Wednesday, January 24th

From the Tennova Healthcare Cleveland News Desk, here is your news for Wednesday, January 24th, on Mix 104-1 and Talk 101-3 The Buzz.

From the Cleveland Daily Banner…

Cleveland City Manager Joe Fivas said there will be a lot of dirt that will be flying over the next 18 months. He had the facts to back up that statement as he gave Cleveland City Council members a status report on the city’s project list.

Just as the overwhelming majority of the community voiced their major concerns over the city’s traffic flow and congestion during a series of community listening sessions last year, the centerpiece of the city’s upgrades are 13 projects that are hoped to provide better access around town and to resolve many of what are universally considered problem spots.

Fivas reported the total cost for the projects is $9.5 million; however, the city will only have to spend $3 million from its General Fund.

He said the reason for the smaller cost for the city is because “we are leveraging our local funds to get the best deal that we can for our residents.”

The 13 projects are listed below with Fivas’ remarks about each one:

Georgetown Road/25th Street Intersection:

Projected construction is summer 2018.

“We had been waiting a long time on this intersection negotiating on right of way. We finally got there in the last couple of weeks. That very much needed improvements with widening the intersection. It will have sidewalks. It will really help the traffic flow in that area, especially during business time.”

Peerless Road/25th Street Intersection:

Projected construction is summer 2018.

“This will be where you turn off of Peerless onto 25th Street, you will have another turn lane going right. It will give more space on the other side. We’re going to close some of that culvert and realign some of the things by Wendy’s.”

Norman Chapel Road/Adkisson Drive:

Projected construction is summer 2018.

“It will add some sidewalks and address some pedestrian issues from Peerless to Cleveland State. There have been some hurdles, but we finally got an OK from TDOT to restart that project.”

Mouse Creek Road/Paul Huff Intersection:

Projected construction is fall 2018.

“This is an interaction with some of the development across from Publix. They are doing a significant amount of right of way to help this come to fruition. We’re looking a widening both sides of the intersection, putting in a number of different turn lanes and really trying to make a final fix on this intersection on what it should be in the future. Right now, we are just waiting for the developer to begin their project.”

Peerless Connector:

Projected construction is fall 2018.

“This is kind of tied to Mouse Creek. We are in discussions about being able to connect Peerless coming off of Mouse Creek and having another road and connecting that all the way through. We think there is a possibility that will come to fruition.”

Frontage Road Connector:

Projected construction is fall 2018.

“This is the one in front of the Target Center. There is a Wendy’s and there’s a road that will bisect that. We could probably do this project any time. We’re just trying to find the right time. That will happen this fall.

20th Street/17th Street Sidewalk:

Projected construction is winter 2018.

“We finally got through the design and we’re working right now understanding this is a very high priority. Our next step is doing right-of-way. Our team is working on how to get that done as soon as possible, even if we have to train more people to get out to make those acquisition. We’re going to make sure we can do that and get this project under construction as soon as possible. We’re not aware of any real problems with the right of way, it’s just all of the paperwork in securing it.”

Central Avenue Streetscape:

Projected construction is winter 2018.

“This project would widen Central, redo the sidewalks on each side, have some street trees, and beautification. We think this is an important project. It’s an MPO project and the state will be paying 80 percent of that.”

20th Street Bridge:

Projected construction is winter 2018.

“This is one where we literally couldn’t have our fire trucks or school buses go over this bridge. There was an opportunity we got with TDOT and they are accelerating this project. This project may be completed even before winter. The really cool thing about this is it is 100 percent paid for by the state.”

Dalton Pike Sidewalk:

Projected construction is spring 2019.

“The state will pay 95 percent of this and the city only pays 5 percent.”

25th Street Streetscape:

Projected construction is spring 2019.

“We have been looking at some of the options and approached TDOT with redoing the curb and making it more similar to what you would find in front of Life Care. We are still working on those details and it looks like they are open to that. That should be very positive.”

Adkisson Road Roundabout/CSCC Entrance:

Projected construction spring 2019.

“Cleveland State has gotten funds from the state to do some projects. We have been having discussions and negotiations with them on how to re-do their whole entrance to their school and have a roundabout in front of the school with new signage. They would pay significant portions of that.”

Candies Creek Road:

Projected construction is spring 2019.

“This is a stormwater project, redoing the road and fixing some of the intersections through there. We have a consultant on board now doing designs. This is as huge environmental project and certainly a project that is large and will take some time with some of the environmental permitting involved.”

Fivas said “one of the things that is great” about this series of projects is the city has been delaying projects until they could be paid for.

“Assistant City Manager Shawn McKay and I have had conversation about now that we have these projects, how are we going to pay for them all at the same time,” he said. “The good thing is we have been putting some money away to pay for these. Because we have so many going through at the same time, we are going to keep a close eye on that.”

Also from The Banner…

The cost of lawsuits against Bradley County may mean increased insurance rates in the next fiscal year.

The Bradley County Finance Committee discussed the issue during a meeting Monday afternoon when County Commission Chairman Louie Alford asked for clarification on the payment of lawsuits.

Bradley County Finance Director Rena’ Samples said there is a $5,000 deductible per incident of lawsuit. “The limits are per case” and based on how it’s settled.

“We normally just pay the $5,000,” she said.

Alford asked if officials foresee the county’s liability going up and affecting the county’s budget. Bradley County Mayor D. Gary Davis said he does, but noted the $5,000 is charged back to the department involved in the lawsuit.

Finance Committee Chairman Milan Baker said he believes the county will be “hit with” a premium increase at its next insurance renewal date. Alford also said he believes an increase in insurance premiums could be a problem when county leaders begin budgeting for next fiscal year.

From WRCB Channel 3…

Prosecutors rested their case Tuesday in the trial against Benjamin Brewer. The jury heard testimony from 15 state witnesses over the last two days.

Tuesday’s testimony centered around scientific evidence and expert witness testimony.  Collegedale Police Chief Brian Hickman showed the jury how he instructs people to perform physical tests when trying to determine if someone is under the influence of an illegal substance. He said Brewer showed clues in every test of being under the influence hours after his truck crashed into stopped traffic, killing six people. But defense attorney’s argued the science behind the testing is unreliable, trying to prove Brewer was not high on meth.

The jury also heard testimony from TBI Forensic Scientist Miranda Quinn, who tested Brewer’s blood at the state crime lab. She says Brewer’s blood tested positive for meth and amphetamine.  Hamilton County Assistant Chief Medical Examiner Steven Cogswell performed autopsies on the six victims and ruled all the deaths as accidental. All evidence for the jury to weigh when deciding Brewer’s fate.

Today will be the defense’s turn to call witnesses.

This has been your local and state news. You can get news anytime by visiting our website, mymix1041.com. From the Tennova Healthcare Cleveland News Desk, this is Jeremy Gault reporting.