MEDINA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Newsletter 144 N. Broadway St. Medina, OH 44256 (330) 722-9208 www.co.medina.oh.us Sewer Rates to be Carefully Evaluated Medina County Commissioners Patricia G. Geissman (President of the Board) pgeissman@medinaco.org Stephen D. Hambley shambley@medinaco.org Adam Friedrick afriedrick@medinaco.org What’s Happening –7/15/14 .Economic Development .The commissioners approved the Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) Agreements for Hemingway Properties in Sharon Township and S&V Properties in Granger Township. Concerns expressed about the county’s rate for commercial sewer service and the change-of-use fees have prompted Sanitary Engineer Amy Lyon-Galvin to obtain quotes from consultants to assist with conducting a fee and rate structure study. They plan to evaluate the equivalent residential unit (ERU) and gain insight into setting rates that will not impose too heavy of a burden on industry and commerce. Commissioner Hambley noted that Medina County has the lowest residential sewer rate in the area at $30.25 a month ERU. Lodi is double that at $64.55. Wadsworth is the closest at $38.25. The average rate for the region is $60.51, which is double what Medina County charges. It has been the goal/policy of the commissioners to keep the ERU residential rate as low as possible; they have succeeded in doing that and will continue to do that. Medina County has been a growing county and used that growth to pay for capacity. Now that they have matured, they need to carefully evaluate their rate structure, realizing that it all balances out and the bills have to be paid to defray the costs of operating, maintaining, and repairing the sewer system, including the wastewater treatment plants. In the long term, they have to ensure that they have the capacity and ability to provide good service at an affordable price with no preferential treatment to one group or business at the expense of another. Another New Establishment in Medina County .Financials .The commissioners adopted the 2015 Tax Budget. Upcoming Events Wadsworth Community Picnic July 25-27, Memorial Park Live music, antique car show, prizes, etc. Visit www.Wadsworth200.com for details. Pictured are Economic Development Director Bethany Dentler, Medina Mayor Dennis Hanwell, Commissioner Pat Geissman, retired world champion racing driver Mario Andretti, and Montville Township Trustees Sally Albrecht and Jeff Brandon at the Grand Opening ceremonies of the Firestone Complete Auto Care in Montville Township on Friday, July 11. Medina County Building Department Report for June Office for Older Adults Zoo Day at the Medina Senior Center. Come visit sometime! “You can’t be afraid to fail. It’s the only way you succeed – you’re not gonna succeed all the time, and I know that.” ~ LeBron James ~ (1984) professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers!! Commissioners’ Contact: Pam Vereb, Clerk (330) 722-9208 pvereb@medinaco.org Email Pam to Subscribe Charles Huber, Chief Building Inspector, presented the Building Department report for permitting activity for June 2014. New housing starts in the one-, two-, and three-family arena for June 2014 were 38, the most for any month of June in the prior four years. Permitting activity broken down by type of permit, permit counts, and revenues collected compared to the same data for June 2013 showed residential revenues up 23% and commercial revenues up 38% with an overall increase in revenues of 23%. The same data provided year-to-date to the end of June 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 showed an increase in revenues of 6% in the residential arena and decrease in revenues of 24% in the commercial arena, with an overall decrease of 6%. SR 3 & US 42 Road Project Status Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 3 Project Engineer Scott Turchek has asked local officials to keep residents up to date on the work in and around the Medina Square. Chagrin Valley Paving started the resurfacing project for SR 3 & US 42 this week. From July 14-18, the contractor will be milling the existing pavement and performing pavement repairs on SR 3 south of Granger Road to Jefferson Street, north to south. Their hours of work will be approximately 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Work around the square is directed to be "night time" only to avoid the congestion they had last year during peak travel times. ODOT will provide weekly schedules to the keep the traveling public informed. Volume 9, Number 25 7/15/14