Tuesday, February 12, 2013
The Solon Recreation Department, Solon Kiwanis Club and the Rotary Club of Solon are partnering to create a permanent safety town at the community park.
Solon has not had a permanent Safety Town to teach city children about safety for many years, but that could change this summer if City Council approves a plan to create a Safety Town at the community park. The Solon Recreation Department, Solon Kiwanis Club and the Rotary Club of Solon are partnering to create a permanent Safety Town at the community park, according to a memo from Recreation Director Don Holub. The safety town -- which would include painted roadways, houses and other city buildings and traffic signals -- would be built where the skate park is now, according to the memo. The goal is to have the new Safety Town up and run for this year's program in June. The cabin at the park may also see some improvements so that it can be…
Monday, February 11, 2013
Solon voters would have to sign off on rezoning the property on Aurora Road before the expansion could happen.
Liberty Ford in Solon hopes to expand and modernize its car dealership, but will need approval first from the city's voters. Solon City Council plans to put a rezoning measure on the ballot in May that, if passed, would allow city council to rezone adjacent properties so the dealership to expand its showroom. The Solon Chamber of Commerce has endorsed the rezoning. At a recent city council meeting Chamber President Jim Kelvington said the rezoning would improve the aesthetics of that part of the city and perhaps improve the chances for new development in the area. But residents of the Solon Park Estates condominiums across the street from the dealership have said they oppose the rezoning because of increased noise and traffic in the area.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
City council approved a pay increase and possible merit bonuses for non-union workers for 2013.
Non-union employees of the city of Solon will receive a 2.25 percent pay increase this year and have the chance to receive a one-time merit bonus. An ordinance for the raises and bonuses was considered Monday night by the Solon City Council. The raises are for all employees who aren't covered by a collective bargaining agreement, including Law Director Tom Lobe and City Prosecutor Lon Stolarsky. The raises are in line with those received by the city's unionized employees, said Councilman Bill Mooney. The pay increases begin Jan. 1. In addition to the pay raises, city council also gave the mayor $25,000 that she can use to hand out up to $1,000 one-time bonuses to deserving employees. To be eligible for a bonus, employees must have …
Monday, December 3, 2012
The Solon City Council will vote tonight on whether to extend a development moratorium on land near Solon Village until after the May election, when voters will decide on their parcel.
A developer wants to build something, maybe a restaurant, on a parcel of commercially-zoned land near Solon Village. But Solon officials plan to rezone the land back to office zoning, which But city planners want to revert the land, once slated to be part of a redevelopment of the Solar Center shopping plaza, back to office zoning. The city expects to send the question to Solon voters in May, so on Monday night city council members will vote on whether to extend a development moratorium, set to expire before the spring election, until after voters have had their say. City Council meets at 7:30 p.m. tonight in City Hall. BACKGROUND Restaurants are not permitted uses in office zoning. Percap Realty Ltd., a former partner in past efforts to …
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…
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
The purchase is part a regularly scheduled replacement cycle for ambulances.
The Solon City Council approved the purchase of a new ambulance for the fire department on Monday night. The ambulance, which will cost $214,181, was competitively bid through the state's cooperative purchasing program. The city will ultimately save money by authorizing the purchase now because prices are expected to jump 20 percent in January. The city has a 10 year cycle for replacing ambulances. This new rescue vehicle will replace one that was purchased in 2003.
Solon Law Director Tom Lobe provided an update on a lawsuit concerning property at the corner of Miles and SOM Center roads.
A Cuyahoga County judge recently ruled on controversial and long-dormant lawsuit regarding property at the corner of SOM Center and Miles roads. Solon Law Director Tom Lobe told council that a judge had taken action in the lawsuit filed by Parkstone Partners against the city, deciding to rezone the property to a denser residential district. In response, the Solon City Council voted 6-1 on Monday night to appeal the decision. Parkstone Capital Partners has been locked for years in a lawsuit with the city of Solon over rezoning land at Solon's northern border. The undeveloped land at the southeastern corner of Miles and SOM Center roads is zoned for single-family homes. But Parkstone, the land's owner, has been fighting to rezone 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 …
Monday, November 12, 2012
GLT Companies is buying a Carter Street warehouse to expand its operations in exchange for an income tax break from the city.
A local company is buying a former warehouse in Solon with plans to hire more workers, and city officials are rewarding the expansion. GLT Companies, which already is located in Solon on Cochran Road, plans to spend $2 million to buy a warehouse on Carter Street. In exchange for a income tax break, the company promises to hire 28 new workers, with 20 of the new employees coming on before the end of 2014, according to an agreement with the city. GLT also plans to retain its existing 53-person workforce. All of the new jobs will be filled by the end of 2020. Learn more about GLT Companies at its website.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Under the new agreement, Solon firefighters will receive raises over the next three but have to pay more for their health care.
Solon City Council approved a new collective bargaining contract with the firefighter's union. The proposed three-year agreement would give firefighters raises each year but require them to pay more for their health insurance. The agreement spans from Jan. 1 until the end of 2015. Firefighters with Local 2079, from beginning firefighters through battalion chiefs, will receive 2.25 percent raises each year during the agreement. But along with those raises, firefighters will also pay more for health care. The details mirror those of the police patrolmen's contract recently ratified by the city council.
tomcody
9:47 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
..skate parks are always destined for failure... more ›