Fairlawn Resident Raises New Concern Over Proposed McDonald's

Do you agree with Tim Gamauf? Tell us in the comments.

Here's yet another Fairlawn resident who's weighing in on the proposed McDonald's that developers hope to build at the corner of Shiawassee Avenue and West Market Street. Tim Gamauf wrote: I am against the proposed McDonald's being built. Abington Rd. will turn into the preferred high-speed shortcut route to and from the proposed fast food restaurant. Abington Rd. is a residential street with four-way stops and no sidewalks. Residents use Abington Rd. to jog and walk - on the street. Kids bicycle and walk to their school bus stop - on the street. Safety will be compromised by the increased traffic traveling over the speed limit and running stop signs morning to late-night 365 days/year. Trash thrown out to the street will be an eyesore. As…

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Residents Weigh Pros, Cons of Proposed McDonald's

Are you for or against another fast food joint moving into Fairlawn?

Residents near a proposed McDonald's restaurant at the corner of Shiawassee Avenue and West Market Street left an informational meeting Feb. 28 unconvinced the project is right for their neighborhood. Several said Fairlawn doesn't need a McDonald's, yet John Blickle, owner of the Rubber City Arches franchise, called the nearby market "underserved," and said it's a 12-minute drive to the nearest location. Over the last week, readers picked up the conversation on Fairlawn-Bath Patch with comments that echoed the critiques aired at last week's meeting, plus a few statements supporting the fast food chain. Here's what they had to say: Cindy Visca -- "Mr. Blickle is incorrect in saying it takes 12 minutes to get to another McDonalds's. There is…

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Fairlawn May Raise Bid Limit

City Council is asked to let officials spend up to $50,000 without bids

  The city is considering raising the bid limit from $25,000 to $50,000 to make purchases more efficient. Assistant Finance Director Patricia Bertsch told City Council this week that having to seek bids on purchases can be "a costly, time-consuming process." That's why the state has already raised its bid limit to $50,000, she said. Otherwise, even buying a vehicle means writing a set of bid specs, advertising for bidders and waiting weeks for the process to unfold. "It's just cumbersome," Bertsch said. "If we move that threshold up, it would be easier for everyone." Department heads would continue to get three quotes from sellers when buying something without a bid, like they do now for significant purchases under $25,000, she said.  

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Fairlawn Halts Action on Internet Cafes

City Council will wait for state to regulate storefront gaming

  Fairlawn officials, who were poised to pass legislation regulating Internet sweepstakes cafes, are backing off that plan in hopes that a state law will tackle the issue instead. Law Director Edward Riegler, speaking at a Committe of the Whole meeting Monday, said Police Chief Ken Walsh has asked council to give Ohio lawmakers a few more months to come up with statewide rules for the cafes. "He would like us to hold this (legislation)," Riegler said. "He's hoping the state will come through eventually." Fairlawn's moratorium on the cafes — originally imposed in 2011, and extended twice — will expire in June.   The local regulations were drafted after city officials, tired of waiting for the state to take action, decided to handle Internet…

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Go Around Rosemont Gates, Risk a Ticket

Fairlawn City Council passes new law aimed at short-cutting motorists

  Fairlawn City Council gave police the go-ahead Monday to start citing drivers who go around or through the gates at Rosemont Boulevard. Council added a section to the city's traffic code that specifically addresses motorists who go through a gated road or slip around the barriers. "We've never blocked off streets in the past, so we didn't have any tools for the police to enforce it," Council President Russ Sharnsky said. For now, the new law will apply to the gates on Rosemont, but could eventually also be used to enforce barriers at Rothrock Road, if the judge rules in Fairlawn's favor in an ongoing court battle. Mayor William Roth has said people have already tried to drive around the concrete barricades and gates at Rosemont Boulevard…

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Fairlawn City Council Lifting Internet Cafe Moratorium

Council has decided it will push forward without the guidance of the Ohio General Assembly on how to regulate and restrict Internet sweepstakes cafes.

After three years, Fairlawn's city and elected officials have grown tired of waiting for the Ohio General Assembly to pass legislation on the regulation of Internet sweepstakes cafes.  This spring, Fairlawn's moratorium on the cafes — originally imposed in 2011, and extended twice — will be lifted. When that happens, the city aims to have ordinances in place to regulate the cafes and restrict them to an unspecified number of districts in the city, said Fairlawn Law Director Edward Riegler.  Discussion to move forward came up last month and was revisited at Monday's Council meeting. Riegler said the next step is for local officials to hold a public meeting and discuss possible zoning code changes that would mirror the yet-to-be-determined …

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Megan Rozsa

2:14 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013

Thanks for sharing, Sharon. How do the rest of you feel about this? Have you been to an Internet cafe? Or do you choose to avoid them?   more ›

Bath Trustees & Fairlawn Council Meet Tonight: Agendas Here

Fairlawn City Council meets at 6:30, Bath Trustees at 7 p.m.

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Obama's One-Night Stay in Fairlawn Cost the City Over $34,000

Mayor Roth intends to seek reimbursement, but other U.S. towns haven't had luck getting paid.

Having the sitting president of the United States stay overnight in your town is a big deal. And it's a really expensive deal, Mayor William Roth told City Council members Monday. Roth said President Barack Obama's overnight stay July 5 at the Hilton Hotel on West Market Street cost the city more than $34,000 for employee labor and materials needed to meet security requirements mandated by the U.S. Secret Service. Deputy Service Director Ernie Staten reported that his department spent $5,297 on materials and racked up $12,192 in labor costs to erect numerous detour and police signs and 4,800 feet of orange snow fencing around the Hilton. The department's materials breakdown included $2,074 for fencing, $2,025 for rebar, $720 for rope, $159…

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Agendas: Bath Trustees, Fairlawn Council Meet Tonight

See a full copy of tonight's agendas here.

Anything pique your interest? Let me know and I'll ask about it!

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