"LIVIN' ON THE EDGE" aerosmith

As I walked in to Monday's council meeting I saw some of the "regulars" sitting in the back row were Mr. and Mrs. Hal Werner. I took in at a quick glance that Hal's wife Barbara seemed quite stressed. In addition, neither of their children attended. They read their statements and  left after the visitor portion.

During the visitor time, both got up and read from prepared statements regarding the situation their family is facing because of living next to Jackie's Bar. Among the allegations were observing a woman having sex in the parking lot, customers urinating on their property, loud noise, motorcycles, and cars doing  "donuts" in the parking lot. Hal also mentioned a death threat against the Werner family. Now, I have no way of knowing if this is true or not, but it appears true to Hal. This situation could turn ugly very quickly under the wrong set of circumstances.

I worry that the Werner’s do not believe anyone of authority takes their issues seriously. It's past the time for attorneys, it's time the city manager and police chief sat down with both parties and aired it out before someone decides to take things into their own hands.

I have been told councilperson Lori DiNallo has even tried to negotiate a truce.

I'll be the first to tell you I have no idea if the Werner’s even have legitimate concerns but this sore seems to have festered for the past three years and the time to end it is way past due.

I don't want to be an alarmist but take my word for it I wasn't the only person uncomfortable at Mondays meeting.

"2+2=5" radiohead

Well it seems I got schooled in AMP-OHIO/Painesville math at last nights meeting. Although I have over a year and a half of Prairie State invoices looking at me right now that add to over $900,000 Mr. McHugh informed us last night that presently Painesville only owes AMP-OHIO a little less than $350,000 in "levelization costs? I was off $600,000? Well AMP-OHIO took participants money and purchased bonds for if a "rainy day fund" if there were unexpected costs with the Prairie State plant, well those funds {your} funds were used to pay levelization fees. Great but what happens now if the plant suffers a major problem? So if everyone was honest those funds all came out of participants money. Interesting math lesson though.

Now a better one Mr. McHugh explained was AMPGS Meigs county. AMP-OHIO claims even adding "stranded costs, interest and litigation AMP-OHIO expects to refund Painesville $500,000 of the 2.1 million dollars we sent them in December of 2012. Wonder if they will pay interest to us on the $500,000? To say presently I am skeptical is an understatement. I will be happy when the check arrives but lets hold the confetti until it does. The numbers just don't add up.

Finally he explained  "peak shavings" now first off no one sends Painesville a 4 million dollar check. But AMP will tell us in advance to fire up our turbines for "5" special days and if the plant operates at full capacity of 35MW/H on those days we will see a saving of 4 million dollars.  Why 5 days not 3 or 10,15 I guess the secrets in the sauce.

Again the ordinance of making buyers responsible for pass due utility bills came up. No one wants any input from the housing task force. Heck Councilman DeLeone believes these homes are such bargains a utility bill is a small price to pay? I going to tell you what's probably going to happen, real estate agents are going to turn potential buyers away from a Painesville purchase, it just isn't worth the headaches.( Presently the city can't even decide if a property is abandoned or not? There method is the water bill?

Heisley Park residents were not greeted with good news when it concerns the siding along Heisley Park. Yes CSX wants to be a good neighbor .... but if we need that siding we will use it. They even suggested the city build a "buffer". In other Heisley Park news a resident claimed a city official told there HOA that they better do more with the stormwater situation or the city would sue the HOA. Good luck finding that official.

Community Development gave a presentation on the new CVS at the corner of Erie, State and Jackson.

On a final note tomorrows or Thursday post will probably be the most controversial one ever on the blog.
If you get a chance view the visitor section of last nights council meeting 04/21/14. Now the clerk of council is attending a meeting so I don't even know if the new video will be up. Very troubling.

"COUNCIL MEETING 04/21/2014

Only one item on the agenda.
Ordinance amending sec. 167.07  (second reading)

A presentation by Tim Miller with Lake County Stormwater Management.  Hope a council member asks whywe hadn't joined earlier?

Also Jeff McHugh will give a presentation on Prairie State Energy Campus.
Maybe he can tell us our present "levelization" costs?
Along with are we responsible for how much of the 8.5 million in litigation costs when it comes to AMPGS Meigs County?

Assistant Manager Doug Lewis will give a presentation on the CSX Heisley Park situation.
I've read the letter from CSX and it was a quite interesting response.

7:30 Monday

"EASTER 2014"

I hope you all enjoy your Easter Weekend, remembering the true meaning of this Holiday.

Also let's keep our fingers crossed that yes Spring has arrived.... FINALLY!

As a friend always tells me "Have a Blessed Day."

"LAWYERS IN LOVE" jackson browne

Seems the residents in Bowling Green had an interesting meeting at Mondays AMP-OHIO traveling roadshow.
I guess they the AMP executives took many questions from people in attendance.

John Bentine counselor for AMP explained that the loss of the lawsuit to Bechtel has already cost $ 8.5 million to date in legal costs. One guess who's on the hook for those costs? Forget the interest costs what about these legal fees? Litigatin' ain't free boy!

AMP also said that of 12/31/13 they had borrowed $7 million on their line of credit for "levelizing" the cost of Prairie State ( they apparently ran out of reserve and contingency funds from bonds that they were using for levelization.)

Now the Prairie State plan for all the souls involved.

IF Prairie State can run at a perfect capacity factor (88-90%) for the near future they will charge shareholders $73/MWH this year hardly a bargain, the going rate is less than $50/MWH. Now if they CAN'T reach those numbers at the end of 2014 Prairie State communities will have to payback whatever is owed.

At the last council meeting I don't believe it was made clear the amount owed AMP-OHIO was for that month and not a running total of what Painesville currently owes. I will try to give you a running total though March of this year.

******************************************************************************

Best estimation presently Painesville City owes AMP-OHIO $960,000 + in levelization
  Get the checkbook ready!

'RIDERS OF THE STORM" doors

Well it's mine a few days watched the Sandy Point  report twice and have read the report.

I guess my first question would be since 2006 why haven't some of these processes already have been in place?

Level II funding with the county. Tiber Creek being the largest means of stormwater in the city. Why hasn't it been cleaned from one end to the other as well as it's tributaries? The city need to have a clear vision for stormwater capital investment. Individualization of the resources available to Painesville. Maintenance of stormwater system is preformed infrequently throughout the city. This along with poor permit compliance and management.

Many suggestions have been made. As a resident that watched the construction of the Huntington Park water detention basin and to this day listen to residents in the Hine Ave. Skinner Ave. North Ave. still complain of flooded basements, and yards I have to question the logic of what was the purpose of this detention basin. Same with residents on the southside of town constantly reminding the city about even in the heaviest downpours the retention  pond in from of Heritage Middle School never has more than an inch or two of water.

I guess the best name for this report would be "Let's Close The Barn Door Now That the Horses Have Left" an example;

Cedarbrook area lets add two schools, a development called Brentwood, another called College Hills,
add a new housing development Liberty Greens. and not add one bit of new infrastructure to the system? This style of development has existed throughout Painesville for twenty years. The question remains why?
I also suggest any Heisley Park homeowner read the report as I believe Sandy Points sees a future with water problems in your future.

One suggestion was for the city to rebate program to implement a backflow preventer program such as Mentor has started. This system cost's the homeowner $2,500 but Mentor reimburses the resident $1,500 a good idea , but does this just move the problem somewhere else?

One number that popped out a me was $5,835,000.00 is that what the cost will be to fix this system in Painesville. Presently the city in 2013 collected $427,000.00 in stormwater revenue.
Salaries and benefits:     $127,839
Material and supplies     $ 12,450
Services and charges      $ 64,300
Capital projects              $100,000
Debt service                   $ 87,277
TOTAL                          $391,866   with a surplus of $38,834

The administration as well as council has this Sandy Point study as well as two others Metcalf & Eddy Tiber Creek Drainage Study and the ARCADIS Watershed Study. Please no more studies but some positive action. Sandy Point even suggested the city supply residents with rain barrels. Well it's a start. Along with a new administration that might believe infrastructure is more important than streescapes, red crosswalks, and pretty pictures on electric boxes. Painesville must learn to get it's priorities in order.

"THERE MUST BE SOME MISUNDERSTANDING" gensis

Well Sandy Point made an honest appraisal of our stormwater situation last night. Believing we should join the Tier II county program, adding $1.25 a month to our stormwater fee. One interesting note they made that at every ward meeting residents claimed they didn't trust the city with any more of their money. The city must  rebuild these bridges of trust. Tonight's meeting a Harvey will explain in detail the things we must do as a city to regain control of this stormwater situation.

The Party Center was not addressed, the owner did not attend the meeting.

During the visitor time I brought up something that's been bothering me for about a month. We passed an ordinance that Painesville will not turn on utilities to an address until the former bill is payed in full. Meaning that if Joe Blow signs up for utilities and leaves a deposit  and then skips out on a bill the new owner or tenant will have to pay that bill before utilities can be turned back on. Now I understand the city's desire to collect money owed to them but why and how is it the responsibility of a third party who had nothing to do with the contract between the city and the former resident? The city claim that the county auditor will not put a lien for utilities on the property makes no sense to me.
The city can't use the utility businesses in this manner in my way of thinking, I along with another person in the audience agreed this seemed illegal and had found herself  caught in this situation.
This along with the fact that look at the can of worms this opens up for property owners, new renters real estate agents. Also what about a business that locates in a former business location and is faced with a huge utility bill not of their making?
The city must operate the three city business as businesses and not make rules up as they go along.
Those three departments should not be used as weapons to get something they seem to be responsible for losing.

Another resident claims of the drug trafficking in his neighborhood along with growing certain plants right out in the open? He claimed that Painesville has enough black-eyes without turning a blind eye to this situation.

Oh, and I brought up the renegotiation between Painesville City and Concord Township with concerns to the JEDD. Seems it's secret in Painesville but everyone knows about it in Concord.
Now when I asked who was handling the negotiations for Painesville I was told former city manager Ms. Rita McMahon. When I asked if anyone from the administration or council were on the negotiating committee I was told no? Now as I know some of you believe Ms. McMahon is the greatest thing since sliced bread, I explained to council I for one questioned her negotiating skills. The hospital site remember Zaremba?. The old hotel? The $500,000 Ashlawn Battery Box building? Out promised Urgent Care Center? Along with the numerous AMP-OHIO projects she endorsed. Sorry she not the person I would want sitting on my side of the table.  Wonder if she's doing this out of the goodness of her heart or will the city be sending her a check, or Aislinn Consulting LLC a firm she owns? Why is this being done in this manner no paid administrator or council member? I have been told this agreement might include Painesville spending as much as 5 million dollars to run electricity out to the JEDD now how long will it take to recoup those costs if this is true?
Maybe all this is a misunderstanding?

"PAINESVILLE COUNCIL MEETING 04/07/14

Three housecleaning items on the agenda. ( Maybe step raises?)

Addressing Prairie State Energy Campus

CSX Railroad and Heisley Park


Sandy Point will make a presentation.

One interesting item, a Public Hearing on allowing a commercial building on W. Prospect ( Street  Behind the power plant) to be used as a "Party Center". Well we will at least know where "Sherman" and the rest of the police department can be found on weekend nights?

*********************************************************************

Speaking of Sandy Point

FINAL STORMWATER PRESENTATION FOR RESIDENTS OF ALL FOUR WARDS

Tuesday, April 8, 2014  at 6:00 p.m. in the Hanlon Room at Harvey High School located at 200 W. Walnut Street Painesville,OH

Sandy Point Environmenta lwill be presenting a detailed analysis of what is needed to address the stormwater needs of the City. They will also be presenting recommendations on the establishment of a sustainable, viable and cost effective approach to addressing the City's stormwater concerns.

"KNOCK KNOCK KNOCKIN' ON HEAVENS DOOR" bob dylan

One of the greatest gifts God gives you as you travel your life on this earth is the number of people that come in and out of your life. Some for a short time, school, service occupation some for a short period and some for your whole life.

I met one of those people over a dozen years ago. My physician Dr. Marvin Feldstein.

Growing up I had Dr. Brownstone, Dr. Rizzo and then there seems to be a time in a persons life the only Doctor  you  know are pediatricians. That changed for me when in 2002 I received quadruple heart surgery by some fine surgeons from the Cleveland Clinic. After the surgery it was up to me to find a doctor. My Boss suggested his doctor. and so I went to see Dr. Feldstein. After a short meeting and physical he suggested a regiment of things to do and medications to take. I asked the good doctor why my surgeon hadn't recommended these actions? Doctor Marv answered me "well the glamor boys work their magic on you and then send your rearend to lowly doctors like me to see if I can keep you alive for the next twenty-five years." Good enough answer for me. That began a trip through gall bladder removal, diabetes and damn near everything else that came along. Throughout the years Dr. Marv and I had many conversations about my life as well as learning about his and how his wife and he came to settle in Mentor. Where along with establishing a practice he built the Mentor Medical Building on Mentor Ave. across from the Mentor Library. Going to the doctor was a pleasure. His nurse told me he looked forward to our visit's and I always left him laughing or shaking his head.

My former wife need a doctor about five years ago and Dr. Feldstein agreed to take her on as a patient. She not a fan of doctors came back in a very good mood? Asking her how the visit went she informed me when the doctor entered the room he sat down and the first question he asked her, "what was it really like being married to Angelo?" That conversation lasted along time.

This morning I was informed my doctor had passed. I cried again just as I had when I found out he had bone cancer.

When I meet my maker the good doctor will be another soul I will thank God for bringing into my life.

Somehow I don't think there was any knockin' on a door in Heaven it just swung  open.

"LONESOME LOSER" little river band

"Beaten by the Queen

Well you won't read about this on the Painesville website, Painesville Pride or even the News-Herald.

In todays April 03,2014 Columbus Dispatch, the headline;

AMP loses case seeking millions from power-plant contractor.
AMP sued Bechtel for 97 million in connection with Meigs County plant that was never built

AND LOST!

If AMP-OHIO had won the City of Painesville would have got their 2.1/2.7 million dollars back that we sent to stop possible future interest payments. Sorry the 2 plus million is gone so lets quit pretending it's not council members.

I don't know if council members believed the hype or not but please no more "it's in the courts arguments"....Unless AMP-OHIO appeals then Mrs. DiNallo we would be on the hook  for that cost too.

Wonder if the people who proposed and voted for this failed project would like to come back to council so the residents of Painesville can thank them properly?  No in Painesville wisdom we will honor them and put them in charge of something else.

"KENTUCKY WOMAN" neil diamond

"We got to know you"

Interesting article I ran across over the weekend.

Paducah Power Customers See Higher Bills with Cold Weather, Limited Supply

Paducah Power System  (PPS) customers are facing a financial double whammy of cold temperatures and limited power power supply that's costing them upwards of an extra $100 for one month.

One guess where PPS gets 120 megawatts from? Yes good old Prairie State Energy Campus, Painesville's only on the hook for 10 megawatts.

What made this article very interesting along with a standard power rate, Paducah also has a Power Cost Adjustment although their's seems legitimate. The Power Factor isn't higher then the base.

Yes along with being promised this $72.00 megawatt price even though Paducah could produce it's own power the constraints of the contract doesn't allow it.

Now back to the utility bill Painesville's top number is supposed to reflect  what it cost's Painesville to produce power and the Power Factor to show what are costs are on top of us having to buy everything from coal to outside power sources. If Painesville doesn't produce power in over two years what exactly is the top number and what does it mean? I have heard council members brag that our electric rates haven't changed for over six years, so what the Power Factor seems to change monthly.

Currently Paducah residential  customers  pay .1457 cents per kilowatt hour as a base rate and a power factor of .0359 cents per kwh. See how easy to see under this formula your power price month to month. Paducah will raise the base rate by 5% this month.

Why bring up this now? Well with the stormwater meeting coming up next Tuesday I can only believe more revenue will be asked for on our Painesville Utility Bills, maybe a double on the current stormwater fee, maybe a fee of $8.00 or $10.00. I have no idea but this would make an excellent time for council to ask the administration the opportunity to make our utility bill's more understanding to residents, What relationship is your sewer bill to your water bill ect.

Again as I look at the Painesville City Budget I can't seem to kick these figures from my mind. Did the electric power division lose almost a million dollars last year?

"IN THE YEAR 2525" zagger & evans

Some interesting unofficial reports coming out of Painesville today. Has a decision been made on the old hospital site?

First Pilot/ Flying J has decided to make Painesville it's first site of Flying J Burrito.
Theses will be local hotels designed for our growing Hispanic community. The purpose of these presently 50 Haciendas on the drawing board all over the country is to familiarize families from the south as they make there way through this country. New York to Chicago is a common route. What better position for the Flying J/Burrito then the fast growing city between Cleveland and Buffalo.
All accommodations are designed for between four and twenty people. A Southwest stucco designed building will be used for distinction. Parking will be very liberal. Understand a rally in support of the project was held Monday night? Shipping containers to make up the first phase of the lobby have started to arrive.

Along with the Haciendas  concept First Pilot is looking into another avenue kind of like a "Colonial Williamsburg" for Hispanic people. A history lesson on what brought them here.

A home builder has decided to develop a housing development call Heisley Park Junction. Railfan can purchase  property as close as twenty feet to the CSX  "waterlevel route" main line between Chicago and Buffalo. Also available will be a western view of the Northfolk  Southern main line. This will be a railfan dream come true, as the latest equipment by both railroads will be on display everyday with over 150 train as well as two Amtrak passenger trains.

Midas Muffler, as well Firestone Tire have decided to give Painesville a grant as to NOT fix Painesville streets. Profits of both corporations "PROFITS" have shot through the roof. And as we have been told corporations are people too.

An investigation into the City of Painesville power outage has been completed by the city. No allegations of poor management were found, of course no one was officially asked but that was the conclusion made by people leading the investigation.  The report that Painesville lost close to a million dollars in 2013? "Well sometimes we make money and sometimes we don't".