Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mayor Burke outlines $2 million road borrowing, municipal-court move and youth-safety steps
Summary
In his March 9 report, Mayor Matthew Burke said the city plans to borrow $2 million for street repairs, is supporting a proposed municipal-court move he said would be reviewed by the state legislature, and warned that repeated incidents at local basketball courts may prompt the city to lock courts and remove hoops to protect public safety.
Mayor Matthew Burke used his March 9 report to highlight near-term infrastructure plans, intergovernmental negotiations and public-safety concerns facing Garfield Heights.
“We are planning to borrow $2 million to do roads,” Burke said, describing a review of candidate streets that also includes checks of subsurface infrastructure to avoid resurfacing roads that would shortly require reopening. He told council he has discussed asphalt recycling with a contractor who “claims that should be more cost effective” as the city contends with rising asphalt prices.
Burke also said he has worked to secure letters of support from neighboring mayors for a proposed move of the municipal court from Garfield Heights to Newberg Heights and that the state legislature will review the proposal. “The last I heard is that it is looking good,” he said, adding the city will continue to follow the legislative process.
On public safety, Burke described two incidents at city basketball courts and urged parental responsibility. “Parents need to do a better job of parenting,” he said, and warned that repeated disturbances could lead the city to lock courts and remove hoops: “We’ll just lock the courts up… and if they break in and play, we’ll just take the hoops right down.” He said police responded and that the city prosecutes parents where appropriate.
The mayor also reminded residents of a March 24 open house at the Civic Center hosted by the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District and encouraged sign-ups for city website notifications for service updates.
What’s next: Administration will identify candidate streets for the planned $2 million borrowing and return to council with project lists and timelines; the municipal-court move will advance only if the state legislative process and intergovernmental agreements proceed as expected.
