09/01/1998 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 9/1/98 Lorain Road knows what a pleasure it is to go from one end of Lorain to another and not _,~,~ hit all the stoplights you hit in the adjacent cities. Tt makes shopping a pleasure. He hopes that those people on Council who have participated in keeping the balance will continue to do so. Mr. Gareau said Mr. Lambert's comments were a refreshing diversity of opinion. Regarding Resolution 98-82, he thanked Mrs. Lepore for her comments. He feels that there was a divergence of opinion between her statements and Mr. Tasse's comments, which seem at least directed toward an opposition of the project generally. Regarding Mr. Tasse's comments on whether there is a need for the project, he has a unique perspective since he lived on Barton Road for 24 years. He often had to take around-about route to get to his home because the traffic backed up on Barton Road. There is an incredible volume of traffic looking for a place to go because there is no north/south corridor other than Barton Road or Lear Nagle in North Ridgeville. The city has other traffic problem areas, such as Clague Road, which also need to be addressed in a timely fashion. Although he realizes that we are not going to change the timing of this project or get the EPA to move at a faster pace, the resolution shows that we support the timetable that has been established. June Whitmore, 28960 Hampton Drive, a trustee on the board of the West Park-Forest Ridge Civic Association, was concerned about the availability of funds for the Crocker- Stearns project. She said that citizens are concerned that taxes will be raised to pay North Olmsted's share of the cost. Mayor Musial said that there are no plans to raise taxes to fund this project. We will provide for the funds in our strategic planning process. He believes the state and federal governments will provide roughly 90% of the funds for the project, the cost of which is approximately fifteen million dollars. Mrs. Whitmore thought the cost to the state and federal governments was 80%, with the county paying 10% and North Olmsted and Westlake sharing 10%. Mr. O'Grady thanked Mrs. Whitmore for her comments. He said the quotes he has seen put the project at approximately ten million dollars, making our share less than one million dollars. He has heard the figure of approximately eight hundred thousand dollars. Costs will probably go up if there axe delays. The City of North Olmsted has the intent based on the will of the voters to fully participate and provide our share. Mr. Gareau said he does not believe there has been an instance in the past where a tax has been levied to pay for a capital improvement. Mrs. Saringer said she could not remember such a situation. Law Director Gareau said we have had a history in our city going back to the 1970's of funding capital improvement projects through Councilmanic bond action. We have not typically gone before the voters for bond issues. Mr. Miller asked the Law Director whether the last "Whereas" clause in the ordinance would commit a future Council body to something we perhaps shouldn't be taking responsibility for at this time. The clause reads: "Whereas, the North Olmsted City Council, with the support of the Mayor and his administration, will be prepared to honor `~`"` its financial commitment to the construction of Crocker-Stearns extension" Law Director 7 _ ._ r,~~..~„