Glass City Jungle

Whenever I attend an event at Lagrange Village Council, I’m in awe of the way that neighborhood has come together. It makes me wish every part of the City had such a group of dedicated citizens. Last night was their quarterly meeting with the two District City Council members within their borders, Councilman Michael Ashford and Councilwoman Lindsay Webb, appearing to discuss where the committments the Lagrange Village had asked of them during the election process stood as far as achievement. Toledo Public School Board Superintendent John Foley was also in attendance to talk about the student mobility issue that is an important concern of the Lagrange area. School Board members Darlene Fisher and Lisa Sobecki were also in attendance in the audience. There was also a representative from the City of Toledo present to talk about neighborhood issues and a report by the Toledo Police Officer working with that area. I recorded audio for last night if you are interested in the full details of what was discussed, shared under each section, the cheering you hear is from the volleyball games in the gym. Some brief highlights:

Superintendent Foley announced a scholarship available to Woodward Students through Owens Community College where the College will match what they receive for FAFSA. There is a deadline of July 1st so Woodward Students and Parents will want to contact their guidance counselors for more details. Rosa Parks Elementary School is open with Sherman expected to open next year with an attached Boys and Girls Club.

On the issue of student mobility Foley stated that the issue is not so much about mobility as it is about achievement, that this is not an issue created by the schools it’s created by the economic and other reasons why families move during the school year. He supported working on solutions but stated it had to be “responsible, affordable and replicable”. The district currently provides for out of district transfers so that a child can remain in their previous school and while the district can not currently provide transportation there are some assistance programs like a parent transportation contract that would reimburse parents the cost of their gas at the end of the school year. The district is working with the Lagrange area and PEC has agreed to help distribute information to families that could assist them in staying in their homes, part of this has been done in the customer service training program for school secretaries with a packet being designed for parents for the next school year. It was expressed by Foley that the focus should be on families staying in their homes and what can be done as a community to support that as a goal.

It was clear that the Lagrange residents want some type of transportation shuttle to the schools in their area, John Foley made it clear that it was felt the cost for that type of a program was not a possibility at this time.

Audio Part One

Councilman Michael Ashford was up next and talked about what he recalled were the committments Lagrange Council had asked for in October. The main points were resolution passed the previous night at Toledo City council on the street lighting issue to force First Energy to replace some of the older lighting and he discussed his plan to eliminate the garbage fee for residents over the age of 65 who own their own homes. Ashford reported that the City currently has a backlog in trees needing to be trimmed and that the department needed more personnel. He also suggested that the Lagrange Village Council should have the 6 at large Council members come before them during election time and ask them to make the same promises as expected from the District 4 and District 6 Council members. He felt this could create a scenario where there was more support from some of the at large council members. Ashford also broached the issue of Wilson pool and stated he had fought to keep that pool open instead of Detwiler.

Audio Part Two

Councilwoman Lindsay Webb was next, she first addressed the issue of the pools and stated that her motivation was to have a pool opened in each area of the City and that is what was the end result. An update with the situation on Detwiler was given and she stated her position was it does not matter who’s legislation it is, what matters is that it gets done. Webb shared information on a meeting held in February to facilitate the street lighting issue, she gave a detailed report on the street paving in the Lagrange area with the end result of more paving being scheduled this year than last year. On the topic of trees, Webb stated there were many trees in the Lagrange area that would be cut down to due to the ash borer problem and that if a resident did not get a replacement tree to call City Council. Councilwoman Webb then shared that she had made a committment to meet with Terry Glazier every six weeks of the Lagrange Development Corp and was going to keep involved/updated on the concerns of the area.

The inequity of resources for recreation was discussed within the community and as her position of chair of Youth Parks & Recreation Committee of City Council, she urged residents to help with these programs and provided information on an upcoming event. On the issue of convenience stores she reported that there would be an upcoming hearing sponsored by Councilman Joe McNamara on the spacing requirements. Webb urged residents of her district to contact her and closed her remarks with humor by stating she only had two requests, to not call after 11:00 p.m. and to not cuss at her.

Councilman Ashford then retook the podium first asking for applause for Councilwoman Webb then stated that her earlier meeting did not faciliate his later meeting with First Energy and he asked those present to ask her about Wilson Pool after the meeting. There were a few comments made from the crowd that you can hear at the end of the audio.

Audio Part Three

Next up was the report from the Department of Neighborhoods, sharing statistics like 677 72 hour nuisance orders were given, 430 30 day nuisance orders were issued, 79 zoning violation orders given including three that were unfit for occupancy ones where the families were given assistance in finding new housing. Information on the Lead Abatement program was given and the downpayment assitance program was shared with 75 families taking advantage of that program last year.

Then the area safety report was given, the focus being on stressing to those present that the Toledo Police Department is there to work with the residents and “what we can do for you is to handle things one problem at a time.” The majority of the issues facing the area are related to housing violations and problems related to youth.

Audio Part Four

Then elections were moved on the agenda so that the question and answer period could take place. Most of the questions were directed to Councilman Ashford.

Audio Part Five

Then elections took place, then refreshments.