Bedford City Manager Mike Mallis updated the Bedford City Council on a number of construction projects taking place this month during his report at Monday’s regular council meeting. The meeting was broadcast on the city’s YouTube channel because of Covid-19 restrictions. Visit the video link of the complete meeting by clicking here.
Mallis said that major work that started last year on the Powers Road is continuing this month and should be finished this summer. This project also includes the repaving of Mapledale Avenue.
He said the city has been putting aside about $400,000 a year to address street and sidewalk repairs such as these. Engineers assess the repair needs of roads and sidewalks in the spring, and then they decide where the work is most needed. Mallis said the city went for almost a decade without having such a fund in reserve to do the needed work. More projects will continue throughout the summer, including sidewalk repairs.
Another major road project is scheduled to begin on Forbes Road on July 13. Since the road is maintained by the county, the city decided to go in on a 50/50 split grant for the costs to get it replaced. The cost to the city is about $117,000. The work will include concrete and resurfacing, and will reach from Broadway Avenue all the way down to Northfield Road by the VFW. Traffic will be maintained during the work.
Mallis stated that a tentative date for the demolition of Chanel High School is set for sometime mid-month. He said that for about the last three or four months, workers have been removing the asbestos from the building to make it compliant for demolition. He said the city has been working closely with the Cuyahoga Land Bank, the Bedford City Schools and the St. Peter Chanel Alumni Association during the process. More information about the demolition will be coming soon.
Mallis said the city is currently performing wellness checks for residents, especially for its older residents.
“We have been conducting hundreds of calls weekly since the the (pandemic) has started,” said Mallis. “And it has been very well received.”
He said some residents ask for communication weekly or even every couple of days. Anyone interested in getting a wellness check set up can call the Recreation Department at (440)-735-6570 or the City Hall at (440)-232-1600. Mallis said that residents can also do their own part to help by frequently checking on their neighbors to make sure they are OK.
Council members received positive feedback concerning the July 4 mini-parade they held on Saturday morning in place of the customary city parade canceled due to the coronavirus. The procession included some emergency vehicles as well as vehicles featuring each of the council members. Treats were thrown out to those watching.
Mayor Stan Koci said the route of the parade could not be given out prior to its start because that may have caused people to line the route, and thus encourage gatherings, which they were trying to avoid.
In other news:
– Dominion East Ohio requested permission to work on gas lines on W. Grace Street and Edgewood Avenue. This continues the work Dominion has been doing throughout the city the last few years to repair replace lines that in some case are the original ones from decades ago. Mallis said the work can be an inconvenience to residents, but it is a major upgrade and is good for the city. Mallis said as part of the deal with Dominion, an inspector from the engineer’s office is on site to make sure anything damaged is replaced, and the city is reimbursed for the inspector’s time by Dominion.
– Residents should be getting notices from the Illuminating Company for the installation of “smart meters.” Koci said they had already come to his house, and the workers completed the switchover within about 10 minutes. Ward 6 Representative Don Saunders said that when they came to his house, they had to shut off all of the electric briefly, which required rebooting of some computers and resetting clocks.
– Mallis said that thanks to donations by local business, the Recreation Department has been able to hand out more than 800 boxes of food to residents in need during the Covid-19 crisis.
– Ward 5 Representative Heather Rhoades reported that the July 3 First Fridays Drive Through Goodie Bag event held by the Bedford Chamber of Commerce was very popular. She said that 100 Goodie Bags were picked up within the first 20 minutes. Also, more than 160 hot dog meals were donated and distributed by Bedford Baptist Church.
– Ward 1 Representative Sandy Spinks said residents are still concerned about the high rate of speed used by some cars on roads such as Greencroft Drive, Willard Avenue, and Grand Boulevard. She said she has seen a police presence on the streets, including officers nabbing some people running stop signs, but she expressed that is still concerned. “I know I’ve been complaining about this for years and years,” she said, “but I don’t want to wait until one of our residents gets hit by one of these people that have no respect for the law.”
The next council meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 3.
