News from Councilman Tom Waniewski - September 2008

September 8, 2008

Douglas Road Overpass Meeting

I've scheduled a public meeting with the Ohio Department of Transportation to inform residents about the closing of the Douglas Road overpass. Please note, the overpass will not be closed until April 2009. Our meeting will be six months prior to the closing. I felt the six month window was early enough to make sure residents knew fact from fiction. The closing will have a huge impact on traffic. The closing will last for months. Here's the info:
Oct. 9th
6:30 p.m.
Blessed Sacrament - New Neighborhood Center
4227 Bellevue

UT Patrols Increase

The University of Toledo's 6-18 Unit, which partners a UT officer with a Toledo Police Officer is kicking up it's patrols. They will now be patrolling in the nearby neighborhoods around UT from Tuesday through Saturday from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. The officer used to split his time on the street and behind a desk. The desk work took away from important patrol duties. UT now has freed up the officer to concentrate totally on patrol work while a community officer will handle desk work. Thanks, UT, for being a good neighbor.

Noise Ordinance

City Council is working on a noise ordinance. I commend Councilman Joe McNamara for holding a committee meeting on the subject recently. He and I have been working to come up with a happy solution for bar owners with outdoor music and the nearby residents who look for a peaceful nights' sleep. It is not my intention to interfere with anything that will hurt business in my district. However, bars are not pavilion concert halls. Many area bars have music indoors as well as a bustling patio business. Legislation could come out this month.

Flood Update

I met with the administration and members of the city's engineering division and Councilman D. Michael Collins to discuss the fragile infrastructure that may be contributing to flooding in our area. The city has been working to improve area ditches that help siphon the rain water, but more needs to be done with our infrastructure. At the current rate of funding, it would take decades to make the necessary repairs. That's what we're looking at now -- cost.

A reminder, the city's Flood Remediation Program will give homeowners up to $2,000 for installation of pipe traps. Call 245-1338 for more information.

How's Your Street?

I try to drive through the neighborhoods as much as I can to monitor streets and the general look of District 5. If you know of streets that are in need of repair, please drop me a line and I'll come look. I want to thank Dave Leffler and Don Moline from the city for the road paving in the district this year. From Alexis, to Middlesex, to Douglas, to Wendover and beyond. More needs to be done, I know, but we're making good progress in District 5. And we'll get more done in the next funding cycle.

DID YOU KNOW...

• Fresh Market, a new, 21,000 square foot gourmet food store, opens at Westgate this month. The store has gone through a few hoops to satisfy zoning requirements as requested by neighbors

• I've met with a couple of businessmen interested in putting something in at the old Pharm on Central Ave. It's always nice to fill any vacant store fronts. Details, however, have to remain confidential.

• The Plan Commission is reviewing information about a new commercial center planned for the 46 hundred block of Monroe St. That's the old Goodwill store which has been razed. Also, a bank is looking to locate on Secor south of Alexis. Both matters will be discussed September 11th at 2 p.m. in council chambers at One Government Center at Jackson and Erie Streets downtown.

• The University of Toledo's new alert sirens/speakers are in. They will be tested regularly on the first Friday of each month at noon.

• The city is getting ready for winter and needs to purchase another 15,000 tons of salt. In all, the city hopes to have 53,000 tons of salt on hand for the upcoming season. Residents will likely see an assessment charge on their tax bills in 2010; approximately $12 if you have live on a 50 foot wide lot.

• Tell a friend about this newsletter, or forward it on to your neighbors. I find the more I can separate fact from fiction or provide helpful city information, the better we all are. If I can ever be of help, please contact me by replying to this email [tom.waniewski@toledo.oh.gov], or call my office at 419-245-1050.