'Road Rage' at City Council Meeting

Heated words were exchanged at Monday's City Council meeting when residents of two streets complained about Strongsville's road-repair plans.

On Collier Drive, a group of residents, backed by Ward 3 Councilman Mark Roth, begged city officials not to remove an island from their street, saying its charm was one of the reasons they bought homes there.

"The majority of the residents want it to stay," said Roth, who also complained that neither he nor 14 of the 18 households on the street were notified of plans to remove the island.

And Ashwood Drive resident Matt Ferraro said vehicles can travel no faster than 10 mph on his pothole-laden street, but fears the repairs will be pushed back yet again if crews don't start work until fall.

"The issue is our street is not driveable any more. It's embarrassing," Ferraro said.

City Engineer Ken Mikula said Ashwood Drive, located off  Jonathan Drive, is on the list of streets to be repaired this year. But he could not say when the work would start, which, Ferraro said, means bad weather this fall could pre-empt construction again.

"Then slate it earlier," Ferraro said. "It's been on the slate before, but it hasn't gotten done." 

Mayor Tom Perciak said he would speak with officials at Fabrizi Trucking and Paving, which was awarded Strongsville's road repair contract this year, to see if a crew can be freed up to get an earlier start on Ashwood.

Roth also complained that some streets, like Collier, will get a "cheap" asphalt overlay this summer, while others are slated to receive 8 inches of rebar-re-enforced concrete. 

His words sparked and angry exchange with Perciak.

"There isn't a street we do in this town that's 'cheap,'" Perciak said.

He asked Mikula to explain that crews on Collier would mill off 3 inches of asphalt, make full-depth repairs where needed and pour 3 inches of new asphalt.

"Does that sound cheap to you?" Perciak angrily asked Roth.

No, Roth said, but added there is "a big difference" between that and 8 inches of concrete.

"There's a two-tiered system in street repair," Roth said.

The city is spending about $5 million to repair or repave about 40 streets this year.

Service Director Joe Walker told the group of Collier Drive residents that he decided to remove the island after complaints from homeowners who live directly in front of it about poor drainage and problems with snow plows getting close enough to their driveways.

He said an island on Litto Drive was removed a few years ago and residents there love it.

But Collier Drive residents asked him to make the island smaller if necessary, but not to remove it entirely. They said it offers safety because it slows traffic, and also separates their newer homes from the original neighborhoos.

Collier runs off Atlantic Road.

Walker said he would look into their suggestions.

"We're not trying to ruin your subdivision, we're trying to improve it," he said.

Roth said he believes Walker will be able to help the Collier Drive residents.

"I've got confidence he's going to come up with another plan," he said.