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City manager: Fire Station No. 3 bid timeline, road programs and AT&T fiber upgrades announced
Summary
City Manager Robert Fowler told the council bids for Fire Station No. 3 are due May 15 with award expected June 2 and construction projected to take 14 months; staff also announced CDBG application deadlines, 2026 road and concrete programs, AT&T fiber upgrades, and a closed King Memorial Bridge detour.
City Manager Robert Fowler outlined a set of near-term infrastructure and community updates at the April 21 Mentor City Council meeting.
Fowler said a pre-bid meeting for Fire Station No. 3 took place April 16, bids are due May 15 at noon and an award is anticipated at the council’s June 2 meeting. He said the city expects about 14 months of construction with a goal to open the station in August 2027 and that staff may aim for a mid-June groundbreaking; the schedule reflects a limited interior construction weather window.
Fowler also reminded residents that the city is accepting applications for the Community Development Block Grant program for the period Oct. 1, 2026–Sept. 30, 2027; applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Monday, May 4, 2026.
On transportation and utilities, Fowler said AT&T plans to upgrade its network infrastructure with fiber-optic cable across Mentor to deliver faster internet service; installations vary between underground and pole-to-pole runs depending on location. Staff reported the King Memorial Bridge is closed and posted detours direct traffic to alternate routes, and the traffic signal at Points East and State Route 306 is malfunctioning due to a broken activation loop; left turns from Points East to State Route 306 North are temporarily prohibited while the city works with the property owner to resolve the problem.
The 2026 asphalt road program will begin with milling and repairs in Ward 3 (including Ohio Street, Hawk Avenue, Longhorn Road, Dawson Boulevard, Comanche Trail, Ivy Court, Eric Drive and Wellen Drive) and residents on affected streets will receive notice letters; the concrete repair program begins with saw cutting in Kellogg Creek in Ward 1.
Fowler closed his report by welcoming two new businesses, Metal Supermarkets and Mason's Social, and noting Parks & Rec events including a senior center garage sale and a free golf clinic at Black Brook Golf Course.
Council members later asked whether AT&T’s fiber installations would be underground or on poles and raised concerns about old coaxial cables left in yards; staff said AT&T is responsible for moving lines and that the city has a contact to help residents with complaints.
