 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Informative Weblinks
SupremeCourt Decision Rezoning
PCD Charter Amendment Letters
Letters to the Editor 1997
Letters to the Editor 1998
Letters to the Editor 1999
Letters To The Editor 2000
Letters To The Editor 2001
Charter Amendment Council Pres
Press and Light 1996 Coun Pres
Opinion Sept 25 1998 Coun Pres
Opinion Oct 12 1998 Coun Pres
Opinion Nov 8 1998 Sweeney
Opinion October 28 1998 Levy
Opinion December 2 1998 Curfew
Opinion Feb 20 1999 Hill
Opinion Feb 8 1999 Minnick
Opinion May 25 1999 Zirzow
Opinion Sept 8 1999 Hill
Opinion April 6 2000 PCDs
Opinion Jan 2002 Oral Reports
Opinion April 5 2002 Hill
City Council Lobby Session
Council Feedback
Letters To The Administration
Westerly Sewers
Letter From Q Panel to City
Opinions 2004
Opinion July 2004 Schools|
|
| City Council Lobby Session's |
 |
| ||||||
| 6/21/99 Last Saturday there was a public meeting held with Park and Rec. Director Jim Spaulding and the landscape architect for the proposed skating park project. Members of the community were given the opportunity to give their input concerning the Skate Park. In attendance were three people from Avon Lake, one from North Olmsted, one from Cleveland representing a group, and six from North Ridgeville which included two adults gathering more information and one adult interested in a smooth place to in-line skate. Judging by these numbers there is obviously not a huge interest in this project, at least not from members of our city. There is already a place in North Ridgeville called Changa World in Ridgeview Shopping Center for skateboarding and in-line skating and I understand it is a nice facility. Changa World seems to be accommodating the handful of skaters in this town who share this hobby of daredevil skating and biking. I ask you, why would our city want to compete with a taxpaying business? If this administration is so concerned about the lack of tenants in Ridgeview Shopping Center, why are we looking to build a facility that will put that one out of business and create another empty store? I have talked to a number of parents in the past several weeks. Nine out of ten of them feel that a community swimming pool and eventually a recreation center would serve this entire community better then a skate park, which will most likely attract more people from other communities than from this one. Already over $9,000 has been spent on this project. I will not stand by and watch this administration waste more taxpayer money on a project that the majority of N. Ridgeville residents have no interest in. Members of this community need to express their opinions on this matter. This city should give our residents what they want and need, instead of creating these impractical projects intended to "put North Ridgeville on the map." ------------------------------------------------------------ June 7, 1999 The Park and Recreation Department currently has Plans to fill in the swim lake at South Central Park, and replace it with a skating park. I agree we need to eliminate the lake because it is a polluted mess. However that will take away the only public facility our city offers many of our residents to help them stay cool during the hot summer months. A skating park will service a limited number of residents. A community swimming pool will service a large variety of residents of all ages. A pool can offer a large variety of programs for infants to the elderly. Although I appreciate the work Mr. Spaulding has done on the skate park project, I have serious concerns about whether it is right for this community. The estimated skate park price is approximately $200,000. Even if we charge our residents admission to the ice rink, it is likely our tax dollars will be used to absorb some of the cost of running the rinks refrigeration units. Charging admission to a community swimming pool will most likely enable it to pay for itself. A 40’x 80’ community swimming pool can be installed by a local pool company for as low as $250’000, and can offer swimming lessons, swim competitions, exercise programs, and many more activities for all ages. As far as I know the Park and Rec. Department has not issued a survey to this community asking them what they want to replace the swim lake at South Central Park. We need to start looking at what this community wants and needs. I strongly suggest that the Park and Rec. Department do a survey of our community and ask them what they want. This is a community park and should be geared toward all ages. ------------------------------------------------------------ October 19, 1998 At the October 5 Council meeting, Mr. Serazin ruled that Ward 2 Councilmen Allen Swindig was eligible to be elected Council President. He sited Sec. 3.5 paragraph "c" of the City Charter, which says; " In case of a vacancy in the office of President of Council, a new President shall be elected by Council from among those members of Council who have been elected." Mr. Serazin neglected to mention that Section 3.5 paragraph "a" of the Charter requires that "The President of Council shall be a member of council elected from the Municipality –at-large." Based on Mr. Serazin's interpretation of this section of the Charter,it is conceivable that an at-large member of Council can be elected President of Council at the beginning of the Council Term, resign five minutes later, and a ward councilperson can be elected the new President for the remainder of the two-year term. This is not consistent with what the people voted for in November of 1996. It is also not consistent with the Charter Review committee's recommendation in that same year. Floyd Peaco (Chairman of the 1996 Charter Review Committee) stated, "We believe the community wants a person who basically shares the responsibility of city government with the Mayor's office to be accountable to and elected by the entire community, not just one section of it." (Press and Light Sept. 25, 1996) The Issue 6 ballot read: "Shall Section 3.5a of Article 3 of the Charter of the City of North Ridgeville be amended to provide that the President of Council shall be a member of council elected from the city at large, and providing that the effective date of this proposed change shall be January 1, 1998." Although passed in November, the change would not take effect until January, 1998, because the President of Council at the time was a ward councilperson. The issue passed by a margin of 2-1, 5419 in favor, 2451 against. This is not an issue of whether Mr. Swindig is a good Councilmen, or how long he has been on Council. It is about enforcing the will of the people according to the City Charter. By not doing so, a negative message is being sent to the people of this community. Mr. Serazin, I strongly recommend that you re-evaluate your interpretation and do what is right. Please keep in mind that your reputation is on the line every time you make a decision as our Law Director. ------------------------------------------------------------ February 2, 1998 Last year this city spent approx. $200,000 on the enovation of Shady Drive. Council recently approved an expenditure of $150,000 to create Line Dr.. ( another access road to Shady Drive Baseball Complex. ) When line Drive is completed, there will be two expensive roads that lead into the complex which use the same entrance-one that could still feasibly be block due to bad whether or other emergencys. Line Drive will not create a cure for a potential problem. To be truly effective, a second entrance should be put at the opposite end of the park. Line Drive will exit on a curve on Sugar Ridge Rd. at an already posted " High Accident Area ". You will be creating a safety problem, rather then trying to remedy one. You have chosen to spend over $350,000 on roads that lead to a complex that is used a few months out of the year. Line Drive is a waste of taxpayer money, it will create big problems for Shady Drive Residents, and large cost overruns are probable. The road within the complex is dangerous to drive on, and is in desperate need of repair. When will the complex road and parking areas be repaved, and where will that money come from? I feel it is wiser and more practical to spend the money designated for Line Drive on the complex itself. |
| North Ridgeville, | Ohio | 44039 |
 Sign Guestbook |
 View Guestbook |
|
. |