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, 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 …
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Preliminary cost estimates to improve the facade and install electronic signs on the railroad bridge over SOM Center Road to be discussed Oct. 10 at the safety committee meeting.
Improving the look of and installing electronic signs on the old railroad bridge over SOM Center Road could cost the city nearly $1 million, according to preliminary cost estimates. The facade improvement are designed to make the bridge and the retaining walls match the materials and aesthetics of the nearby Solon Center for the Arts, fire station and Veterans Park. It's part of the city's master plan. The electronic signs on the bridge would replace the banners hung by community groups. Here's a breakdown of the estimated costs: The Solon Safety Committee expects to discuss the cost estimates at its Oct. 10 meeting. The electronic sign is designed to "minimize the unsightly and sometimes unsafe condition of the bridge," Mayor Susan …
Friday, September 14, 2012
The city of Solon released a statement saying officials were investigating 'alleged irregularities' at the Solon Center for the Arts under the city's new fraud policy.
The city of Solon is investigating "alleged irregularities" at the Solon Center for the Arts, according to a statement from the city. The announcement comes a week after Karen Prasser resigned without explanation from her position as executive director at the Solon Center for the Arts. The city's statement does not go into detail about what is meant by "irregularities" but does says they were reported to Mayor Susan Drucker and the city council and will be handled according to the city's new fraud policy. City officials are also not talking about the case until a review is completed. Here is the complete statement: After learning of alleged irregularities stemming from the Solon Center of the Arts, a city department, the Law Director …
Monday, September 10, 2012
A settlement conference and, if necessary, a trial in Sally Deitrick's lawsuit against Mayor Susan Drucker has been pushed into next year.
A decision in the wrongful termination and age discrimination lawsuit filed by former Solon employee Sally Deitrick likely won't come until 2013, court records show. In August, attorneys representing the city and Mayor Susan Drucker asked for an extension, which was granted. A settlement conference is now scheduled for Jan. 10 and, if necessary, a trial date is set for March 11. The extension comes after the judge declined to dismiss the lawsuit in May. A settlement conference had been previously scheduled for Nov. 8. Deitrick alleges in the complaint that Drucker fired her because she was old, and that Drucker had an ax to grind against the city's older employers. Drucker countered that Deitrick was unreliable, untrustworthy and bad at …
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 …
Thursday, February 23, 2012
After only one meeting and without needing to hire lawyers, Solon Police reps and city officials reached a new collective bargaining agreement.
Collective bargaining agreements usually take time and involve a number of lawyers. But Solon Police and the city were able to reach a new deal for patrol officers, sergeants and lieutenants without needing any lawyers and after only one meeting. The result, a three-year deal that includes wage increases for officers but requires them to pay more for health benefits, has city officials pleased. Solon Police union rep Robert Bozak asked Mayor Susan Drucker if they could negotiate without lawyers. Drucker consulted the Police Chief Chris Viland and Law Director Tom Lobe, who agreed. After one meeting, they had a deal. That agreement was approved by city council Tuesday night. Drucker said the move saved the city money in legal fees and that …
Thursday, January 19, 2012
David Hromco will be paid $40 per hour, up to $6,000 total, to manage the city's deer culling program this winter.
David Hromco, who is returning from retirement temporarily to manage Solon's deer culling this winter, will earn $40 per hour. The contract with Hromco was approved by city council this week. It runs through March 31, and maxes out at 150 hours. So the most Hromco can earn on the job is $6,000. Hromco will also be issued a city cell phone and have access, if needed, to a city vehicle. The city had to bring in Hromco, who managed the deer culling program when he was an assistant public works director before he retired, after Public Works Commissioner Jim Stanek retired at the New Year. Mayor Susan Drucker said she has been able to spread some of the deer management duties to other employees, but they still needed someone to run it. …
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
In the wake of Jim Stanek's retirement, the city will bring retired employee David Hromco back to manage the deer culling program.
David Hromco will return to city service on a temporary basis to manage Solon's deer culling efforts this winter. With the recent retirement of Public Works Commissioner Jim Stanek, Mayor Susan Drucker asked Hromco to return temporarily and manage the city's deer management plan. Hromco, a former assistant public works director in Solon, retired in 2010. He managed the city's previous deer culling efforts. "He had the most experience with the deer program," Drucker said. Drucker said that since they were in the midst of starting the culling program when Stanek retired, it was "common sense" to bring Hromco in. The Solon City Council will vote tonight to confirm Hromco's temporary appointment. City Council meets at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.
Sharpshooters with the U.S. Department of Agriculture are preparing sites for deer culling, which is estimated to begin next week.
Deer culling could begin in Solon next week. Sharpshooters with the U.S. Department of Agriculture are preparing sites for shooting and could begin on Jan. 23. That start date is an estimate and could change depending on USDA officials' assessments of the sites, said Mayor Susan Drucker. The city will pay the USDA $128,000 through the end of March for the agency's services. The culling efforts will take place on private property and city-owned property that is off-limits or closed, such as Grantwood Golf Course and the sewage plant. Drucker said that property owners adjacent to hunting sites have been notified by certified mail. According to the city's deer plan, Hunters will bait deer and shoot from stationary areas; they will not be …
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 ›