Mayor’s Report, December 18

Topics: Townline Road, McMaster-Carr, Income Tax Revenue, Treat Road property sale, Geauga Lake Storm Sewer Phase III, Save Sunny Lake Committee

Townline Road
The Administration has met on two occasions with Mantua Township Trustees on the paving of Townline Road. On December 7, 2006, the Mantua Township Trustees convened and made a formal motion to jointly apply with Aurora for the Issue II project for the milling and paving of Townline Road which lies in both communities. The Township agrees to pay 50% ($166,350) of the total local share of $332,700 less any in kind contribution of ditching by the Township. The Total project is estimated at $572,700. A 10-year interest free loan will be requested at $150,000 along with a Grant of $98,000 for the May 2007 submittal and 2008 construction year. It is very important that the 50% of a local match between the two communities be achieved to be successful in the Issue II application.The project consists of 7,373 feet of asphalt 20 feet wide plus 3 feet of berm on each side. Full depth repairs where needed will be completed, as well as drainage and ditching along the project. We will use a recycling technique to use the existing asphalt as a base milled into the new asphalt for a stable ODOT approved standard project.McMaster-Carr – Good News
The City’s largest employer will occupy its new 300,000 square foot addition this month.

Income Tax Revenue
The City received its final 2006 payment of income taxes on December 14. The total revenue for 2006 is $9,244,475.

Treat Road Property
We have received a bid offer of $600,000 for the 14.1 acres of City property located on Treat Road. This is a good offer and legislation accepting the offer is on tonight agenda. I would appreciate Council’s suspension and approval.

IF the property and adjoining land can be developed similar to Tara at Barrington, it would benefit the City and Aurora Schools. First the $600,000, which would be deposited in the Capital Improvement Public Space Fund, sanitary sewer, water and impact fees of approximately $1,000,000, and real estate taxes $415,000 per year with $290,000 being the Aurora School’s portion, and $62,000 the City’s portion. TARA currently has five students in our school system; the cost for education is $7,000-$8,000 per student. There would also be revenues to the City in the form of income taxes.
Additional Project
The Administration is recommending an additional project to be added to the “Project Focus” for 2007. There are currently eight projects: 1)Highlands Sanitary Sewer 2)Summerhill-Acadia Point Watershed 3) Leighton-Four Seasons-Walden Watershed 4)Weston Woods Sanitary Sewer 5) E. Garfield Water Line Replacement 6)Geauga Lake Sanitary Sewer Problem (included in the proposed 2007 budget is $168,000 to fix the problem) 7)Cleveland Water 8)SAVE Sunny Lake Park and additionally 9)Geauga Lake Storm Sewer Phase III. I have requested Mr. Trew to prepare an RFP for the contracting with an outside engineering firm. The firm would perform the necessary work, using the FPS design of 2001, information gained since the design, review and consult with the COE and OEPA, and most importantly, residents. To prepare a design and construction plan to alleviate storm water concerns for a large portion of the residents in the Geauga Lake neighborhood.

We believe there will be a quantity of easements required for collection systems, catch basins, channel interceptors and other appurtenances to be located on private property. As I mentioned at the Finance Committee meeting on Monday, December 11, I request Council to consider the funding from the City’s 1998 Bond Reserve Fund up to $1,000,000 to underwrite a portion of the implementation. These funds would be available in December 2007. The Reserve Fund would retain the 43% of the outstanding Principle which is required by City Ordinance.

Save Sunny Lake Committee
The Save Sunny Lake Committee is scheduled to meet on January 10, 2007 at 6 p.m. With the assistance of the parks staff, water samples have been taken on 4 separate occasions according to the sampling plan that was approved by the committee earlier in the fall. These tests indicate a high level of nitrates and phosphorus in many locations in the lake and in the surrounding watershed. Committee members have also completed rankings on the impact and activity goals matrix with results to be reported at the next committee meeting. Bill Zawiski from the Ohio EPA is working with school teachers and students to conduct additional field research of the surrounding watershed.