SOLON, Ohio — Three electric vehicle charging stations are expected to be installed in the city as a result of an agreement with the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA).
On Monday (March 4), City Council authorized Mayor Ed Kraus to enter into a Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Project Partner Responsibilities Agreement with NOACA.
William Drsek, the city’s public works commissioner, told council’s Safety and Public Properties Committee earlier on Monday that NOACA’s application for a Charging and Fueling Infrastructure grant from the Federal Highway Administration was successful.
NOACA was awarded $15 million to install electric vehicle chargers at more than 70 locations across Northeast Ohio.
As part of its partnership with NOACA, the city will be responsible for 20% of the cost of the project for the identified charging locations, Drsek said.
The four locations included in the city’s application were the auxiliary parking lot on Portz Parkway, a short walk from the Solon Community Center; the lot at Solon Community Park, at 6679 SOM Center Road; Solon City Hall, 34200 Bainbridge Road; and the Solon Fire Department.
But Drsek said Fire Chief Mark Vedder indicated that he does not wish to have charging stations at Fire Station No. 1, “so we’re going to scratch that (one) when the mayor signs off on the agreement.”
Drsek said although the project has not been advertised for bid, the city’s cost will be about $132,000, based on the city engineer’s construction estimate.
But since the city will not be installing EV chargers at all four locations specified in the application, its share will likely come in at less than $132,000, he said.
This cost will be included in the city’s 2025 budget, Drsek said.
“Basically, NOACA is looking for interest to construct these charging stations,” he said in explaining why the city is responsible for 20% of the cost.
Because the city has a deadline of March 15 to accept the grant, Drsek requested that council approve the legislation as an emergency measure Monday.
The Safety and Public Properties Committee recommended that council pass the ordinance on first reading.
“I think it’s a good project,” said Ward 3 Councilman Jeremy Zelwin, who chairs the committee. “It makes sense.”
Zelwin said residents in his ward have been asking for EV charging stations in the city.
New restaurant at Uptown Solon
In other action, council approved a site plan for a covered outdoor dining area as part of a new Mavis Winkle’s Irish pub and restaurant at the Uptown Solon shopping center, 6025 Kruse Drive.
Mavis Winkle’s will move into the space vacated by the Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern, which closed last July. Rusty Bucket had been at the shopping center since 2007.
In his application to the city, Leon Sampat of LS Architects of Fairview Park said the outdoor dining area will include a bar with a fireplace. The site plan also includes a concrete patio.
Kraus thanked council for approving the addition, noting that “it’s going to be really nice.”
“They’re going to expand the outdoor patio by about three times,” he said.
Mavis Winkle’s currently has two other locations in Northeast Ohio, in Twinsburg and Independence.
Firefighter promoted
Also on Monday, Kraus administered the oath of office to Fire Lt. Jeff Dudas, who was promoted after serving 22 years as a firefighter/paramedic with the Solon Fire Department.
It was a ceremonial swearing-in, as Dudas was officially administered the oath on Feb. 22, according to the department’s Facebook page.
Kraus noted that Dudas is a rarity in the fire department, in that he was born and raised in Solon and is a graduate of Solon High School.
“We get firefighters from all over the place, but very rarely do we ever get a Solon Comet,” Kraus said. “So this is a little special, a little different.”
Kraus said Dudas’ aspirations of becoming a firefighter started early in life.
“Jeff believes the seeds were planted during a visit to the old Fire Station 2 during a kindergarten station tour,” he said.
When Dudas was 7, he was transported to a hospital for a head laceration by two Solon firefighters with whom he would later work, Kraus noted.
Kraus said Dudas was awarded the first Solon Firefighters IAFF (International Association of Firefighters) Local 2079 scholarship “to further his education in fire service.”
“He entered the fire service in 1994, when he joined the local fire company while attending Slippery Rock University (in Butler County, Pa.),” Kraus said.
Dudas completed his paramedic training at the Cuyahoga Community College Fire Academy. He briefly worked for the Chagrin Falls Fire Department before he “came home to Solon,” Kraus said.
Dudas is a state-certified fire inspector and has completed several fire officer classes, Kraus said.
“Jeff has watched many people get promoted, and though he wanted to remain a ‘blue shirt,’ he took his promotional exam and served as an acting officer for several years,” Kraus said.
“But it’s now time for Jeff to assume a leadership role.”
Dudas introduced his wife, Amy; their son, Zach; and other family members in attendance.
“The firehouse really is a second family to me,” said Dudas, who said he appreciated the large contingent of Solon Fire Department officers and firefighters who attended the ceremony.
Solon library construction update
During the public comment portion of the meeting, Darlene Davis, manager of the Solon branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library, provided an update on the construction that will begin soon at the library, at 34125 Portz Parkway.
“The branch is going to start to look different over the next few weeks,” she said.
“We’re moving forward, getting ready for them to start, weather permitting, to get the expansion under way. I am excited.”
Davis said a temporary wall be going up in the next month or so.
“You will see some shelves look a little bare, but that’s because we’re transitioning some things from one space to another to allow ample space for the wall to go up,” she said. “We will be relocating some materials.”
The new Solon Innovation Center will be part of a 4,000-square-foot expansion of the branch library.
Davis said in addition to the Innovation Center, there will be a new meeting room space, some study rooms, a drive-up window and some new furniture.
Tracy Strobel, the library system’s executive director, had told council in November that the library hoped to break ground on the project in March, followed by eight to nine months of construction.
She said the goal is to open the Innovation Center by the end of this year.
The City of Solon has committed to investing $1 million toward the $7 million project.
‘Evening of Irish Music’
The Solon Community Band, under the direction of Laura Joss, will present “An Evening of Irish Music Classics” at its winter concert at 7:30 p.m. March 15 at the Solon Center for the Arts, 6315 SOM Center Road.
The concert is free.
Special guests will include vocal soloist David Rusnak and Irish dancers from Murphy Irish Arts Center in Beachwood.
Musical selections will include “Irish Rhapsody,” “Danny Boy,” “Lord of the Dance” and many other Irish favorites.
Read more from the Chagrin Solon Sun.
[ad_2]
Source link
