Butler Street ramp closure? Maybe

Tuesday, 28 February 2006

Vice mayor wants to try it as "experiment."

By BRANDI BARHITE
brandibarhite@sanduskyregister.com

SANDUSKY - A new housing project for the city's South Side Neighborhood got enthusiastic approval from commission on Monday night.

Afterward, Vice Mayor Dannie Edmon urged commissioners to look toward eastern Sandusky as well. Summer is almost here, he said, and he would like to do a little experimenting.

"Close the Butler Street ramp for one month and see if that stimulates traffic on Cleveland Road," Edmon said.

During a recent roundtable with Cleveland Road business owners, Edmon heard the Butler Street ramp cuts off much of the Cedar Point traffic to Cleveland Road, he said.

No one responded to his suggestion so Ex officio Mayor Dan Kaman said it's up to Edmon to talk with staff and commissioners.

The ramp was widened to allow two lanes of Cedar Point traffic to and from the park in the late '90s, according Engineering Director Kathy McKillips.

Also Monday, commissioners voted 6-0 to support Cleveland-based developing company, NRP Group, LLC, applying for affordable tax credits through the Ohio Housing Finance Agency so it can bring up to 50 new single-family homes to Sandusky.

Edmon abstained because he owns property in the south side neighborhood, which is where the houses will be concentrated, according to Project Manager Aaron Pechota.

The homes will be leased to own after 15 years from being built, he said. A family of four making $35,820 annually would qualify for the program.

The homes will be open to those receiving housing assistance vouchers, Pechota said in response to Commissioner Craig Stahl's question about allowing Metro.

"This is going to be a absolutely great for the city of Sandusky," said Commissioner Brett Fuqua, who campaigned on more home ownership in the city.

Professor Eddie Chou made a presentation on his initial findings on the state of city's streets at Monday's meeting. He still needs another year to determine what city streets should be repaired first.

Fuqua said he thinks the program is a "total waste of money." The streets Chou said needs repaired are already on the repair list.

Commissioners voted last year to spend $45,982 to have a graduate assistant at the University of Toledo put together a detailed report and rate the city's street conditions. Fuqua and Edmon didn't support the project.

Also Monday, Sandusky City Commission approved a more aggressive local preference policy on its second reading.

Kaman was the sole dissenter. Commissioners Brian Crandall and Dave Waddington changed their votes. Crandall needed more information before he could vote at the last meeting. He originally wanted to table it.

Kaman said going with the lowest and best bid is fine. He doesn't want to hurt city residents who have businesses outside of Sandusky.

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