CALLING ALL (COMMUNITY) GARDENERS

It’s been three long years, according to Noreen Paradise of the Highland Heights Garden Club, but the Highland Heights Community Gardens have finally become a reality. The 36 garden plots (some of which are handicap accessible) are scheduled to officially open June 9.

There are still a few garden plots available. They are in a very sunny location, behind the gazebo that was erected last fall on the new Highland Road municipal green space. The plots are a perfect size – large enough for planting a variety of flowers, herbs and vegetables, but small enough to easily maintain.

Best of all, Highland Heights Garden Club members will be available to offer advice, support and assistance to residents who, unlike club members, may suffer from a lack of green thumbs.

Residents interested in reserving a plot (for $18) should contact the Garden Club by sending an email to HHGardenClub@hotmail.com or calling (440) 667-7564.

As an added bonus, all community gardeners will receive a coupon for a free pizza dough ball, courtesy of DiStefano’s, Highland Heights’ own Italian deli/bakery (located near the Bishop and Highland Road intersection).

Gardeners will be able to redeem their coupons during “Pizza Week,” Aug. 19-25, when locally-grown tomatoes should be ripe and delicious.

SPEAKING OF THE GAZEBO

It was Lions Club generosity that led to the erection of the new city gazebo. The Club celebrated its 50th anniversary last year by donating $5,000 to the city for that purpose.

Unfortunately the construction job has left something to be desired.
There are holes in some of the gazebo’s overhang coverings, and some of those coverings have also buckled and/or do not lay flat. In addition, at least one decorative spindle panel is either bowed or not properly squared.

Brian Mader, of the city engineer’s office, didn’t mention any of those issues last week. In fact, he reported to Council that,

“The (gazebo) project is essentially complete. They (the contractor) are on notice about reseeding. There is one other small item on their punch list.”

Of further concern is that fact that the company who won the contract to build the gazebo (Monarch Construction) also received an above-estimate contract to construct the new party barn pavilion in the park.

That project is far behind schedule – so far, in fact, that the city engineer’s office hasn’t yet reached the point of developing a final “punch list” for the project.

When that time comes, Mader would be wise to ask Park & Recreation Committee members to join him on his walk-through.

Given what’s happened with the gazebo, their assistance (and extra pairs of eyes) may be needed to ensure that the new park party barn looks every bit as good as the $117,000+ the city spent to build it.
http://www.highlandhts.com/docs/city_council/minutes/2011/09-13-11_council_minutes.htm

THE CATALANO’S/MEGA GETGO LOT SPLIT

 In my last blog posting I questioned the Planning & Zoning Commission’s (P&Z) decision to grant formal “preliminary approval” to a lot split proposed by developer Lance Osborne in connection with his proposed mega GetGo development project.

P&Z’s action was baffling to say the least because P&Z isn’t in the business of “preliminarily approving” lot splits. They only act on formal lot-split requests – and the documentation that Osborne supplied was too incomplete and informal to constitute a formal lot-split request.

Councilman and P&Z member Bob Mastrangelo took issue with my description of the material that Osborne supplied to P&Z last week. I described it as an:

”…informally sketched out, still-subject-to-revision, tentatively proposed lot split”

Mastrangelo showed me a copy of a professionally rendered site plan drawing, which Osborne apparently provided prior to P&Z’s “preliminary approval” discussion.
The drawing provided rough dimensions and used hatch marks to illustrate the proposed lot-split area at the front of the Catalano’s property. That drawing, of course, may or may not reflect Osborne’s official lot-split request. We should find out soon. The request is on the agenda for an unusual Tuesday night (May 29) P&Z meeting.

In any case, I guess I stand corrected. Perhaps a more accurate description of what Osborne provided at the last P&Z meeting would be a:

 “…professionally sketched out, still-subject-to-revision, tentatively proposed lot split…”

FIREFIGHTERS’ KITCHEN

City firefighters work in 24-hour shifts, which mean they eat and sleep in the firehouse while on duty.

For years they have been making due with a small, inadequate kitchen space, and for years Fire Chief Bill Turner has included renovating the kitchen on his “capital improvements” wish list.

A new kitchen will become a reality for Highland Heights firefighters this year. When not attending to their normal duties, the fire staff have been busily engaged in demolition and other construction-related work. The new kitchen is going to be installed in what is currently an eating area and hallway, which will provide a larger work space for those on kitchen duty.  

As for equipping the new kitchen, Turner told Council’s Legislative & Finance Committee (L&F) that he is planning to purchase a “base model” commercial grade 6 burner gas stove and a commercial venting hood – something all local commercial kitchens are required to have. As far as cost, Turner declared:

“My intention is to be well beneath the budget. We will not go over, I will promise you that.”

SERVICE DEPARTMENT NEWS

The service department has ordered new manhole covers in connection with repair work necessitated by sink holes that developed along Millridge Road’s pre-1959 storm sewer lines.

Service Director Thom Evans warned Council that the repair costs could go up, depending on what they find once they are finally able to get cameras down into the storm sewers.

Evans also alerted Council to the fact that he will go over budget paying for part-time workers. Evans explained that he needed more part-time help because of medical leaves and vacation days taken by regular Service Department staff. When asked, Evans said that he didn’t know whether savings from the mild winter (which required fewer snow-related work hours) will offset the budget overage or not.

WELCOME NEW CITY HIRES

Mayor Scott Coleman has been busy hiring new staff for the city.

Joseph Filippo, currently South Euclid’s Finance Director, will take over for retiring Highland Heights Finance Director Anthony Ianiro on June 29. Filippo not only has an accounting degree, he is also a CPA.

Former S. Euclid Councilman Jack Clifford will soon begin work as a part-time building inspector. Before he retired, Clifford worked as a fully certified inspector for the city of Solon.

Jenna Bissel, who has served as marketing and activities director for the Gates Mills Club, has accepted employment as the new Community Center Coordinator.

And last, but not at all least, resident Marlene Kole has already begun work as the mayor’s new executive assistant.