Toronto Council OKs second phase of Mount Nebo project | News, Sports, Jobs

TORONTO — Toronto Council Monday agreed to proceed with the second phase of the Mount Nebo project and agreed to raise hourly wages for staff in the recreation and police departments.

Council authorized Mayor John Parker to seek bids for the extension of Nebo Drive to Titanium Way and of water and sewer lines to unserved residents at the end of the latter street.

The panel recently authorized Parker to seek a loan from the Ohio Water Development Authority for the second phase while noting some funds from the $1.6 million remain from its first phase.

Council President Frank McEwen confirmed Arcadis Engineering, which is designing the extensions, is seeking grants for the project.

The extensions started with the development of the Woodlands at Mount Nebo, a housing development being pursued by Calabrese Property Management near the state Route 7-Franklin Street interchange, but also support the ongoing expansion of TIMET.

Last year, officials with the company, which produces titanium for the aerospace industry, announced plans to expand its operations onto 14.8 acres adjacent to its present 25-acre site.

They said the plans will require Titanium Way to be closed to the public, and council agreed on Monday to vacate the street, pending completion of the Nebo Drive extension.

Council also heard Monday from Mickey Libetti, who said she is among several homeowners on Titanium Way who welcome the project.

Libetti said they have spent thousands of dollars to maintain their section of the road and had approached the city 15 years ago for public water and sewage, which was then estimated at $500,000.

Parker said once the lines are extended, the residents are expected to pay $2,500 each to tap into them.

Councilman at large Mike Burkey said some have suggested the project will benefit only a small number of residents, but a 41.5 percent increase in income tax revenue attributed to TIMET’s expansion proves otherwise.

“Anyone who thinks this is not important to the city and only important to a couple of citizens is flat out wrong,” he said, adding, “The return on investment has already happened and it’s only going to get better.”

Also on Monday, 4th Ward Councilman Greg Herrick, who serves on the joint recreation board representing the city and Toronto school district, advised the panel accepted the mayor’s appointment of Bob Anderson as the city’s new recreation director.

A 20-year retired Air Force veteran, Anderson has been involved with local youth sports programs.

Noting the two employees under former recreation director Rod Henry have resigned, Herrick and Burkey suggested raising the hourly wage for Anderson’s staff in an effort to retain those hired to fill those positions.

Burkey said the city could cover the raises if the staff members remain within the 50 hours per week currently allotted for them.

Parker suggested raising the hourly wage from $7.30 to $9.30, which is the federal minimum wage, a move unanimously supported by council.

Burkey suggested council seek to replace Toronto’s current recreation levy with a new one in May’s city election. He said the current levy, introduced in the 1970s, generates relatively little for the city’s park and recreation facilities.

Following the meeting, McEwen said the current five-year levy raises about $23,000 per year and the city has supplemented it with $70,000 to $80,000 from the general fund each year in recent years.

He confirmed that aside from the swimming pool, the city didn’t have a building — either the former Roosevelt Recreation Center or the current Karaffa Recreation Center — when that levy was introduced.

— Following an executive session, council authorized Parker to approve a three-year contract with eight members of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 1 serving in the city’s police department.

The contract calls for the officers to receive a 3 percent raise while assuming more personal costs for their health coverage. It also includes a financial incentive for them to decline coverage through the city in favor of insurance through their spouse’s employer.

The contract doesn’t include the police chief, whose salary is set by ordinance.

— Councilman at large Larry Glenn, who chairs the zoning and annexation committee, said the owners of about 5.42 acres near Toronto Union Cemetery and the city’s water treatment plant, have asked for an easement through city property to accommodate timbering there.

Glenn said the contractor would acquire a bond to cover any damages.

McEwen said owners of the land have expressed interest in later donating the land to the city.

Council agreed to grant the request, pending any legal issues discovered by Parker.

— Burkey said cash flow for the city’s water and sewer departments has improved, with about 80 percent of its average revenue collected for the month already. It’s a change he attributed to the recent availability of online payments and praised those involved in implementing it.

For information about online and phone payments or a discount available to senior citizens 65 and older, customers can call (740) 537-2428.