Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Single homes will increase to $40 per quarter, two families to $50.
For the first time in 27 years Westlake sewer rates are increasing. “We haven’t had a sewer increase since 1986,” Council President Michael Killeen said last week. “It’s the cost of providing the service.” Four categories will see an increase. Single-family homes will increase to $40 a quarter. Two -family homes will increase to $50 per quarter and apartment and industrial will increase to $17.50 per quarter based on water usage. Even with the increase, the cost for apartments is still below the 1985 cost. According to the ordinance passed on May 16, The Commercial/Industrial rate will be on a per MCF basis of water consumption but not less than the single-family quarterly rate. The 1986 rates were increased only one year after new rates …
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Have an opinion on the proposed cuts? Add them in comments.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Elementary school positions, consumer science program will be eliminated.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Dan Keenan laid out a tentative plan for $1 million in cuts following the school levy loss last Tuesday. “We’re doing this because we can’t count on money coming in in January; we’re at the end of the levy cycle,” Keenan said. With no new money coming in, the district, at current expenditures, would be $2.9 million in the red by the 2014-15 school year. The cuts, announced at the May 13 school board meeting, will go into effect for the 2013-14 school year. Cuts include: Keenan said other cuts and reductions are probable. “This follows the $4.2 million in cuts we made in 2010,” Keenan said. At that time, operations were heavily cut. Now, the district is reversing the cuts to 85 percent personnel and 15 percent …
Monday, May 13, 2013
Board will decide if they should make additional cuts or try for another levy.
Fresh off an apparent levy failure last Tuesday, Westlake Superintendent Dr. Dan Keenan said before the board decides whether to try again to pass a levy in November, district leaders need to listen and reflect on the community’s thoughts. “We won’t put one on in August; that deadline has passed,” Keenan said. “Before we do anything we need to get input and figure out what we need to learn from this vote.” Westlake residents voted 3096 to 3049 against the 5.9-mill continuing levy on May 7. As of Election Day, there were still 44 provisional votes outstanding that had to be counted. That may trigger an automatic recount. “We need to survey the community and understand what we need to do differently,” Keenan said. “It is ‘how we operate’ or…
Sunday, May 12, 2013
More than 35 comments were posted supporting and opposing the levy. It's not to late to weigh in.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Marie Novak didn't win the primary for Westlake's Ward 2 council seat, but she has a message for her opponent and her voters.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Provisional votes could trigger an automatic recount.
In an incredibly close race, the Westlake School Levy failed by a total of 47 votes after Tuesday’s night race. Voters cast 3096 “no” votes and 3049 "yes" votes for a total of 6145 votes. But that’s not the entire story. According to Cuyahoga County Board of Election website, there are 44 provisional ballots that still need to be counted. Provisional ballots are not counted for 10 days and the results will not be certified before then. There is also a possibility that Westlake ballots in the mail that were mailed on or before Monday that are getting to the board after yesterday's election need to be counted. That total could result in a recount. By law, a vote total difference of less than ½ of 1 percent triggers automatic recount. In …
Council Ward 2 hopefuls Nick Nunnari, Nate Cross will face off in the November general election.
Westlake voters appeared to defeat the school district's 5.9-mill continuing levy on Tuesday. However, the results could be subject to a recount because of the slim margin. The levy went down, 3,096 votes to 3,049 votes, according to unofficial results. Voters approved Issue 15, a 2.8-mill five-year levy to fund the Westlake Library District, by a vote of 4,301 to 1,840. Tuesday's vote also propelled council candidates Nate Cross and Nick Nunnari to the November general election in their bids to replace Jim Cannole as the Ward 2 representative. Check back Wednesday for more election coverage and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter! 2013 ELECTION RESULTS* Ward 2 Council Race *Results are unofficial numbers from the Cuyahoga County …
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Blogger Marie Novak offers some tips to make sure you show up at the right place.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Brush up on the issues, races before the May 7 Primary.
Jake Nabookney
11:05 am on Monday, May 20, 2013
We are ignoring the elephant in the room by saying that those who voted against the levy hate teachers. The vast majority of Westlake residents would support rewarding teacher excellence in Westlake Schools. However, Westlake teachers belong to a union that limit outstanding teachers to the same compensation as average teachers who possess the same qualifications and tenure. Worse, when cutbacks … more ›