHIND US.
MORE COMMENTS AT SPECIAL MEETING.

"GREAT" PAINESVILLE NEEDS A HOOK

PAINESVILLE NEEDS A NEW ATTRACTION TO GET PEOPLE TO COME INTO TOWN. FORGET ABOUT A MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, SOMEONES DONE THAT. SO LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE SOME PEOPLE HAVE A VISION OF AN AMPHITHEATER ALONG THE RIVER THAT GOES THROUGH TOWN. BRINGING MUSIC AND OTHER ATTRACTIONS TO TOWN ALONG WITH PEOPLE WHO WANT TO EAT AND SHOP HERE. COULD THIS REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN PAINESVILLE?

"GREEN" PAINESVILLE CITY SCHOOLS

With everyone talking about conserving energy,can someone explain why at high noon on a sunny day all the lights are on at the new schools? Yes even Chestnut St. The school board will be over a million dollars short of revenue this year, why leave the lights on? Maybe they are solar powered or there is another good reason.

SPECIAL MEETING

THE CITY COUNCIL IS HOLDING A SPECIAL MEETING JUNE 23, AT 6:00P.M. THIS MEETING HAS TO DO WITH THE GRISTMILL PROPERTY AS TO WHAT'S TO BECOME OF IT. I DO NOT HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION BUT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BECOME A "PARK" BUT A CITY RESIDENT SAYS IT WILL BECOME A "PRESERVE". THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE, AND A MILLION DOLLARS IS AT STAKE. PLEASE FIND TIME TO FIND OUT WHATS GOING ON.

"GREAT" PAINESVILLE

O.K. I'LL TRY THIS AGAIN. WHAT MAKES PAINESVILLE A "GREAT" PLACE TO LIVE. PLEASE NO JOKES THIS TIME! PLUS I KNOW ALOT OF PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH DOING GOOD DEEDS IN TOWN. JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T EXPECT A PAT ON THE BACK DOESN'T MEAN ITS NOT HAPPENING.
TO START IT OFF, WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL VETERANS PARK.

ENGINE 2333

This fire truck has served the City of Painesville for over 20 years. Last year during an inspection it was found to have some frame damage [corrosion]. At that time city council was presented with the plan of buying a new pumper engine for somewhere around $350,000. Which council passed. At that time questions were raised on repairing ENGINE 2333 and keeping it for a backup fire truck. The fire chief felt uncomfortable having his men use this vehicle even as a backup because of saftey concerns.So it was decided to put it up for sale, I guess to a community not as well off as Painesville or as concerned about saftey? Well I noticed E2333 was missing from its bay at the fire station and must have found a new home.
The new engine has not arrived yet so the bay is empty. I happened to drive past the water treatment plant at the end of State St. the other day and guess what was sitting out in the field? Right E2333.
We were told that truck was worth $20,000 to $30,000 when sold to another city. How much will it be worth sitting out in the elements until then? Its not like we didn"t have room for it in the station where it could be shown to buyers. No this administration worries very little about a few $20,000. but $20,000 here and $20,000 there might add up to a little saving in a few years.

COUNCIL MEETING GETS "TESTY"

Left council meeting a little more confused than usual Monday night. Weekly this meeting is getting more unfriendlier. Why? Here's my opinion.
Councilpeople get their "packets" deliveried Friday night around 7:00P.M. somtimes they have enough paperwork inside to weigh 3 or 4 pounds. If you are diligent there is no way to go through all that paperwork by 7:30 P.M. Monday night. Most offices are closed Saturday and Sunday, some councilpeople have full time jobs. and must feel thing are shovedown there throats. "This legislation must be passed tonight or we will not be able to apply for a loan." "This is the construction season and we must bid out this now or we will have to wait another year." Well the administration knew when the deadline for applying for a loan was. They knew in March when the construction season was didn't they? Do certain people "run out the clock" on purpose? The people to the left of council president seem to want to be more then a rubberstamp. Which will only be a plus for the city. As a final note over a year ago I watched a councilperson open their "packet" with a letterknife 5 minutes before we said the pledge.

PAUL HACH

Alright I have been getting phone calls and E-mails about this councilman for over three weeks. Some people have speculated that he was instrumental in Madpotter closing her Blog. site. I guess you will have to ask her that question. Why all the curiousity about his dirt? Please do not speculate, ask and offer questions to him. Most people state he was given special privileges, and intimidation was used to get his way. I will let him use this forum to answer questions if he chooses.

RALLY TEAM

Here's a group of people that got together to inform the community about "Illegal Immigration." Once they got their organization in order they became a force to be respected and listen to. [ They wanted to stay anonymous and I for one couldn't understand being so secretive.] This group of people want people to understand that being a United States citizen comes with honor and alot of responsibility. Its not like getting a Y.M.C.A. membership. Laws are to be followed and everyone gets here by going by the rules. This group is not racist or anti-hispanic its goal is to make everyone aware whats going on in this country, and to keep politicians feet to the fire. If enyone knows their web.site let's post it on the Blog.

GRADUATION FINAL NOTE

Listening to the radio this morning "Lannigan & Malone [105.7 F.M ] They were talking about graduation's from Berea to Euclid. Believe me we are not unique here in the "Ville. This is just a total brakedown in "RESPECT". Sad but is their respect that suffers the most.

HARVEY GRADUATION CEREMONY

Have heard a lot of negative feedback on the graduation ceremony. Everything from the National Anthem to all the screaming during the ceremony.
Graduation is something to be proud of, but you didn't find the cure for cancer did you? Your supposed to have a high school diploma.
What you watched was a total disrespect for the whole administration from the Superintendent to the principal teachers and fellow classmates. This proceeding should have been stopped. This will only get worse. Thank God I had Jack Britt as my Principal, and Mr. Hobart as my Superintendent this would never have happened back in the "day". Class counted.

"GIRLS OF SUMMER" ARE BACK!

Girls of summer are back on Richmond St. anywhere between Active Plumbing and Lake Truck.The northern entrance to our city has many young ladies being Julia Roberts wanabees. If you see an attractive one beware its probably a female vice squad officer.

"BRAGGING" ABOUT PAINESVILLE !

People crying in Painesville, front page Newsless-Herald. No and not tears of "JOY". Seems only in Painesville will a Priest stiok it to you! There seems to be a pattern here. Just to cheer me up lets see how many of you find things in town you brag about when your with friends and relatives who don't live here. I need some good answers we have a 40th class reunion this August and I want to explain why I'm still here.

HARVEY HIGHS 140TH CLASS

Congratulation to everyone thats graduating this coming week. How many are their of you? 140 seniors and only 87 getting diploma's. Please tell me my information is wrong.

MONDAY COUNCIL MEETING

It's all about sewers. Cedarbrook residents upset with crap in their basements on Memorial Day, I'm surprised there hasnt been a homicide in that neighborhood by now. Joe and Rita explained about sending a camera down the pipe to find out what the problem is. Sorta like CSI just its SSI. I noted that even before the last rate increase the City had over 2 million dollars in sewer fund carry-over. {No one denied this fact.} So just fix it. Wath the meeting and explain to me how someone can flush a motorcycle battery down a toliet? The person sitting behind me stated why with all these comments Mr. Fountain has not said a word, does he think Cedarbrook Dr. is in Ashtabula? I can tell this councilman is not well, and why he subjects himself to this post is beyond me. Where are his friends?
$120,000 City Manager stated $85,000 Asst. Manager was interviewing someone to run Community Development? They should be interviewing someone to dig that sewer up.
City Manager also stated the State was ready to move ahead with the relocation of Jackson St. and the building of a overpass over Jackson St. I looked around the room and watched peoples bewilderment.
Hal's Resolution still hasn't seen the light of day. I only hope he doesn't give in.
Arlene was speachless?
Andy asked about Mr. Hachs mountain of dirt, and why hasn't council acted on Mr. Murphy? {This ones not going away.} Andys not getting invited to anyones picnic this summer I guess. That property was deemed a wetland how he was allowed to do what he did begs to be answered. Paul type in an answer, I'm thinking about dropping a couple 100 square yards of dirt in my backyard?
Need a bike? go to the service garage Saturday Morning and bid on one. $5 or $10 should do it. Bidding starts at 9;30A.M. Storr St. is at the intersectionof Chester and State ST. Falcones Store is on the corner. More to come....