The relatively rainy, cool summer means less pool revenue, Mentor’s grant program for sewer backup victims is attracting attention, and both bids for a long-awaited traffic-relief project came in high. Those items and more are in the latest weekly city manager report to City Council:

Highlights
• As of July 19, we had 51,483 swimmers at the three pools, which compares to the five-year average of 52,854, but we have had many cool and wet days. Pool attendance and aquatic revenue will be down this year.

• Information and application material for the Private Property Sanitary Sewer Backup Reduction Grant Program has been posted on the front page of the city’s website. The Engineering & Building Department has received about 70 inquiries regarding the Backflow Preventer Program. The grant program, totaling $1 million, was begun after flooding problems followed the July 20 storm event.

• The bid opening for the Plaza Boulevard Extension Project took place at noon on Friday, Aug. 9. We received two very competitive bids coming in at approximately $2,500,000. Both bids will be reviewed for completeness and accuracy. The Engineer’s estimate for the project was $2,300,000.

Manager Comments
• The Center Street widening work at Classic Chevy continues. Concrete work is nearing completion with asphalt paving and restriping expected over the next 2 weeks. Lighting work under the SR 2 Bridge at Center Street will be completed upon delivery of the lighting equipment.

Fire Department
• On Aug. 5 at 4 a.m., Deputy Chief Searles, Mentor Hazardous Team Members, Air 1 and Truck 1159 were dispatched to Eastlake for a fire involving hazardous materials. The situation was mitigated and there were no injuries.

• On Aug. 7 at 8:28 a.m., crews responded to an odor investigation on Lancaster. Crews found a distinct odor in the neighborhood, but after a thorough investigation of the area, storm drains and the creek, nothing was found. Continuing their investigation, fire crews determined the odor most likely stemmed from a business where a new product was reportedly being used. There were no harmful findings.

• On Aug. 7 at 1:38 p.m., AIR-1 was dispatched to Willowick for a house fire and provided rehab to fire ground personnel and filled SCBA bottles as needed.

• Past part-time Firefighter Mark Nerone passed away on Aug. 1. Mark worked for the Mentor Fire Department for almost 10 years and resigned in 1984 to work for Wickliffe Fire, where he retired as a fire lieutenant.

Police Department
• On Aug. 4, 25 counterfeit $20 bills were passed in one transaction at Super Kmart. Then, on Aug. 5 another case of 25 counterfeit $20 bills being passed was reported; this time, at Macy’s. Both cases have been forwarded to the Detective Bureau for follow-up investigation.

Engineering
• Safe Routes to School – Bike racks have been installed at Shore Middle School, Orchard Hollow Elementary and Sterling Morton Elementary. School flasher work is anticipated to occur within the next two weeks.

Parks and Recreation Department
• Black Brook Golf Course was voted “Best of the Best” in the Golf Course Shopping and Service Category Readers Choice Awards for the News-Herald.

• On Aug. 4, Civic Center Pool hosted the final day of the Suburban Swim League Championships. This was the largest meet in Ohio with more than 1,142 swimmers and 4,000 people attending. Mentor came in first with 1,496 points; Highland Heights came in second with 1,217.

Economic and Community Development
• The Mentor Economic Assistance Corporation closed two SBA 504 loans this week for a total of $1,015,000 in financing. The Mentor-based operator of Dunkin Donuts constructed a new store in Lakewood, Ohio for a total cost of $1,232,000 and MEACO, through its relationship with Citizens Bank, provided equipment financing totaling $1,238,066 to a growing manufacturing company in Northeast Ohio. The SBA 504 loan program provides long-term financing for up to 40 percent of a project’s total fixed asset costs.

-- Betsy Scott, BScott@News-Herald.com, @ReporterBetsy