Business & Tech

Avon Lake 2010 - The Year in Review

A look back at this year's major stories.

A look back at Avon Lake's biggest stories for 2010

January - Cities General Fund will decrease by $1 million in 2010

With the country's recession continuing, Avon Lake will feel the pinch in 2010, shaving $1 million from its $3 million general fund surplus. gave its first review of the budget at a January meeting set to determine departments' budgets. Council president Greg Zilka remained optimistic that the city will remain solvent as the recession continues.

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February - Irked councilman sounds off on two fire station option

Saying the response time to Towne Center, high school, pool could be negatively affected, Ward III councilman, Larry Meiners, said that adding two new fire stations on the east and west ends of towns and shuttering the current station on Walker Road would adversely affect his constituents as well as many Ward II residents. Meiners said Mayor K.C. Zuber's plan to close the main station on Walker Road and opening two stations on the east and west ends of town could result in a significantly increased response time to Towne Center, which has a heavy elderly concentration.

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March - Firefighter overtime tops $400,000

For the second time in two years, overtime has topped $400,000 and the fire chief said he doesn't expect much improvement this year. Collectively, 27 firefighters earned overtime for a total of $419,610. In 2008, fire department overtime totaled $400,709. Fire Chief Bill Morris said overtime is based on run volume. Overtime in the fire department has become a concern for city council members, who are looking for solutions to decrease overtime.

April - With ash borer beetle's arrival, city looks to remove healthy trees

The city is hoping that taking a proactive approach to removing healthy ash trees from Avon Lake's parks and right-of-ways will prevent liability issues after the trees become infected by the emerald ash borer, a destructive beetle making its way through Ohio. The beetle, deemed a "species killer," is now present in Avon Lake. A tree commission representative said there was a 98 percent likelihood the emerald ash borer will wipe out most, if not all of the ash trees in the city. Grants are currently being sought to remove the trees and replace with trees not affected by the beetle.

April - Kay Usher, Betty Kinsner are Citizens of the Year

The Avon Lake Community Council selected two residents as "Citizens of the Year" for the 2009 calendar year. They were honored at an Avon Lake Kiwanis dinner May 13. "The Community Council felt that both nominees were deserving due to their lifetime of service and that both should be picked for the first time award," said Jan Van Wagner, vice-president of the Community Council.

April - Library Ranked 8th in nation again

By gauging the needs and interests of the community, Avon Lake Public Library has been ranked #8 in Hennen's American Public Library Ratings (HAPLR) for the population category, 10,000 - 24,999, for the second year in a row. The annual HAPLR Index assesses and ranks public libraries across the nation and acts as a report card for U.S. libraries. The HAPLR Index rates public libraries in 15 different categories, including circulation, staffing, materials, reference and services.

May - All-electric home rate hike problems continue

Residents of all-electric homes in Avon Lake and throughout Greater Cleveland continue to object to the end of discounts offered by FirstEnergy. The discounts were put in place in the 1970s, and eliminating those discounts means an increase in the hundreds of dollars per month for each homeowner. The issue continues.

June - Push begins for light in front of Avon Lake High School

Ward 3 Councilman Larry Meiners began a push for a traffic light in front of the city's to help alleviate traffic problems when the school begins and ends. Talks are continuing with plans to budget the funds needed for 2011.

June - New aquatic center opens, draws huge crowds

The Ellen Trivanovich Aquatic Center, paid for by a 2008 tax issue, opened in June in one of the hottest summers on record. The center, which features a lazy river, swimming laps, a superslide and a splash pad, was cooling off between 800 and 1,000 visitors a day.

July - Finance director resigns ahead of possible suspension

Avon Lake Finance Director Tom DiLellio resigned his position as the city's finance director after members of council and the mayor learned he has not held the required bonding since his appointment several years ago. The resignation, on July 31, followed pending city council action that could have resulted in DiLellio's suspension. A subsequent review of DiLelllio's work found he left the department in good order.

August - Westwinds, Meadow Vistas residents object to 150-ft. monopole

Barely a year after concerns were raised about a cell tower being placed literally in part of City Hall, which sits in a residential area, homeowners on Harbor Court in the Westwinds subdivision are objecting to a 150-ft. cell tower that would be clearly visible from their homes. Residents within 300 feet of the proposed Clearwire Wireless tower behind Learwood Plaza voiced concerns at council claiming health concerns and property devaluation. Residents of Meadow Vistas, a handicapped residential complex that would be situated within 100 feet of the tower, also complained.

September - Class of 2011 explores moving graduation outside

The Avon Lake Class of 2011 wants to revive the concept of an outdoor graduation and take advantage of the renovated Memorial Stadium to debut its effort. Members of the senior class, including senior class president Celia Wright, presented the idea at the September Board of Education meeting. The Class of 2011 could provide a test run for larger classes and family member that will have a harder time fitting into the gym, where graduations have been held since 2003. Cons for the concept include additional costs, as a contingent plan would need to be in place for inclement weather.

October - Avon motorcycle officer seriously injured in Avon Lake accident

Avon police officer Pete Soto was seriously injured in Avon Lake after his motorcycle was hit by a Ford F-150 pickup truck exiting a driveway on SR 83 the morning of Oct. 12. Soto, who was trapped beneath the truck until firefighters were able to extract him, was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center. and other Avon officers were responding to a possible domestic disturbance on the Avon side of SR 83 near the railroad tracks when the police received a report the suspect may have crossed over into Avon Lake. Soto was released from the hospital in December and continues to recover.

October - Plans for 150-ft. cell tower killed

Avon Lake's City Council voted 5-1 to deny applicant Clearwire Communications to build a 150-ft. tower in Learwood Plaza. Councilman David Kos cast the lone yes vote, saying the city has approved three cell towers elsewhere in the city despite almost identical reasons being presented by residents who are in close proximity to the tower. Several council members felt the tower was too close to Meadow Vistas apartments, which provides handicapped housing. In November, Clearwire filed suit against the city in Federal court.

October - Boys Cross Country team makes history

On Oct. 30, the Avon Lake Boys Varsity Cross Country team qualified for the 2010 Division I State Cross Country meet in Columbus. It marked the first time the team competed at the state level as a Division 1 team. A fourth-place finish at the Tiffin Regional meet behind #2 state-ranked Medina and #5 state-ranked St. Ignatius and #14 state-ranked Toledo St. Francis guaranteed the team a spot at States.

November - Judge wants alcohol monitoring bracelets for Avon Lake court

Judge Darrel Bilancini asked city council to approve 12 $2,800 alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelets similar to the ones made famous by wayward celebrities. The ankle bracelets, which cannot be removed without the court's knowledge, alert the court via the Internet if a person wearing the device has consumed alcohol and what his or her blood alcohol content is. Bilancini said the bracelets could be used for individuals released after OVI infractions and domestic violence crimes.

December - Water rates will increase by 31 percent 

The Avon Lake Municipal Utilities Dept. announced water and by 31 percent over three years, in part to pay for approximately $42 million in sewer separations and bolstering the infrastructure. 


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