North Ridgeville City Council News from former Councilwoman Gail Minnick - Government

My four-year-old granddaughter has cerebral palsy. Just wanted to share with you our memories from last year. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo1wt8DRPao We're hoping 2009 is even more successfull. UCP will be raising money again; but considering the economy, we're hoping to recruit more participants for Team Julia!

Mr. Gillock was involved with the Master Plan. The Plan recommended that Mills Road be built through to Case Road, even though the County’s Major Thoroughfare Plan called for the road to be built through to Abbe. Citizen opposition started with the first proposed PCD, Kingston, because of the high density and failure to extend Mills Road. Ultimately the plans were changed and Avalon is now there. Avalon residents are complaining of heavy, through traffic on their residential street. Reviewing minutes from those days reveals the city was warned of that very problem. In spite of all the protests back then, Gillock's involvement continued with the approval of all the developments that resulted in the city’s rampant growth and related problems.

Mr. Olesen, was also involved in the process while serving on committees. When he chose to run for the Ward 4 council seat his campaign was riddled with incorrect information and innuendoes. He even had help from a developer who sent false information to voters. That developer’s attorney is now on council. Even though election laws were violated, the Election Commission called the deception “robust political debate” and did not enforce their laws.

The City is now paying for the decisions both Gillock and Olesen made in the past. It pains me to see the damage politics has done to this city and that my Republican party was and is still involved in some bad decisions.

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2002 MAYORAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS: "GILLOCK CONTRIBUTONS" to the left.

AVALON RESIDENTS take note: Please click on "COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS" to left. Mayor Gillock was deeply involved in planning our city in the 90s.

PLANNING COMMISSION AND BOARD OF ZONING APPEAL MEMBERS: I have listed each member, which development some live in and what ties, if any, they have to special interest groups. Please click on COMMISSION AND BOARDS to the left.

CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS are held the first and third Mondays of each month (at 7:30 p.m.) except when a holiday falls on Monday. Then the council meetings are held on the Tuesday following the Monday holiday at 7:30 p.m.

ELECTION COMPLAINT: An election complaint was filed in Columbus against Bob Schmitt for violating many election laws. The Commission chose not to enforce their laws and dismissed the complaint. In his letter to voters, Schmitt claimed I voted against "virtually all" commercial proposals, when in reality I voted in favor of 13 of 16. The Election Commission and I have differing opinions on the meaning of "virtually all." Schmitt's Columbus attorney said it was a mistake.. The Commission overlooked the blatant violations and errors in Schmitt's letter calling them "robust political debate." Contrary to law, Schmitt also used his corporate envelopes and name to influence voters to vote for Olesen. Click on "SCHMITT ELECTION COMPLAINT" at the left to view the complaint.

As of 2/2006 the mayor's salary is nearly $90,000. On 2/2005 the salary was $82,000, an increase of nearly $8,000 in one year, or nearly $35,000 since January 1, 1999 when the new ordinance, written during the Hill administration, took effect. (In 1999 the mayor's salary was $54,093/yr. not including benefits.) As the ordinance now reads, the mayor receives 3% above the Safety Service Director's (SSD) salary. The SSD receives 2% above the highest paid city employee (police chief), whose salary is based on a contract negotiated by the mayor. The following salaries are according to "Cities & Villages" magazine, March/April 1999 issue published by The Ohio Municipal League, with a population of 20,000 to 39,999: Low: $49,750; Average: $61,607; High: $86,866. N. Ridgeville's population is approximately 24,000. I proposed an ordinance on 12/17/01 to change the way the mayor's salary is configured. Five of seven council members voted no, including (then) councilman, Dave Gillock. It may be viewed on "DECEMBER 17 COUNCIL MEETING."

At the BZA meeting held on January 26, 2006 ALL SECURE STORAGE UNITS was granted relief for outside storage even though the court's decision could have been upheld despite the pleas against it from residents. Our Ward 4 councilman, Bob Olesen, who has received large campaign contributions from Frank Dettore, said nothing during the meeting. I wrote letters to the city in December, 2005 and January, 2006 regarding ALL SECURE STORAGE UNITS: Click on "ALL SECURE STORAGE UNITS" to the left. Included is information about reimbursement for the Westerly Sewers (related article below).

COMPARE OUR SCHOOLS: The following website contains data submitted by NR Board treasurer to State Dept. of Education 12/16/04 concerning costs, enrollment, faculty, administrators, etc. http://odevax.ode.state.oh.us/htbin/f2004-district-profile.com?irn=044537+North+Ridgeville+City+SD+%28Lorain%29

WESTERLY SEWER AGREEMENT between the City and the developers/landowners is listed under "LANDOWNER'S AGREEMENT" to the left. BOTH WERE APPROVED BY COUNCIL on 2/20/01. The city issued bonds to pay for the entire cost of the trunk line. The developers agreed to reimburse the city (after five years) for their share of the trunk line. Developers will pay 73% of the cost but the trunk line will run through 93% of the developers undeveloped land. Only 11 existing homes benefitted. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) investigated our City because many residents' First Amendment Rights were violated at a council meeting while speaking about the deal. Case Road and Stoney Ridge residents will not benefit. The city's cost will be $2.5 million but it is unclear what those costs include. A 36" pipe will run through Avalon (formerly Kingston), a 30" pipe through Meadow Lakes, 24" pipe at Sugar Ridge, 15" and 9" pipes in Waterbury.

MEADOW LAKES PCD: I spoke during lobby at the Oct. 18, 2004 council meeting. Message is to the left. "SEPTEMBER 2004 PRESS ARTICLES" is posted by request. At the August 12, 2003 Planning Commission meeting (according to the official minutes), Mr. Dettore stated the "golf course originally planned for the PCD will not be built." Click on AUGUST 2004 LAW DIRECTOR LET and OCTOBER 2, 2003 LETTER. These are letters I submitted to our Law Director, Planning Commission, BZA, and city council reminding them of the promised north/south access road and golf course.

REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS LONG DISTANCE TO CALL CUYAHOGA AND LORAIN COUNTIES? My 3-year, volunteer effort with Alltel, GTE, and PUCO paid off. Some Residents/businesses saved $500+ on their monthly phone bills. Click on "AWARDS" to read the content of the State and community awards for my 3-year volunteer effort.

STATE Legislators can be contacted through www.legislature.state.oh.us. Ohio Consumers' Counsel 1-877-PICKOCC or www.pickocc.org.

WEBSITES: LORAINCOUNTY.COM has a discussion page for N. Ridgeville.

2003 CITY VEHICLE LIST may be viewed by clicking on "2003 VEHICLE LISTING." We have a total of 126 vehicles. You will notice there is a leased car for City Hall (for mayor's use). The mayor is permitted to spend up to $15,000 or $20,000 without council approval. Slick way for the mayor to bypass council and drive around in a new car.

MOST OF THE FOLLOWING OCCURRED DURING THE HILL ADMINISTRATION WHILE I WAS ON COUNCIL (l/99 through 12/02):

FOREST CITY'S LAND DONATION: Forest City (Waterbury) donated 6 acres to be used for a school. Joe Antush informed council of the requirements of Ohio Schools. Required land size for school buildings is 10 acres plus one acre for each 100 children. Statistics: Liberty - 481 students, 16.38 acres; Lear north - 232 students, 14.05 acres; Wilcox - 512 students, 48.52 acres (campus is combined with high school) Joe's comments may be viewed by clicking on "JOE ANTUSH COMMENTS" to the left. Now we are told the land is landlocked and will revert to the developer. Our school district won't even be able to sell the land and pocket the cash.

AUTO NATION AKA STAUBACH: Why is the property at Lear Nagle and Lorain vacant? Who was responsible for the demise of AutoNation and Q-Panel? Please read "QPANEL LETTER" by clicking to the left for some answers. This information was never released but is public record. (Also click on "THE TRUTH" and "JUNE 2004 LETTER TO SUN," to the left.)

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BOB SCHMITT'S RIDGEFIELD development is called a PCD by some, but is it? Below are some statistics to carefully review:

RIDGEFIELD: 503 Acres, Average lot size is 85x160, overall density 1.79 units per acre
Total Dwellings: 902 - 712 single family homes (78.85%); 191 Detached clusters (21.5%) Commercial: none
Open Spaces: 110 acres open space (22%)

Meadow Lakes PCD: 595 acres (overall density not clear as of 9/21/04)
Total Dwellings: 1,928 (92% will be clusters if built as proposed and approved)
Commercial: none proposed as of 9/21/04 (proposed golf course was withdrawn)
Open Spaces: Unclear as of 9/21/04 - possibly only 9% without golf course

FOREST CITY: We have heard how wonderful Ethan's Green (a PCD-type development)in Twinsburg, Ohio is. Let's compare Waterbury's preliminary plan with Ethan's Green:

Waterbury PCD: 634 Acres
Total Dwellings: 1,963 (71 % will be clusters)- Overall density 3.24 dwellings per acre
Commercial: 28.2 Acres
Open Spaces: 142.5 acres

Ethan's Green (Summit County): 880 acres
Total Dwellings: approx. 2,000 - Overall density 2.5 dwellings per acre
Commercial: 44 acres
Open Spaces: over 180 acres with golf course

Other Forest City properties are listed under "FOREST CITY."

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PCD specifics: (UPDATED 7/15/01) Lot width 70' (now 90'); Lot Area 10,500 sq. ft. (now 16,200 sq. ft.); Much smaller in cluster areas. OVERALL Density 3.24 per acre (now 2.3). Green spaces include detention basins, parking lots, commercial golf courses and wetlands. Commercial can be mingled with residential. (This will retain the rural atmosphere????) IF statistics hold true of a PCD in another county, we can expect .6 school-age children per dwelling. That would be 1.944 school-age children per acre or 2721.6 school-age children for two PCDs (1400 acres). Our middle and high schools may be losing students, but our elementary schools are not. If we use the figure of 3 people per dwelling, that would be 9.72 people per acre or 13,608 people in two PCDs (1400 acres). If two members of the household have cars, 4,203 more cars will be on our city streets. Click on "PLANNED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT" to view the new ordinance. Minor changes have not been listed.

ROOF TRUSSES in some houses may have been improperly braced. The only way a homeowner can know if his home has been improperly constructed is to go to the Building Dept. at City Hall, obtain a roof truss drawing, which has been stamped by a professional engineer, and compare the drawing to the actual construction in his attic. The trusses must be built to the approved plans. If they are not, the problem must be corrected or the roof is in danger of collapse. Any home constructed from 1997-2002 could be suspect. View Stewart Lovece's letter by clicking on "LOVECE LETTER" to the left.

DEVELOPERS AGREEMENT: The 1999 Presidential developer's agreement shows that council, by a vote of 5-2, authorized (sight unseen) Mayor Hill to negotiate and enter into an agreement with Remon (Dettore). Part of the agreement was that the city would pave certain streets and the developer would pay for the asphalt. The reason, I was given, is that there were existing streets (dirt and gravel) so the city was obliged to pave them. Wondering what was in other developer agreements, I requested copies of 13 developers' agreements that council approved 5-2 allowing Hill to negotiate and enter into agreements (sight unseen). I was given the legislation but no agreements attached. Even though I was a council member, Mayor Hill made me pay 3 cents per copy from my pocket so I could see what council allowed her to do and answer constituents questions! Shortly thereafter a representative from Bob Schmitt Homes hand delivered copies of their developer's agreement along with charts telling me how much money Ridgefield will bring into the city. Substantial credits were given, even for expenses incurred helping me with our EAS telephone case.

YOUR RIGHT TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT WAS IGNORED! ORDINANCES FOR THE WESTERLY SEWERS WERE introduced at the February 5, 2001 Council Meeting. The Westerly Sewers are tied directly to the PCD Ordinance. Despite residents' successful referendum on Waterbury and Meadow Lakes PCDs, which would have allowed the voters to decide if they want this kind of development in our city, our elected officials forged ahead. The Final Plan of Meadow Lakes PCD was approved. Law Director, Zagrans, filed a lawsuit in the Lorain County Courts to determine if the emergency clause was appropriate on Meadow Lakes and Waterbury PCDs. The emergency clause would negate the referendum petitions. The Administration did not wait for that opinion and continued with their plans to sewer the west side of town and allow developers to build PCDs. The people who signed the petitions were ignored. After the November, 2001 election passed, Zagrans withdrew the lawsuit in Lorain County stating that the election was over and the matter moot. At the STATE OF THE CITY LUNCHEON (2001), Mayor Hill extended an Olive tree (not just the branch) to members of STAMP and certain council members. Hill said she wanted to find "common ground" but didn't want to discuss the crux of the matter--the PCD ordinance and resulting litigation! Her gesture offering the Olive tree was hollow and useless.

CITY CHARTER page (click at the left) has been updated to include information on zoning procedures, certain job descriptions.

The SUPREME COURT DECISION regarding the Kingston PCD (now Avalon) may be viewed on http://www.maxpages.com/myopinion/SupremeCourt Decision Rezoning. Pay close attention to Footnote 3. The Supreme Court states, "There can be no question that where a party seeks to create and construct a PCD, a zoning classification of PCD must exist and existing zoning must be changed to that classification by action of the city council." The Supreme Court stated "the Charter is the preeminent authority...and it is clear and unequivocal. Moreover, would anyone seriously contend that municipal governmental bodies should be able to repeal sections of their City code simply by using the vehicle of a motion and voice vote of the city council?" The emergency was added in an attempt to prevent voters from referenduming the ordinances. Waterbury had 14 outstanding issues and may be viewed on "OCTOBER 2 COUNCIL MEETING." Kingston Lakes had 12 outstanding issues and may be viewed on "SEPTEMBER 18 COUNCIL MEETING."

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Former Law Director, Eric Zagrans, advised the following on the PCD Ordinance: Section A.08 (Change in Zoning Map) of Ordinance 3491-99, which was adopted by Council on September 20, 1999, provides as follows: Following approval of the (preliminary PCD plan) application by Council, the Clerk shall cause a notation to be made on the Zoning Map to reflect the area which is included in the approved preliminary plan in a PCD Dist. If the developer does not complete and file a final plan of a phase of the development area within one year, the approval of the prelininary plan shall lapse and the notation of such approval shall be removed from the Zoning Map. Following approval of the application by Council and the notation of the Zoning Map, the legislative process for rezoning the PCD shall be complete. Review and approval by Council of the PCD's final development application shall be solely administrative in nature.

THE PLANNING AND ZONING CODE PURPOSES AS STATED IN OUR CODIFIED ORDINANCES MAY BE VIEWED BY CLICKING ON "CODIFIED ORDINANCES" TO THE LEFT.

RADON: Radon statistics for each zip code in Ohio may be found on www.utoledo.edu/~aprg/oris/ This site permits any person to obtain radon information on the area of Ohio in which they live. The web site also contains information about health effects, sources of radon, testing, mitigation, prevention, and licensed radon professionals.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS for People for Economic Progress, Bob Olesen, and Gail Minnick may be viewed by clicking on CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS to the left.

POLITICAL CONTRIBUTOR LISTINGS for 2000: Click to the left on "HILL 2000 CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTOR" and "N R DEMOCRATIC SOCIAL CONTRI" (which may be given to candidates as the party sees fit. MINNICK'S PRIMARY CAMPAIGN was completely self funded except for one small in-kind contribution. Total expenditures were $249.87 plus a lot of hard work. For the November 1999 primary I received one $10 donation from a resident and a donation from the Republican Party.

CALIFORNIA DREAMING: Wind in Her Hair...Tax Payer Money in Her Pocket. As a teacher in the Ridgeville schools, Hill lobbied for and received $400,000 in taxpayer money to start a technology program. But Hill used some of the money improperly and the Auditor of State required Hill to repay that money after an audit of her activities. Hill used tax dollars to donate to political campaigns, stay in expensive hotels, pay for in-room movies, pay herself a salary (double dipping?), and to travel to New Orleans and California. Hill even rented a convertible for herself on one of her junkets. The Lorain Morning Journal wrote an editorial entitled, "Nothing to show for Hill's $400,000."
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Disclaimer: Information contained herein believed accurate but not guaranteed. Liability is hereby disclaimed for any errors or ommissions. Any errors should be reported immediatley so corrections can be made. minnickgail@hotmail.com

minnickgail@hotmail.com

Page Updated Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:53pm EST