May 27th meeting is also cancelled.

Blog is off line as of Friday.........

Ok you have weighed in and the new site is not to your liking, it's gone.
This site is up until Friday
and then it's Bu-bye to the blog.........

I have lost sleep, as well as daylight hours researching stuff for the blog. I have thought long and hard
about shutting the blog down. If you guys want to keep a blog open; Go for it but I am out. It's really
easy to do, just go to www.blogger.com and set up an account.

This thing was started with the best of intentions to sort issues out and find answers. Last weekend I spent
a good amount of time going back and reading all the posts. For the most part nothing has changed in the
city. Maybe posting "Anonymously" is not the best way to go, maybe you should be responsible for you statements.
It was started to open a dialog and get some positive things going but it is now contributing to the negative things
here in Painesville, it's turned into a place to complain.

I am an a ceramic artist and a gardener. It's Spring here in the 'Ville and I am returning to the garden and studio.
It's time to work on my house and get it ready for my last daughters graduation. In two short weeks I will have a
house of rugby players and relatives....... they will need to be fed and watered.
Before I know it it will be canning season and the pots will be bubbling on the stove.
The cellar in this old house will be full of the summers harvest and hopefully the wood pile will be stacked full.
It's a bit of work but I like it this way, it gives me great comfort. The blog has created turmoil, for me anyway.

Council is on Channel 12 and I can keep up on pertinent issues. After watching the last council meeting I found
it sad that there are more homeless people showing up to pound their fists then concerned citizens.
Maybe "The Prince" can run for council.

I have learned there are wonderful people who live in this city and yes even some who serve this city and her citizens.....
I really like everybody, even the ones who tell me to move (because that makes me laugh).......... shocking.

Sewer rates have gone up, we are plugging into Amp Ohio, still no Green Council but I can live
with all of it. It's about what I do on my little plot of ground in Paine Falls. It's about how I walk my walk.
The trash rates going up and I don't care because I have our trash cut down to one bag a month.
Everything else is getting recycled or composted. I am working to cut down on our consumption of
electricity and water too.

It's Spring and I am love being outside.
Our sailboat launched Saturday........ my husband did it himself because I was on
the computer....... I am not missing another sunset.
the best to all the bloggers who have read and posted.
Mad Potter
returning to Paine Falls..........

New Painesville Blog site (click here!)

After using the blogger site for the last few months I feel it is good to keep the site going.
I am not crazy about the way the comments section of Blogger works
and wish it were full screen and site specific.

I have been hunting around for a better format and found one.
www.ning.com

Here is the new link:
http://painesvilleohio.ning.com/

I would like to get everyone who uses this site to try out the new site and eventually
shut this site down because I don't want to moderate two sites.

The new site will allow you to have open forums, start your own forum, up load
pictures and videos or set up your own photo albums.

You can have a recipe forum, a city council forum, a school forum, a business forum
a what's wrong with Painesville forum, a what's right with Painesville etc. You get the idea
This seems to be a much better way to sort things out. You can invite
other folks to join the site by clicking on "Invite" and typing in their email address.
Play around the site and see what you think.

It will take a day or two to get used to the new format but in the end
I think it will serve this group much better.
Mad Potter

I posted a few pictures so you can see how it works.

My response to 25 comments on; Things to Ponder.....

Howdy Bloggers...........
Happy Mother's Day!

I have not been very vocal on the blog as of late. I posted some things to ponder & let you guys; "have at it".
I believe the blog has just about offended everyone in town.
I let Post #1 fly on the front page because it was well written and brought up some
points I have been hearing at other meetings and here on the blog.
Post #2 was about the housing committee.
25 comments later I am over the blog.

When I go back and read the first posts on this blog they were about the schools and other stuff going on around the 'Ville.
Some were funny and some were searching for answers. The blog was not meant to hurt, slander or harm anyone in
Paineville; on council, off council or at city hall. As time went on some posts have gotten down right mean and nasty.

I hoped some of Painesville's issues would be explored on this format. It's not working.

Present the problem as you see it and then let's see if we can come up with an answer. If not email your
council person, city hall or show up at council. I know, I know you only get three minutes to speak at council.
We have entered the age of computers and it is viable way to communicate. I wish all the council people had blogs or facebook
or myspace......... I know wishful thinking.

I need to respond to the Housing Task Force issue brought up.
Here is who was appointed to the task force. I copied this from the
Painesville City website.

HOUSING ISSUES TASK FORCE

Appointed by City Council March 3, 2008 as an ad hoc committee to address matters
relating to housing issues within the community and to research and review housing programs and
services. There is no specified term of office. The Task Force Chaired by a member of City
Council meets on call. The members include a member from the Planning Commission, Fair
Housing Resource Center, Northeast Ohio Apartment Association and a City resident.

David Komjati
Richard Tibbits
Patricia Kidd
Father Vellenga

Administrative Support – City Planner, 392-5802
Assistant City Manager, 392-5802
City Manager, 392-5800

Council Liaisons:
Councilman, Paul Hach, Chairperson
Councilwoman, Abby DelaMotte
Councilman, Andrew Flock

This is a well rounded committee. You have a Key Bank Manager, Landlords, a Father, a council person who has been fighting for this task force
and elected council people who are acting as LIAISONS, one happens to be a landlord himself, I don't see this as a problem. They get to weigh in; pro and con and open the floor for discussion. How can this be bad?

If you are going to question anyones motives on the task force email them directly with your concerns.
I have spent the day looking through the Lake County Auditors site and I think Mr Hach has been given a raw deal here folks.
According the Lake County Auditors site everything and I mean everything was above board and pretty squeaky clean. Go to
Auditors website and look. Spend the day there looking at all the property in Painesville. It pretty fascinating stuff and I wish I
had found it last winter instead of spring.
Mad Potter
going back out to work in the garden.........

New Asst. City Manager.......

Anonymous just posted a snippet from the Star Beacon story on in coming Asst. Manager Doug Lewis. I thought
great, here we go again.......... I Googled Mr Lewis and read ALL the articles in the Star Beacon. It sounds to me
like Mr Lewis is jumping from Conneaut into the same fire here in Painesville........ an embattled city council.

I can only say please read the April 9 Star Beacon story as well as the May 10th story. They could have subsituted
Painesville for Conneaut in much of the story. I am going to hope Mr Lewis is now much wiser and has learned
at Conneaut's expense. Perhaps we will reap the rewards of past mistakes as Mr Lewis moves onto Painesville.
He tried to energize Conneaut with new business and everyone knows we need that here!

I do not think Andrew Flock or Arlene Becks vetoed the Asst. City Manager position because they knew about
the investigation. I think there might have been something else going on......... but we will never know because
all we hear is yes or no. There was no discussion on the Asst. City Manager. Hal Werner, when asked at the
Concerned Citizens Meeting, did fess up to the fact he knew nothing about Doug Lewis or his credentials. I am
not going to assume that is true for everyone on council.

He is hired. He cannot be un-hired so I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt and welcome him.

for those interested in reading the articles here are the links:

http://www.starbeacon.com/local/local_story_131023105.html

http://www.starbeacon.com/local/local_story_100050334.html

cut and paste away folks ...........
MP

Here is the post I am responding to:

HERES SOMETHING FOR ALL YOU BLOGERS. TO CHEW ON;
PICK-UP AND APRIL 9,2008 COPY OF THE ASHTABULA STAR-BEACON.
HEADLINE ;EMBATTLED CONNEAUT CITY MANAGER HEADS TO PAINESVILLE.
"ITS A GOOD TIME FOR ME TO MOVE ON AND EXPLORE OTHER OPTIONS."
READ THE ARTICLE I KNOW THERE WILL BE COPIES AVAILABLE SOON.
HAL, THIS IS WHY YOU IN
TERVIEW FIRST AND HIRE SECOND, WAS COUNCIL MADE AWARE OF THE INVESTIGATION IN CONNEAUT? LETS GET THIS GUY OUT OF HIS MESS AND GIVE HIM AN EXTRA $30,000.
THE MORE I READ THANKS, ARLENE ANDREW FOR HAVING SOME COMMONSENSE.

blogger meet up.......

Okey Dokey.........

I am going to schedule a room at Morley Library for a meet the blogger night.

How about Tues. May 27th 7 pm to 8:45 pm?

MP

Some things to ponder while doing yard work or ......

I have not been to a city council meeting or any meeting for a few weeks. There have been a few posts that have
hit the blog that are worth pondering so I thought I would bring them to the top for more discussion. These are
not necessarily my views but I think they bare discussion.


Post #1
Question; Is City Hall Corrupt? (conflict of interest)
Watching some of the going ons in this town you have to wonder. After reading the blog. I went down to Windjammer at the bridge and viewed the 16 acres the city bought there. The city sent out a newsletter to show the exact location of the land. Why the city purchased this property is beyond me. No way is that property worth $250,000. What was going on here?
Next I remember a city park off Jackson St. why was it sold? to whom, for how much, and why is councilman Hach receiving royalties from the gas well the buyer drilled in the middle of the city? I sell real estate for a living and none of these transactions make any sense.
Alot of people on council have outside interests in dealing with the city. Paul Hachs father owns Hachs Excavation and has dealing with the city. Councillady Abbey Delamonte husband is an officer with Burgess&Nipple how much billing have they done with the city, They provided the city with an Engineer for over a year why? Robert Fountain is an officer with L.C.D.C. One of Painesvilles largest home builder.When was the last time they were told No? Special lot sizes , zoning?
On top of everything they don't want any new people around. What they do to keep themselves in power is unbelievable.
Council and or City Manager are not in charge who is? Who does the Law Director answer to? How much time does he spend on city business a year?
We have alot of questions we need answers to them all.
Century 21


Post #2 (on the housing task force meeting)
That stuff Tibbits spouts about not being responsible for someone elses utility bills is a big smoke screen.

There are so many rentals in this city that some landlords can no longer fill their rentals.

The sad fact is the ones who have empty rentals are the ones that actually use credit checks, background checks, etc. In other words, the ones who are being responsible landlords and making sure they get good tennants who pay their bills and don't negatively impact the neighborhoods.

These tennants that are turned down, where do they go? Thats easy, they keep calling landlords because they will find one in this city that will take them no matter what.

So what we end up with is, the good landlords have empty properties and are slowly going out of business, while the ones who don't care who their tennants are continue to buy up more rental properties.

Some landlords will of course be against this, that means they will either have to improve the caliber of who they rent to or get hit finacially.

I have talked to some of the "good" landlords, this is not an issue with them, they already do the work up front to make sure they get the kind of tennants that won't skip out on a bill.

I didn't even go to the housing commission meeting and I can guarantee they will reccomend against this. I recognize the names of 3 out of the 4 members. We have Tibbits, geez, he spoke against this at 2 council meetings, we have the planning commission guy, he's a city puppet, his names on every committee and secret group they have, and a religious man who's calling is to help the poor, the very group most of these unpaid bills belong to. Then we have council themselves, Hal's a landlord, Hach's a landlord (and a lot of his friends are landlords).

It will be a miracle if this gets passed and as citizens we should all be screaming about it because it just reeks of political favoritism.

On this one I have to say Rita proposed a very good solution to not just the utility bill problem but it will also start addressing the quality of tennants some of these landlords are accepting to live in OUR neighborhoods.

The week ahead.......

Monday, May 5th:
Girls Softball @ Rec park : 4 pm
City Council Meeting 7:30 pm

Tuesday, May 6th:
Morley Library; Using Herbs in Your Garden: 7 - 8:30 pm
Housing Task Force: Courtroom #1 : 6:00 pm (no talking :-)

Wednesday, May 7th:
Harvey Track Meet @ 4:00 pm

Thursday, May 8th:
Planning Commission: 7:30 pm
Cleveland Breast Cancer Walk meeting for potential walkers
Morley Library: 6-8:30 pm

Friday, May 9th:
Downtown Painesville Organizing Meeting
Morley Library: Board Room 9 am - noon.

Lake Erie College is gearing up for Commencement Ceremonies next week!

Have a great week everybody!
Mad Potter

A post that needs discussion......

I brought this post up front because it is well written, not attacking anyone and has points I often think about and would like
to open this forum to more discussion. I have posted my response below.

Posted Sat. May 3rd by Anonymous:
Instead of attacking council and City Manager in every other post some people here should spend the energy writing to the right people about this stuff.

Why don't some of you write to the owners of the downtown property and ask them why they think a store front can pay $2,0000+ a month for rent?, basic business, we will always have empty storefronts as long as greedy landlords think this is OK.

Write to your State Reps and ask them why Ohio still allows check cashing businesses to operate and prey on people in low income areas. It is a legal, legitimate business, local government has no right to tell them get out.

Why complain about the City and Gristmill? The people in this town should be bragging about how our city stood up and went to bat for the owners and got federal and state money to buy them out. If I was going to complain it would be because MY tax dollars got used to save a bunch of people who got duped by big banks into being under insured.

How is it the city's fault that CopyQuest went out of business?, or Bitzers? I'll bet most of the people that read this site shop at Wal-Mart to save money then complain because all our small local groceries, and retail stores are out of business.You want small business to stay? YOU and ME have to support them.

Then we have the complaints about illegal immigration, why after all these years can't people understand that Local Gov can only react if the illegals are stopped for some other crime. I have not heard anyone declare that our local police can just decide all on their own to raid a business. Actually, I'm glad they can't, that is starting to sound too much like Nazi Germany all over again.


Dear Anonymous;
Some on the blog do attack council and the city manager out of shear frustration. I am frustrated. We have an economic development director but I do not see much when I walk around town. Yes it took 4 years to get a $200,000 grant and yes PC Airfoils is coming to town but downtown Painesville is deserted. We moved here when Painesville was really down and out 25 years ago. We have been very patient waiting for the city to come back. I did try....... remember Art Essence Co-operative Gallery? I put that together. The first two years were great then sales declined..... for lots of reasons and I am not blaming the city for the demise of the gallery. What does the city do to entice business to stay here? As for copy quest...... the city should have cited Havel for building violations until he left or fixed up his building! This guy is a pox on the city of Painesville! Yes,
he is a greedy landlord. But other landlords who own downtown building bend over backwards to keep business here.

What is holding up the demolition of Gristmill? When we moved to town we looked at those apartments and common sense told us they would flood. We are not from this area but that is the risk of living on a waterway. We relocated from Baton Rouge, LA where flooding is pretty common. My feeling from the beginning was I hope they have flood insurance. I am shocked the government bailed the development out but turned their back on the the other home owners down in the flood area. Yes, this is a horrible horrible thing that happened and I will be the first to extend a hand but government cannot keep bailing people, banks and bad business out, that is not what government is for! Now we have an eyesore and hazard that has been sitting there for 2 years. What is the hold up? Write letters? I wish you could see my file folder...... running over 2" thick at the moment!

As for buying at Wal-Mart etc. I have not walked into a Walmart for years! I shop at Joughin Hardware, get my hair cut at Bella Donna by Kathleen, buy my flowers from Grande Designs and eat at Roberto's which I can walk too! I just bought half a cow from a farmer 12 miles from my house and I belong to the Painesville Food Co-op! I have a large garden too. My eggs come from my friend 2 miles away and my milk comes from the co-op. For olive oil & paper towels I go to Marc's. I can my produce and freeze what's in season. I fish the river but don't eat the fish as I am worried about what's in them. I buy my birdseed and garden needs from Painesville feed and seed (love that place!) so don't even go there! We used to buy our coffee from Arabica when they were here and walk down and get coffee and sit in the park! We ride our bikes to my husbands sail boat on the river and have dinner at Brennan's.

I will stop for now because there is a track meet today and the littlest Potter is competing......... I will let other comment.....
Mad Potter
still waiting for change........