Nagel Interchange Dominates Council Meeting

The number of items on Avon City Council’s work session agenda Monday night was small compared to the crowd waiting to address members during public remarks.

Residents and business owners near the proposed at Nagel Road continue to express their displeasure over a city plan for the property owners to pay a third of the $27 million project's cost. Under the plan, special assessments would be added to tax bills over 20 years.

“This assessment must not go forward,” said Brian McKeown, who owns the on Nagel Road. “We are the people you work for. Somehow the (Cleveland) Clinic and the Jacobs Group need to come up with the money. This is their development. This is fiscally reckless. You (council) took an oath of office to serve.”

Under the plan, the city will assume another third of the cost, with the remainder picked up by the developer, Richard E. Jacobs Group LLC. The Cleveland Clinic is nearing completion of a on the Jacobs-owned property.

“I look out the window and see the Cleveland Clinic going up,” said Priscilla Harris, speaking on behalf of her 80-year-old mother, who lives near the new facility and proposed interchange. “What kind of quality of life will she have? The Clinic has the money to pay for this. This should be taken up for a vote of the people of Avon. My mother will have to pay this assessment. She is on Social Security.”

Other residents echoed similar sentiments, agreeing the interchange should be put up for a public vote.

“Are you going to start assessing everyone?” said an emotional Cindy Jackson. “The citizens voted for a , yet something as big as this can go forward without a vote. There is too much traffic already. You are opening the door for more.”

Law Director John Gasior told the audience that the city has not yet drafted legislation for the proposed assessments. It's likely that three to six weeks may pass before such documents would be ready for council’s vote.

“We are not doing this to blow smoke at you,” M said. “We want to make sure it’s right."

In other news:

• Council discussed creating a position for a part-time animal control officer for the city. “Rather than subcontract someone for city, we felt it would be better to have someone on part-time,” Smith said. The control officer would handle situations involving all animals, but the mayor noted, 95 percent of the issues are dog-related.
• The city also is nearing completion of the and will vote next week to re-appropriate $10,000 for the bridge on the Detroit Road property.