Citizen Participation Not Encouraged

The City of South Euclid has introduced Resolution 52-08 for the purpose of requesting two grants from Cuyahoga County. One is for $60,000 from the County “Operation Paint Brush” program to aid in exterior home painting funds for low income and senior citizen residents. City officials have determined that the average cost of painting a typical home in South Euclid is $3,500. If the request for these funds is approved by the County, approximately 17 homes would be able to receive this assistance. According to the Director of Community Services, a lottery system would be implemented to select the recipients.

The other request for County funds is for infrastructure improvements at Cedar Center in the amount of $150,000. It is unclear as to why the City is picking up the tab for this expenditure. The Cedar Center project was presented to the public as being a private development. All reports from city officials portrayed the financial responsibility as being shouldered by a private developer. When did that change? Why haven’t city officials kept citizens apprised of the financial circumstances? It is particularly disturbing that during the current financial crisis, the pursuit of additional retail in an oversaturated and failing market has commanded so much money and effort in lieu of basic city services and safety issues.

Regardless of any opinion on the Cedar Center project or the acquisition of funds, it should be noted in the documents below, the intentional manipulation of the application process to obtain this public money. One of the criteria on the application is for “citizen participation.” There has been no effort on the part of the city to inform or involve the taxpayers in the decision making. The agenda for the Committee Meeting posted on the city website did not include any explanation of the subject matter. Further, the online version of The Sun Messenger was posted less than eight hours prior to the meeting.

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Please click on the links below to view the entire applications offered:  <>NOTE: 11-22-09 <>SEO has requested the following applications submitted to the County by the City of South Euclid.  It is unclear why the information provided by using the County links below have had the specifics removed.  SEO will provide the information in this location when it has been obtained.

• http://development.cuyahogacounty.us/pdf_development/en-US/Planning%20Application.doc
• http://development.cuyahogacounty.us/pdf_development/en-US/2009%20Application%20(Tier%201%20and%202).doc

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• time: 9 min. 32 sec.

• COMPETITIVE MUNI-GRANT AWARD RECIPIENTS ARCHIVE - CUYAHOGA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT WEBSITE <> Click here to view <>