Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Mayor Susan Drucker and Councilman Bill Mooney cautioned residents that a project to spend roughly $1 million to improve the railroad bridge has not been finalized.
Mayor Susan Drucker and Councilman Bill Mooney cautioned residents that a project to spend roughly $1 million to improve the railroad bridge has not been finalized. Speaking during Monday's council meeting, the officials said that the project, which has received some criticism from residents as wasteful spending, is still in the idea stage. The project has been referred to the finance committee, and is essentially put on hold until it can be discussed during the city's budget hearings. "Nothing has been approved," said Mooney, who is chairman of the finance committee. "We are a long ways from spending $1 million on a bridge project." The project, estimated to cost about $950,000, received an unanimous thumbs up by the safety committee. The…
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Do you support a proposal to spend nearly $1 million for aesthetic improvements to the SOM Center Road railroad bridge? Take our poll!
City officials are considering a project to enhance the look of the railroad bridge in the center of town. The project, estimated to cost about $950,000, received an unanimous thumbs up by the safety committee and will be considered by the finance committee during budget planning for next year. Finance Committee Chairman Bill Mooney has questioned whether the project is a good way to spend taxpayer money. Former Solon Mayor Bob Paulson has also spoken out against the idea. Supporters say the project would be done in phases and is a key and final step to the city's master plan in the center of town. The plan is to reface the retaining walls beneath the bridge and create a sort-of false facade that would improve the look of the bridge but …
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Former Solon Mayor Bob Paulson told city council members they should rethink a proposal to spend nearly $1 million for aesthetic improvements to the SOM Center Road railroad bridge.
As city officials consider a project to enhance the look of the railroad bridge in the center of town, a former city official wants them to throw the idea on the scrap heap. Former Solon Mayor Bob Paulson spoke out against the idea during the Oct. 15 City Council meeting and urged council members to slow down and reconsider. The project, estimated to cost about $950,000, received an unanimous thumbs up by the safety committee and will be considered by the finance committee during budget planning for next year. Paulson said there are better ways to spend taxpayer money. "How many constituents have ever come to you and said we really need to spend $1 million on that railroad bridge?" Paulson said. WHAT DO YOU THINK? Head down to the bottom …
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Members of the Solon safety committee voiced their approval for the roughly $1 million project to re-face the old railroad bridge over SOM Center Road and install electronic message boards.
Solon safety committee members voiced their support Wednesday for a $1 million project to beautify the old railroad bridge over SOM Center Road. The committee unanimously passed the project onto the finance committee for its consideration. The plan is to consider the project during budget discussions for next year, and perhaps complete it in phases, with fixes to the retaining wall first, then improvements to the bridge and finally installation of electronic message boards, to replace the signs community groups often hang on the bridge. The project has been under discussion for some time, and is the final part of the city's master plan for the central part of town. The facade improvement are designed to make the bridge and the retaining …
Friday, July 13, 2012
Plans include building a false facade to improve the look of the bridge over SOM Center Road. Electronic signs would be included on both sides of the bridge.
City officials are exploring plans to revamp the old railroad bridge over SOM Center Road and turn it into a proper entranceway into the city. The plan is only in a concept stage and will likely be modified as officials study it more, said Mayor Susan Drucker, who introduced it this week before the safety committee at City Hall. The concept calls for building a false facade on the bridge with a decorative steel arch with "Solon" in the center. The false facade would appear to be part of the bridge. Two electronic signs would be displayed on each side of the bridge so cars heading in both directions could see the signs. The retaining walls along the road would also be revamped with brick, Drucker said. Drucker said she hopes to bring …
Jacki Calavitta
3:13 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Only a team of idiots would think this idea merits a serious discussion. Well..... At the same time, our extremely competent school treasurer releases a report stating that property tax revenues, due to declining real estate valuations, will not keep pace with school budgets in the five-year forecast despite ongoing belt-tightening. Where the heck are our community's priorities, and why is City … more ›