Tuesday, June 29, 2010

"WE BUILT THIS CITY ON......".....jefferson starship




Well, attended the cities presentation about streescapes, don't want to be negative but an $80,000 grant to tell us to start small with paint, flowerboxes and trees? And since we live in NE Ohio, where will all the plowed snow go? No one asked that. I have been accused of speaking negatively on all projects concerning the city. I have found it hard to sit in this meeting and look at the situation in a positive light. This plan struck me as adding alot of botox to our downtown. All we need now is a street named 'Assache Lane' and the plan will be complete.

(I made the meeting info as large as I could...if anyone has difficulty reading it, e-mail me and I will be happy to forward a copy...or ask city hall for a one.)

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Are we withholding news concerning Painesville? Over the last few days I have received four (4) e-mails concerning a traffic accident on North State St involving a yellow mid-nineties Mustang. The reports I've received said Painesville Fire Department had to extricate a passenger and the driver (allegedly a young Hispanic man) was seen running from the scene of the accident. Does anyone know any other details about this incident and why are incidents like this not reported in the newspaper? Is this information being withheld for a reason?

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SCHOOL BOARD MEETING WEDNESDAY NIGHT

Not one mention of a levy? Only 35 days lelt to inform the election board, is there a reason for the holdup?

School Board past 16 Resolutions including 5.6 Resolution #10-162 to approve amended Administrators Salary Schedule for 2010-11 wonder what that means?
Because it was a Special Meeting no public forum was addressed.

The Board then went into Executive Session- Superintendent Evaluation.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ "00" DAYS LEFT FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD TO NOTIFY THE ELECTION BOARD OF A LEVY. Ttaking it to the election board Tuesday.

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Thursday, June 24, 2010

"BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER" s/g

JUST A REMINDER;
This coming Tuesday at the Painesville Senior Center June 29 You are invited to a presentation of the downtown Painesville Transportation and Streetscape Plan.
Time 6:30 PM-8:30 PM
Also the school board will have a special meeting at the Hanlon Presentation Room at Harvey at 7:00 PM June 30,2010. I believe this meeting to to discuss a levy for the schools this November. For or against this is the time to let the board know your feelings on the proposal.
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On another note Riverside Cemetery looks well kept at the present time.
As I walk around I never noticed before that there must be special plots for infants and young children. I believe it is in section 7 the north part of the cemetery. How I noticed this was in the last week or so someone had placed small stuffed animals on the headstones I felt this was a very touching thing to do. Thank-you to whoever you are.
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Well maybe over some railroad tracks with a disputed about the amount of trains that use them.In today's News-Herald "Lake County Port Authority gets closer to issuing bonds.The county might spend its $18.3 million allocation from the federal stimulus package.
Now up until today I believed the city had a 99% chance of securing this grant but two things have me wondering now.
First the Port Authority members approved an inducement resolution that shows intent to issue up to $6 million in Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds for Shamrock Town Center on behalf of Forest City Land Group and Osborne Capital Group. [notice how the name has been changed from Shamrock Business Park to Shamrock Town Center]
The project would pay for about two-thirds of the cost to build an overpass in Painesville near state Route 44 and state Route 2 over the railroad tracks to open up 300 acres for, pay attention INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT. Not one mention of the 135 $200,000 homes Painesville council approved to be built there.
An industrial development next to this community?
Today at the County Commissioners meeting two commissioners seemed "cool" to Painesvilles project. Commissioner Troy stated before the bridge should be approved the city should have secured a tenant for that area before looking for funding of a bridge to that location. What I found funny was the city is still selling this area as a Industrial, Commercial area when it has approved a 300 unit apartment[Cobblestone} 135 housing development [Forest City} and a 50 unit assisted living community for the elderly.
You have to wonder if the city manager along with the community development department understand what the word "industrial" means? maybe they do but they need that word to secure the grant?

Sunday, June 20, 2010

"COUNCIL MEETING 06/21/10

Well tomorrow's nights council meeting starts at 7:15 for a public hearing on the 2011 budget. Wonder if anyone has any idea's this is your chance.
The first three items on the agenda deals with the re-issuance of loans the city has taken out in the past, sewer camera, water improvement, Shamrock Boulevard. [the road to nowhere]
Wonder if any councilperson will ask what has been the cost of interest payment the city has made on these projects and what percentage of the general fund does it cost us?
Another item the city wants council to repeal an ordinance that was approved a little over three months ago?
Prepare a new tax budget for 2011?
A resolution designating depositories? lets just send all our money to AMP-OHIO their going to get most of It anyway.
Heisley Park approval for phase 14 and 15. What happened to phase 13? Don't want to press there luck?
Wonder if someone will suggest "ONE" council meeting for July and August? The city's in tip top shape and I enjoy council meeting that last until 11:00 pm. Legislation that must be passed at this one meeting or the citizens of Painesille will suffer.
On a positive note Party in the Park is less than a month away.
Andy Flocks picnic at Rec. Park is this Thursday. Hot Dogs and soft drinks will be provided. come and enjoy the company of others and feel free to bring a side dish.

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Nothing earth shattering at the council meeting. Everything passed, along with the finance director showing us a $700,000 shortfall for 2011, Council President Hada mentioned this is just a rough outline, not to worry.
At the last meeting the city manager claimed the CSX railroad runs about 30 to 35 trains a day thru Painesville and councilman Flock along with others thought that number seemed light. Well he checked with the railroad along with the PUCO the number is closer to 90 sorry CM not even close. One of the reasons everyone should trust but verify when this person makes any statement.

Monday, June 14, 2010

"MY MARIA" bw stervenson

Sorry to all Brooks and Dunn fans.

Mondays school board meeting was interesting. Mr. Dillard explained why a levy was not asked for at the special Saturday morning meeting. I believe one is on the way in November along with a special meeting to discuss it on June 30,2010 at 7:00pm.
The board layed out five options ranging from an emergency levy to an income tax levy. Mr. Taylor also explain some of the other bodies that probably will be asking for money in the next election.
In the public section a school employee was upset about the loyalty issue concerning employees. Yes in good times we're all one big happy family but when times get tough people get downsized, that's what's hard for people to understand, after being smeared with honey for many years.
The new union representative introduced himself.
A lady connected to the grass roots team presented the administration with a very touchy problem.
In last Fridays Lake County Tribune a four page school newspaper was printed and distributed.
I read the story and I even thought this story has no place in a Jr.High newspaper.
the story;
ARIZONA IS WRONG!
By Maria Rodriguez

The new law that was passed in Arizona on April 23rd allows officers to stop people because of their race and ask for documents that say they are legal. The officers are only asking Latinos or suspected illegal immigrants. They also can target people w2ho hire or transport illegal immigrants.
In my opinion, as a Latina I think this law is wrong. The United States is known as a melting pot of all cultures. Mexicans and Native American were already in Arizona and other border states long before there was even a United States. Arizona passing this law really speaks badly about them. This also makes them look racist. Lets not forget that Arizona was among the last states to recognize Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday as a holiday, now the racism is extended to Hispanics. The worst part of this law is that the police are only stopping Latino. There are many more nationalities of immigrants in Arizona. The main laborers of Arizona are immigrants. To get rid of them would be a huge downfall in Arizona's economy.
People are simply judging on looks. In Arizona and all over the United States there are immigrants that follow the laws. There are many that our citizens as well. This citizens shouldn't be asked for documentation if they are law abiding citizens. A lot of immigrants have don't have any other choice than to stay in the United States. Many of these immigrants are looking for a better life for their families because the state of the Mexican economy. I truly hope that this law ends in Arizona and no other state picks up this law.

Who was the faculty advisor? Did he or she ask the young lady if she bothered to read the law? Again this law doesn't even go into affect until July.
Did he or she explain that its not being a racist to want to know who and why you are in this country. Along with it being a crime to be here illegally.
I can not attack the young lady, but wouldn't have been an interesting lesson if she had to take the other view point? Maybe even ask her to defend Mexicos immigration policy. The teacher missed so many opportunities to make a lesson out of this.
One more, give Maria credit that she said in the article it was her opinion. That should have been at the top of the story opinion, commentary, an editorial.
What our our teachers teaching? Well give them credit 50% of the story was fact!
That's all we ask for here.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

"MY HEART WILL GO ON" celion dion

Song from Titanic? I'll explain; first, read this:

Columbus to pay part of power plant fine
Saturday, June 5, 2010 02:52 AM
By Spencer Hunt

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
People who pay their electricity bills to Columbus or as many as 47 other Ohio cities and villages will soon help American Municipal Power pay an $850,000 fine for air pollution.

The Columbus-based utility, a nonprofit cooperative that resells electricity to about 80 municipal electric systems in Ohio, agreed to pay the fine in May to help settle a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The suit alleged that the Richard H. Gorsuch plant, along the Ohio River near Marietta, has violated the Clean Air Act since at least 1991.

American Municipal Power officials also agreed to close Gorsuch by the end of 2012 and to help fund a $15 million energy-efficiency program in the cities and villages that signed contracts to buy Gorsuch's electricity.

Those same contracts require member municipalities to help pay the fine, said Rick Westerfield, administrator of Columbus' water and power division. The city supplies power to about 14,000 businesses and homes.

"It's our understanding that there are some responsibilities for the city under that agreement," Westerfield said of Columbus' contract, which dates to 1988.

"What the exact payment is, we do not know yet."

One environmental group estimates that Columbus' share might be as high as $67,000.

American Municipal Power spokesman Kent Carson declined to comment on the settlement and the utility's contracts. Officials in Oberlin and Yellow Springs, which also pay for electricity from Gorsuch, said that they, too, expect to pay a portion of the fine.

The Yellow Springs contract is so old, said Village Manager Mark Cundiff, that he couldn't find it.

"We had to ask AMP to send us a copy," Cundiff said. "We just received it yesterday."

In a May 21 memo sent to Oberlin council members, electric director Steve Dupee estimated that the city would have to pay $29,640. The amount was based on the percentage of Gorsuch power the city buys.

"We're the virtual owners of that plant," Dupee said. "We are AMP."

Sandy Buchanan, director of Ohio Citizen Action, an environmental advocacy group, questioned why cities should have to dip into their own funds to pay American Municipal Power's fine.

Documents forwarded by the group list Columbus and 47 other cities as "Gorsuch participants."

"They trusted AMP to run Gorsuch in compliance with environmental law," Buchanan said. "If AMP doesn't, then the cities are stuck with the bill? It doesn't seem to me like a prudent thing for cities to agree to."

Buchanan said Columbus buys 7.9 percent of Gorsuch's power and estimated the city's share of the fine to be about $67,000.

The U.S. EPA suit, which was filed in April 2009, said American Municipal Power and former Gorsuch owner Elkem Metals Inc. should have installed air-pollution filters when the plant was repaired and upgraded between 1982 and 1991.

Any payment Columbus makes likely would come out of a $4 million fund the city keeps as a reserve over the $60 million to $70 million it spends each year on electricity from Gorsuch and other power plants.

"We're watching this very closely," Westerfield said.

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Now don't go jumping off a bridge just yet the city manager informed council that we own one megawatt of the Gorsuch Power Plant and our share of the fine will be $4,200.00 I have verified this with other sources that had it pegged between $4,000 and $4,500 hundred dollars.
Is this just the tip of the iceberg that the S.S. Painesville is about to run into? Up until about a week ago I never knew we had an interest in the Gorsuch Plant. What about this 15 million dollars energy-efficency program along with the cost of permanently closing that plant let alone if they decide to demolish it?
Is this just the tip? Here comes Meigs County AGAS what will be our final exposure to that folly be?
At the last council meeting the city manager explained that since the reporting of Nexgen's interest in "clean" energy other companies had approached the city. She believes the 10 year contract with Nextgen Energy is far better then getting involved with a 20 year contract with another supplier. Really Ms. McMahon a 20 year contract is to long for a clean energy contract? Please explain then why you recommended a 50 year contract on a coal plant with AMP-OHIO to council?

Sunday, June 6, 2010

"OYE COMO VA" santana

"Hows it goin"
Here is an interesting read. I like for anyone to chime in. My own personal thoughts are that the illegals are costing the American Taxpayer a ton of money in social services, plus the fact that a large portion of their income is sent back to Mexico.

WHAT IF THEY WENT HOME?
Written by Rita Lingwood
Friday, 30 November 2007

Recently, Tina Griego, journalist for the Denver Rocky Mountain News, wrote a column titled, Mexican Visitor's Lament.

She interviewed Mexican journalist Evangelina Hernandez while she was visiting Denver . Hernandez said, "They (illegal aliens) pay rent, buy groceries, buy clothes....what happens to your country's economy if 20 million people go away?"

That's a good question --- it deserves an answer. Over 80% of Americans want secured borders and illegal migration stopped.But what would happen if all 20 million vacated America?

In California, if 3.5 million illegal aliens moved back to Mexico, it would leave an extra $10.2 billion to spend on overloaded school systems, bankrupted hospitals and overrun prisons.

It would leave highways cleaner, safer and less congested. Everyone
could understand one another as English became the dominant language again.

In Colorado, 500,000 illegal migrants, plus their 300,000 kids and
grandkids would move back "home," mostly to Mexico .

That would save Coloradans an estimated $2 billion annually in taxes
that pay for schooling, medical, social-services and incarceration
costs. It means 12,000 gang members would vanish out of Denver alone.

Colorado would save more than $20 million in prison costs, and the terror that those 7,300 alien criminals set upon local citizens. Denver Officer Don Young and hundreds of Colorado victims would not have suffered death, accidents, rapes and other crimes by illegals.

Denver Public Schools would not suffer a 67 percent drop out/flunk out rate via thousands of illegal alien students speaking 41 different languages. At least 200,000 vehicles would vanish from our gridlocked cities in Colorado .

In Florida, 1.5 million illegals would return the Sunshine State back to America, the rule of law and English.

In Chicago, Illinois, 2.1 million illegals would free up hospitals, schools, prisons and highways for a safer, cleaner and more crime-free experience.


If 20 million illegal aliens returned "home," the US economy would
return to the rule of law. Employers would have to hire legal American citizens at a living wage.

Everyone would pay their fair share of taxes because they wouldn't be working off the books. That would result in an additional $400 billion in IRS income taxes collected annually, and an equal amount for local state and city coffers.

No more push '1' for Spanish or '2' for English.

No more confusion in American schools that now must content with over 100 languages that degrade the educational system for American kids. Our overcrowded schools would lose more than two million illegal alien kids at a cost of billions in ESL and free breakfasts and lunches.

We would lose 500,000 illegal criminal alien inmates at a cost of more than $1.6 billion annually. That includes 15,000 MS-13 gang members who distribute $130 billion in drugs annually would vacate our country. In cities like L.A. , 20,000 members of the " 18th Street Gang" would vanish from our nation.

No more Mexican forgery gangs for ID theft from Americans. No more foreign rapists and child molesters. Losing more than 20 million people would clear up our crowded highways and gridlock. Cleaner air and less drinking and driving American deaths by illegal aliens.

Over $80 billion annually wouldn't return to their home countries by cash transfers. Illegal immigrants earned half that money untaxed, which further drains America 's economy.

At least 400,000 anchor babies would not be born in our country, which cost us $109 billion per year per cycle.

At least 86 hospitals in California , Georgia and Florida would still be operating instead of being bankrupted out of existence because illegals pay nothing via the EMTOLA Act. Americans wouldn't suffer thousands of TB and hepatitis cases rampant in our country --- brought in by illegals unscreened at our borders.

Our cities would see 10 million less people driving, polluting and grid locking our cities. It would also put the "secular progressives" on the horns of a dilemma; illegal aliens and their families cause 11 percent of our greenhouse gases.


Over one million of Mexico 's poorest citizens now live inside and along our border from Brownsville , Texas to San Diego , California in what the New York Times called, "colonias" or new neighborhoods.

The trouble is, those living areas resemble Bombay and Calcutta where grinding poverty, filth, diseases, drugs, crimes, no sanitation and worse. They live without sewage, clean water, streets, electricity, roads or any kind of sanitation. The New York Times reported them to be America 's new " Third World " inside our own country.

Within 20 years, at their current growth rate, they expect 50 million residents of those colonias. (I've seen them personally in Texas and Arizona; it's sickening beyond anything you can imagine.) By enforcing our laws, we could repatriate them back to Mexico .

We invite 20 million aliens to go home, fix their own countries and/or
make a better life in Mexico.

We invite a million people into our country legally, more than all other
countries combined annually.

We cannot and must not allow anarchy at our borders, more anarchy within our borders and growing lawlessness at every level in our nation.

It's time to stand up for our borders, our language and our culture, and our way of life.

Rita Lingwood is a practicing attorney in Citrus Heights, California.
Sources for the data in this column can be found on the Center for Immigration Studies website

http://www.cis.org/

Well what do you think?
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FLASH!
Cleveland Magazine has come out with the June issue that carries "Rating the Suburbs"
Painesville has managed to jump from 76th[dead last] to the 35th...WOW! what an improvement.
What did we do so different? Technical Resue Vehicle? New Police Chief? New E.M.S. squad?
Maybe it was something simple like investing in a "Painesville Magazine" published by the same people who do Cleveland Magazine.
If this is how it works I cannot blame any city official for last years results. The question should be is publishing Painesville Magazine a bribe, or blackmail?
What doi you think?

Thursday, June 3, 2010

"PINK HOUSES" john mellencamp

"Got an interstate runnin' through his backyard...."
Brookside Reserve Subdivision.
Guaranteed to come up at this weeks council meeting.
Now, as a resident of Painesville I'd like to know a few answers to questions that I hope some council people will bring up up Monday night.
Was this subdivision on the "master plan" for Shamrock Business Center? The city spent a lot of money on that plan.
135 homes on 29 acres of land, are streets, sidewalks, treelawns included in the 29 acres?
Again, this location is called Shamrock Business Center. Wheres the business? All I see is a lot of monkey business having to do with apartment and home developers.
Who will be the main contractor and builder?
Has anyone seen a floor plan for these homes?
Who will pay to have all the utilities buried in the ground?
Whats the dimensions of the average front and backyard?
Are basements an option? With multi sump pumps?
"Hopefully" the bridge will be built over the railroad track, what if we lose out on the hope and it limits access in and out of Brookside Reserve? "Brookside Reserve" isn't that the name of a cheap wiskey?
If the bridge doesn't materialize before these homes are occupied, where will all the traffic go....Diamond Center Drive?(which I might add is already pretty congested).
Will there be a solution to the safety issues (fire,EMS) before these people move in? Or will they just be promised a solution sometime in the future? [If the levy passes]
Will the backyards of some of these homes abut the CSX Railroad tracks right where the derailment happened a few years ago, like the picture in the city managers office?
Who presently owns this property? How will it be sold?
Is the Army Corps of Engineers going to have any say in this?
Has anyone discussed this with the Riverside school district? Has the impact on that district been considered and planned for?
Has there been a financial study done to see what the cost in services would be to the city? Has anyone considered how much revenue can be realistically expected and is it worth it?
Just to understand the location: this subdivision will have the CSX tracks to the south, Rt.44 to the east, and Cobblestone to the west with marsh to the north
Along with Lubrizol on the other side of the freeway.
What kind of purchase price are we looking for on these homes?
A hint to our leaders:as we all get older,quality becomes paramount to quantity. Something a 200 year old city should know something about.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

"LITTLE BIT ME, A LITTLE BIT YOU" monkees

Let me first start by saying I have given a lot of thought to the new fire station on Jackson St. Sorry, Painesville I can not presently see raising my property tax $87.50 per $100,000 of property value to build this. The solution in the short term was to help Grand River and Painesville Township man the Grand River fire station.
I don't care what the fire chief and the city manager have told council I could beat them to Cobblestone from Grand River station by four to five minutes every time.
Now lets start with two situations.
A little boy almost drowns in the pool at Cobblestone will that three to five minutes make a difference in the outcome of this story?
A young child is struck by a car at Liberty St. and Rt.84 the intersection where George's Famous Dinner Bell was located. This intersection is in Painesville Township meaning an EMS unit would be dispatched from either the Nye Road station or the Bowhall Road station. Wonder if that childs parents would feel better if the EMS unit was coming from downtown Painesville a few minutes away.
Lets try to co-operate for the safety of the communities. Painesville agrees to be first responders in that section of Painesville Township and they help us at Cobblestone. If its a money issue the communities can sit down every year and work it out.
I'm no expert on how all this could be handled and if there are people out there that know a better way please respond on this site.
Are there any leaders in Painesville with the stature to reach out to our neighbors for the good of all communities in our area?