"YOU CAN DO MAGIC"

Council meeting at 6:00 p.m. all council people in attendance.Good to see everyone back.

Presentation by the head of ZAREMBA.INC. on starting a partnership with the City of Painesville on the 8 acres of the hospital site. How refreshing it was to hear him say he didn't know much about Painesville but the site interged him. Hope hes a quick study. Showed council some other projects he had in Lorain, Garfield Hts., Slavic Village and the near the Cleveland Clinic.
Now here's the rub. The hospital site will hold app. 100 upscale townhouse/ condo.for young professionals. 900 sq.ft. units starting at $185,000. Good -luck with that idea. [I thought it was going to be mixed use] The question is who is going to make that kind of investment in downtown Painesville. Do you build the commerce first or the homes. This project needs work saying you wish it would happen is not enough. Any ideas?

LEEDS STANDARDS a very interesting idea also.Just how committed to the program will the city be?

"SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY"

A special council meeting this Monday June 29,2009 at 6:00 p.m. [note special time]

Authorizing an agreement between the City and Zaremba Inc. on plans for the hospital site. They will probably show council a vision for what they want to do with that site.

LEED Standards for the redevelopment of the hospital site.
These standards will help the city get the grant money to tear the hospital down and clear the site.


Google RDP painesville if you want to see a very interesting business in town.

"VIVA LA LOCO"

Joe Legal vs. Jose Illegal

Here is an example of why hiring illegal aliens is not economically productive for the State of Ohio...
or elsewhere. You have 2 families..."Joe Legal" and "Jose Illegal". Both families have 2 parents, 2 children and live in Ohio.

"Joe Legal" works in construction, has a Social Security Number, and makes $25.00 per hour with payroll taxes deducted...."Jose Illegal" also works in construction, has "NO" Social Security Number, and gets paid $15.00 cash "under the table".

Joe Legal...$25.00 per hour x 40 hours $1000.00 per week, $52,000 per year
Now take 30% away for local state federal taxes.
Joe Legal now has $31,231.00


Jose Illegal...$15.00 per hour x 40 hours $600.00 per week, $31,200.00 per year
Jose Illegal pays no taxes...
Jose Illegal now has $31,200.00


Joe Legal pays Medical and Dental Insurance with limited coverage
$1000.00 per month
$12,000.00 per year
Joe Legal now has $19,231.00


Jose Illegal has full Medical and Dental coverage through the state and local clinics at a cost of $0.00 per year
Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00


Joe Legal makes too much money is not eligible for Food Stamps or welfare
Joe Legal pays for food
$1,000.00 per month
$12,000.00 per year
Joe Legal now has $ 7,231.00


Jose Illegal has no documented income and is eligible for Food Stamps and Welfare
Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00


Joe Legal pays rent of
$1,000.00 per month
$12,000.00 per year
Joe Legal is now in the hole
minus (-) $4,769.00


Jose Illegal receives a $500 per month Federal rent subsidy
Jose Illegal pays rent
$500.00 per month
$6,000.00 per year
Jose Illegal still has $25,200.00


Joe Legal now works overtime on Saturdays or gets a part time job after work.


Jose Illegal has nights and weekends off to enjoy with his friends and family.


Jose Illegal's children have an after school ESL program. Joe Legal's children go home.
Joe Legal and Jose Illegal both enjoy the same Police and Fire Services, but Joe paid for them and Jose did not...

You wondered how people were paying for those SUV's

Something to think about? I'm prepared for all the racist remarks also. TERM>>

"DON'T STEP ON THE GRASS, SAM"

The process for determining who will be chosen for mowing for the City is as follows:

1) Assistant City Manager directed Community Development staff to solicit proposals for mowing.
2) Staff looked in phone book and assessed companies that had ability to mow commercial/municipal properties.
3) Letters were sent to five (5) contractors to request quotes on specific properties.
4) Responses received and reviewed. Two of the five contractors responded. A third contractor presented proposal with no bond insurance after hearing about it at the City Council meeting.
5) Assistant City Manager reviewed proposals and contacted each of the contractors to request additional information. Met with Yardmaster.
6) Assistant City Manager compared proposals and met with City Manager McMahon to review.
7) Assistant City Manager recommended use of J.D. Skytta as primary contractor and Yardmaster as secondary contractor if primary was unavailable, could not mow within 24 hours, or too many lawns for one contractor.
8) Assistant City Manager prepared terms to be presented to primary and secondary contractors.
9) Award letters and terms prepared by Community Development staff.
10) Both contractors chosen were notified.
11) Lawns assigned to mowing contractor by Housing Inspections. In most instances, Ms. Noell Sivertsen coordinated the lawns that needed attention. However, both Ms. Sivertsen and Mr. Michael Dobrzeniecki identify, post and submit lawns in violation of property maintenance ordinance.

I think it is important to understand that the lawns that the City of Painesville has to mow are 6 inches or over in height. Therefore, the contractor must have proper equipment to complete in a expedient manner. In order to minimize the expense, the properties are mowed as low to the ground as possible and the Housing Inspectors do not submit properties to be mowed a second time until they are over 7 inches in height. A contractor or young person with a regular lawn mower would, most likely, destroy their mower on grass this high. In addition, few contractors are willing to provide the $100,000.00 insurance liability bond and mow as directed. There are also large parcels and commercial lots that require a brush hog to mow due to size, height of grass and topography.

FYI. The primary contractor was chosen years ago by the former City Planner, Brian Fanz. The contractor has done a very good job and is responsive when notified. This was also taken into consideration. Please understand that we are more than willing to work with any landscape contractor that has the ability to mow in accordance with the terms developed.

Sincerely,

Douglas L. Lewis

Douglas L. Lewis
Assistant City Manager/Director of Community Development
City of Painesville
7 Richmond Street
Painesville, Ohio 44077
E-mail: dlewis@painesville.com
Phone: (440) 392-5802
Cell: (440) 653-7764
Fax: (440) 639-4831

"ANDY FLOCK TOWNHALL PICNIC"

This Thursday June 25 at Recreation Park is Ward 1 Councilman Andy Flocks annual picnic, Hot Dogs, and Beverages will be provided. Please feel free to bring anything else you wish to share. 6:00p.m. until 8:00p.m.
As always the meeting is open to all city residents.

Although the weather didn't want to cooperate, still had a great time talking to old friends and meeting some new people to.
Two candidates for council were present and they spent the time listening to different peoples concerns. {DiNallo, Murphy}
Someone made a shredded potatoe salad that was out of this world. Along with great side dishes, City Recreation Director Lee Homyock and his wife did all the grilling. Thanks again to both of them and for bringing the citys block party trailer to the picnic.

"START ME UP"

Someone else has tossed his hat into the ring.Well known Painesville business man Richard Tibbits has taken out petitions to run for Council at Large. Interesting.
Someone who knows the facts and is always well prepared. This person will not be a bobblehead and people will learn this soon.

Something to think about, would it give an advantage or disadvantage to Mrs. DiNallo,and Mr. Fodor if the School Board ran a levy this November?

Will John Murphy use the Cleveland Magazine article in his campaign? If you like more of this don't vote for me?

"ON A HORSE WITH NO NAME"

The horse story, an allegation was sent to this post by anonyomous Painesville landscaper, that insinuated that the "quote" system that the city used for the $62.50 per hr. lawnmowing fee was a "quid pro quo" [ favor or kickback] for boarding his horse at a city employees barn that just happens to be the person you must contact. He alleges that no public bid or advertisment was posted and the work ended up in the person who boards his horse at the employees barn for a fee. It is a fact no bids were advertised and this quote could be worth $10,000 a season. The question is why would a mid-level management person be in charge of getting quotes, when were they submitted and how come no Painesville people were contacted? I could care less about a horse my question is how did a contractor in Chesterland know about a "quote" but Painesville landscapers did not? Should maybe the city do as they suggest and "Shop Downtown Painesville."
If any of this is fact should the city ask for more "quotes" NOW!

"YOU FOUND ME" fray

Last night around ten we heard a big crash in front of the house when we went to look we found my daughters car had been struck on the right side amd pushed further out into the street. The vehicle that hit her car had lost control making a right turn onto my street and had clipped the cables that held up the telephone pole at the corner the car proceeded down the sidewalk and hit my daughters car after avoiding another pole. The car never stopped or even slowed down. After calling the police we went and checked the damage, her front end was totaled, and I couldn't believe the car that caused all the damage could even leave the scene. When the police arrived it was determined it was hit by a dark Grand Am from the parts and an eyewitness. I spent about an hour looking for this vehicle with no luck. Today the Painesville Police found a dark green Grand Am with the front bumper replaced and painted, with a cracked windshied where someone had hit their head. Luck? or good police work? Just an officer being aware and doing their job, but if someone would have told me this story last night I wouldn't have believed they would find that car. Stories like this don't make the Cleveland Magazine. Great officers doing a great job. THANK-YOU

"COUNCIL MEETING 06/15/09

I will fill you in on the meeting later today, but before some of you choke on your coffee today. The front page of Tuesdays News-Herald was a mis-print . It should have read expected revenues next year from these funds will be around $827,314, not aloss of that amount. Property tax revenue will be around 8% less then this year.

Someone sent me a comment that I have to check-out before I post it. Any of you that want to place a "quote" next year for the $62.50 hr. lawnmowing contract..... Maybe you have to have a horse that needs a roof over their head to get the contract?
But I will find out if his facts are true, give me some time.

Quick recap of council meeting. The Mentor Ave. Historical District went on second reading, this should pass in July with no problem. Council was given a financial forecast on property tax revenue, it will drop arond 8% or around $50,000 not the $870,000 reported in the News-Herald. Zaremba Inc. will give a special presentation at 6:00p.m. June 29, 2009 on site plans for the hospital property.

Yes I believe someone did say something about shooting some people , and either the Council President or the Law Director should have corrected her at that point. I guess you have to ask them why they didn't. There is no excuse for making threats in a public meeting, and I do understand her fustration. Miller Ct. residents brought a petition to council about a rental problem on the Ct. What I see as the problem is they get rid of problems in the rental complexes and they move the problem into neighborhoods thar never dealt with these problems.
I brought up the Cleveland magazine article and stated it wasn't the quality of our safety forces but the number of below poverty income people, and high rental that seem to drag us down. Again Painesville shouldn't have received the low score in safety we received, and the schools have their own problems. If you read those figures your not going to move here and your not going to sell your property. Heisley Park residents still have a water problem [ Thats what happens when you build on a swamp] Hope they come up with some new ideas.

"IT TO LATE BABY,"

Thought I'd clean up a few ends today.

Last week Asst. City Manager e-mailed me with some information about the lawnmowing of properties. There is no bids but the city puts out for "quotes" This year J.D. Skytta Construction, and Yardmaster had the best quotes. If next year you would like to enter a quote e-mail nsivetsen@painesville.com or call 392-5922. Just a reminder you need more equipment than a 20' Toro, but I see possibilities of a student home from college, or someone needing income to give a quote.

Lake Hospital Systems sent me a letter, plus T.V.ads, full page in the News-Herald. Why? Ask a business person what it costs to change your name, everything from letterheads, signs, you name it. Someone should ask the Hospital Board how this name change has improved healthcare in Lake County this bunch knows how to spend money. If it looks like your area might use another hospital they build emergency rooms at 5 million dollars to keep them from using Geneva Hospital {UHS} but if you have been in a community for a 100 years they ask you to help find 2.5 million to clean up their fogotten site. I'd like to tell them "tear it down yourself" and tell city residents go to University Hospital maybe they might build an emergency room in town?

Anybody read the Cobblestone article in the Lake County Tribune 06/12/09/ I will ask to reprint it. but if you get a chance read it then tell me who "dropped the ball" That article tells alot on how the City of Painesville is run.

Got an e-mail back from Cleveland Magazine, for $30.00 they will send me the figures and facts I asked for. $30.00 to be called retarded or willfully ignorant by some on this blog? Nah, I'll spend that money at the Depot for dinner.

Watch the school board meeting on Ch.96 Dr. Hanlon was asked if the school property sites could be sold? The district Treasurer stated the schools could sell the land sites for as little as a dollar, if they choose to. Thats what I think I heard. My apology to Dr. Hanlon. Well Dr. Hanlon if you payed one-third of the cost of tearing down the building doesn't it make sense that you should at least get your money back for what the taxpayers of Painesville spent to tear it down?

Something I just was sent
http://www.downtownpainesville.org/map.html.

Just to throw in a trvia here in the Meatloaf video "Rock and Roll Dreams Come True" who is the female star of the video?

"SIGNS SIGNS EVERYWHERE A SIGN"

Along with the signs I can't stand the most, "Coming Soon" "For Lease" "Avalable". I foumd a new one down on Oak St. "Unimproved Road Travel At Your Own Risk" Are you kidding me? This in the City of Painesville? Maybe Mr. Lynch should print up a couple dozen more signs like that if thats the way we are going to address this. First street to get the "signs" Lexington Ave.

Then theres the sign of the times.

Cleveland Magazine rates rhe suburbs. 76 suburbs surrounding Cleveland are rated.
Alot of you complain I just "crap" on Painesville well this magazine rated us dead last in safety #76. Education? 54th out of 56 districts {some communitities share the same school district']
I can't even believe these numbers and have e-mailed the magazine to find out how they arrived at these numbers.
Hell, I ready to have a "Tea Party" Who do we hold accountable for the state of the city? Council,Administration,Employee's, School Board, School Administration, Teachers? Truth be told it all of "Us." We elect the same people year after year, who employe the same people to run things and we expect to get better results. To bad it doesn't work like that. Put all the flower pots in downtown you want, do all the studies you want, change the grading system, give prizes to get students to come to school, build all new buildings and your still at the bottom of the list. Why?
How will you get people to make Painesville their home, how will you ever sell yours?
Will your children come back to live in their hometown?
What do you think the chances are of us fixing this?

"THE GREATEST GENERATION"

JUNE 6,1944
D-DAY
"THIS IS THE MOMENT FOR WHICH YOU WERE BORN FOR"

Watched the 65th Anniversary of the Invasion of Normandy and probably the turning point of WWII. The bravery of the American Soldier on that day will only grow as time marches on.
A generation of people that grew up during the "Great Depression" fighting for the Country and away of life they believed in.
Any of us who were not there will never understand the Hell these soldiers went through. I myself have a very hard time watching the first half hour of the movie "Saving Private Ryan" probably as close as you can come to the actions of that day.
Only about two million veterans from WWII are still with us and we lose about a thousand a day now most are in their 80's or 90's Make it a point to thank one before its to late.
My father view on today's soldier? He told me a couple of years ago, about how dedicated you must be to leave the battlefield and return two, and three times as some in the Military do now, no one wants to return to Hell.
He also told me the joy we received after the war when he was guarding German Officers, and their disbelief that they had been defeated by these American Muts. Howe could we lose to this bunch of rag tag drafted bunch? He told me it probably haunted them to their death. Good always win over evil.
Post your stories.

"CAN'T BUY ME LOVE"

Monday night I asked the clerk of council if I could get copies of the last three Finance Committee meetings. Council President appoints three council members and the City Manager, Finance Director make up the committee.
I figured that the city with a budget of close to 80 million dollars these meetings would be filled with useful information on the financial state of the city.

The last Finance Meeting October 6,2008 started at 6:45p.m. was over at 7:25p.m.
The one before that one March 21,2008 started ar 4:30p.m. ended at 5:30p.m.
The one before that was on August 27.2007 which started at 4:45p.m. and ended at 5:15p.m.
80 million dollars a year and less than three hours spent by this committee since August of 2007.

You can draw your own conclusions with these facts, but I have to ask whats the point?
Maybe you people could get together at least once this year considering the state of the economy.
Not that they have any useful information, but I will check into Ohio House Bill 3359.

"ROLLIN' DOWN THE HIGHWAY"

About a month ago GM announced that they were going to drop the Pontiac Division. Oldsmobile is gone, it hurt a little, sorry never owned one. Plymouth left about two years ago to a baby boomer that hit close to home. GTX, RoadRunners, Cuda's, 340 Dusters, 440 6-paks, 426 Hemi's, They called it the Plymouth Rapid Transit System now all just apart of history.
Pontiac gone? Bonnevilles, Grand Prix's, Firebirds, Trans-Ams, and the Great One Pontiac GTO, or as we called them "goats". If someone told me 40 years ago Pontiac would go the way of the Hudson, Packard, Studebaker, or American Motors I would have thought they were crazy. Its just a sad time automobiles were once the American Freedom Machine, now it seems they are just appliances. Gone are the muscle cars, replaced with $300.00 cars and $2500.00 sound systems, visit the car show downtown on friday nites, because I don't think the cars we drive today will ever be missed, or in a car show. Thanks for the memories GM.