Kent Police Public Discussion for July...

Below is the information that our Police Department has sent out to the media in preparation for the July 13th open public meeting between interested residents and staff members from the Kent Police Department.  The topic is a timely one:  door-to-door solicitors.  There seems to be a lot of confusion and frankly frustration from residents over the modern version of the old traveling encyclopedia salesman. 

The question we get a lot is — are these sales people legit?  Does the City regulate their activity?  Do they need to show a permit?  Is it even safe to answer the door?  These are all great questions and they will be the main focus of the public meeting which like the previous month is scheduled to begin at 7 pm at the Kent Police Training room.   

Hobnobbin’ in Kent...

After working for the City of Alexandria, Virginia for a decade – which because of it’s location (about a stone’s throw from Washington DC) included more than our fair share of power brokers as city residents, e.g., Senators, Congressmen, Admirals, Senior Staff members, and even a Cabinet member — you might think that I’d be immune to the effects of political celebrititus that comes from rubbin’ elbows with the likes of folks that are ordinarily only seen on CNN but truth be told I was pretty fired up last Friday (July 9th) to be meeting President Obama’s right hand man for Transportation Policy — Secretary of Transportation Mr. Ray LaHood.  Throw in our very own Congressman Tim Ryan, a couple of state representatives and a roomful of local political dignitaries and you’ve got yourself a party — PARTA style.  

Smiles were in abundance as Secretary LaHood and Congressman Tim Ryan paid Kent a personal visit to sign the $20 million check (Tiger Grant) for PARTA to build the downtown multi-modal facility.  I don’t know if it was coincidence or preparation on our part (I prefer the latter but I’ll accept either) Kent was the first Tiger Grant officially to be signed by the Secretary of Transportation in the country.  In my mind that’s worthy of a “We’re Number 1″ chant — and we’ve got the goods to back it up.  

Riding a PARTA bus around downtown Kent with the Secretary and Congressman Ryan, pointing out the redevelopment that is already underway and the rest we’ve got in the pipeline, I have to admit the entire experience felt a bit surreal.  The magnitude of the odds that we beat to get to this point are enough to put most Vegas bookies out of business. 

Little old Kent and PARTA (and I mean that as a term of endearment) managed to come out of nowhere to hit a grandslam in the bottom of the ninth to win the $20 million prize.  Again, I say this with great pride, but it’s like a rookie ball farm club finding itself up against the Yankees and coming out with a victory.  It’s the stuff Hoosiers was made of.  Pick your favorite underdog makes good story and you’ve got a sense for how amazing it is that PARTA has $20 million to spend in downtown Kent. 

On the one hand I know how much hard work went into preparing ourselves for this day so in that context it’s a great example of the adage that you make your own luck.  And I also know how hard our political delegation worked, especially Congressman Ryan, going to bat for our hometown project when it really was nothing more than a pipe dream. 

Dare I say it, it was Congressman Ryan’s earmarks that proved the deciding factor for us as those early investment of funds got us shovel ready before the Federal Government started buying shovels.  As a result, we were first in line thanks to the Congressman so we owe him a great debt for having the courage to back a good project idea at a time when public criticism for the use of earmarks would have made it easier to quietly withdraw his support.  Thankfully he fought the good fight and stayed true to his convictions, and it’s become a great example how government stimulus was designed to work. 

I can’t wait for the next ceremonial gathering — the first when PARTA puts the first shovel in the dirt and the second when PARTA is cutting the ribbons and opening the doors to their shiny new building.  I know that money doesn’t buy happiness but it sure feels good in Kent right now. 

Saving Money Wherever We Can...

We’re still not exactly sure how all the national health care changes will shake out at the local level but we’re figuring that the cost pressures are not likely to magically disappear anytime soon so we’re still out there scouting for ways to save dollars wherever we can.  The City is self insured and as we’ve made strides over the last couple of years to put more emphasis on wellness and staying healthy we’ve seen our costs proportionally decline but all it takes is one or two serious medical problems in a year to wipe out those incremental savings. 

When you drill down into the numbers it turns out that one of the City’s largest cost components is pharmaceuticals.   Anyone that’s filled a prescription recently knows that drugs are expensive, and while that’s not a surprise, it’s a tough nut to crack.  We’ve had some good success converting routine prescriptions to the mail-order approach and not only has that saved money it is also very convenient — so it’s a win, win. 

Although it’s a pricey market, the prescription drug market is also fairly competitive and we’ve tried to leverage that into deeper discounts.  In June, the City’s Human Resource Manager reported that she completed another round of price negotiations with our pharmacy provider and we actually came out ahead.  Under the new pricing and formulary reimbursements the City should save approximately $70,000 in pharmacy costs over the next 12 months.  The Health Plan coverage remains the same but the prices for the drugs have been reduced. 

Finally, some good news on the health front. 

Spirit of Main Street Award...

Not that I’m competitive or anything but I definitely did a bit of a victory dance when I heard that Ron Burbick and his work with Main Street Kent came out on top of a list of 20 main street communities in Ohio that submitted applications in consideration of the 2009 Spirit of Main Street award.  It’s hard not to admire the great work that Ron has done on Main Street in Kent, and it’s terrific that folks outside the community who are experts in what makes downtowns thrive happen to think its the best work done in the name of Main Street anywhere in Ohio.  Frankly I’d put it up against anything nationwide but that’s a blog post for another day. 

Until then, I’ll savor the moment and appreciate how far Main Street has come in a very short time and raise a toast in Ron’s name.  I’m not a betting man but if I was I’d bet that Ron’s not done yet.  Being a navy-man at heart I’m guessing that now that he’s got he sea legs under him in the redevelopment business he’ll jump at some more opportunities to continue to be a catalyst for revitalization in our historic downtown, and as he’s proven in spades, when he sets his mind to something he gets it done and done well.  I’m already starting the Back-to-Back championship campaign for Ron to win the award again in 2010.  Sounds crazy?  Perhaps, but I’ve learned never to underestimate Mr. Burbick. 

Here’s the official press release from Main Street Ohio. 

Kent Health Department...

I got word last week that the Kent Health Department was part of a team that received a Healthy Community Services Award for their effort to help the residents in our community stay out in front of the H1N1 pandemic and stay healthy.  The H1N1 virus doesn’t care about political boundaries and I’m pleased to report that neither did our local health agencies (Kent Health Department, Ravenna Health Department and the Portage County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management) all of whom partnered together to manage H1N1 information distribution, medical supplies, and medical response in a unified and coordinated strategy that made public health the top priority. 

The Kent Health Department is affiliated with the City of Kent, meaning we share office space and many administrative functions, but it’s less an official agency of the City than it is an extension of a state agency since it is funded through a combination of state aid and fees for services, and most of its authority relates to the protection and enforcement of state codes.  The Health Commissioner works at city hall so the natural assumption is that he’s another department head like the Police Chief or Fire Chief but that’s not actually true.  While the City department heads report to the City Manager, the Health Commissioner reports to the members of his Health Board in the same way that I report to the City Council.  Our missions are tied together but the administration of Health Department programs is actually fairly autonomous. 

The Department of Public health states its mission as the control and prevention of diseases that they accomplish through a variety of programs, all of which aim to promote a better quality of life for all citizens.   Here’s a look at the Health Department functions:

The City of Kent Health Department provides numerous public health-related services to the citizens of Kent.  These services include annual licensing and inspection of restaurants, vending machines, public swimming pools, sanitation vehicles and multiple use housing.  The Health Department is also responsible for vital statistics, providing medical assistance to indigent Kent residents, sponsoring a monthly immunization program, and administering the City’s mosquito control program.  The Health Department contracts with Robinson Memorial Visiting Nurses for the provision of nursing services and clinics, and with Townhall II for the provision of acute medical services.  The department responds to citizen complaints concerning threats to public health, e.g., noise, noxious odor, rats, etc.  The department also manages the pretreatment of industrial wastes prior to processing at the City’s water reclamation facility.   

In total, the Kent Health Services budget is $900,000 a year.  Roughly 70% of that is related to the personnel that provide public health services in our community.   

______________________________ 

(press release on Kent Healthy Community Service Award)

MHRB awards recognize community service

Nearly 100 friends of the Mental Health & Recovery Board of Portage County were on hand for the county organization’s annual event at The Tannery in downtown Kent during national Mental Health Month.  Board Chairman Ron Heineking of Kent and Executive Director Hal Farrier were in charge of the program and giving out awards to 11 individuals and four organizations.

The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the Portage County 2010 Crisis Intervention Team Officer of the Year. This year’s recipient is Officer Jeff Futo of Kent State University Police Services. He was introduced by Dean Tondiglia, associate director of Public Safety for KSU.  The honor is given annually by the Mental Health & Recovery Board and the Portage County Police Chiefs’ Association. It recognizes the outstanding work of an officer who has been trained in the national Crisis Intervention Team program and is using those skills on the job. CIT provides officers and other law enforcement professionals with education and hands-on training to deal effectively with persons in crisis situations, especially if those individuals have mental illness.

In its fourth year, more than 180 Portage County professionals from police agencies, the courts, corrections, hospital and human service agencies have completed the week-long course. The program is coordinated by the Mental Health Recovery Board of Portage County with the assistance of the Portage County Sheriff’s Office. CIT is offered through the National Alliance on Mental Illness, a national organization of persons with mental illness, family members and advocates who work to improve the lives of those with mental illness.

The Mental Health & Recovery Board also awarded the first Chairman’s Distinguished Service Award to Melissa Millis of Ravenna for her volunteer work with consumers. Major Dennis Missimi of the Portage County Sheriff’s Office was awarded the CIT Founder’s Award for establishing and expanding the CIT program in Portage County. 

Healthy Communities Service Recognition honors went to the Portage County Health Department, the Ravenna City Health Department, Kent City Health Department and the Portage County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for their roles in fighting the H1N1 pandemic.

The event also celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the Family-to-Family Education Program which provides a free education course and support to families and loved ones of children and adults with mental illness. Mary Ann Doerzbacher of Aurora, who served on the MRHB, worked with the board and local NAMI chapter to start the program. She was honored at the reception along with other instructors, Joe Vero of Aurora, Tracy Stamm of Mantua and Terri McGuckin of Kent.

Fireworks This Fourth of July...

I know, nothing says summer like fireworks — but please don’t try them at home, leave fireworks to the professionals.  Sure, what’s a couple of sparklers, but it starts with a few sparklers and the next thing you know you’re launching bottle-rockets and M-80’s before you realize you’re way out of your league and breaking the law.  If you need your fireworks fix, spend the day (July 3rd) at Kent’s Heritage Fest and come nightfall sit back and relax under the stars to watch the annual Jeff Graham Memorial Fireworks. 

When you make a choice to live in city, with neighbors in close proximity, you have to be willing to make some accomodations for the good of the whole — which on July 4th means foregoing your desire to re-enact the sites and sounds of a civil war battlefield using some fireworks you bought at a roadside stand.  I realize that sounds almost anti-American, as we feel like we have the right to life, liberty and launching fireworks to celebrate our Independence Day, but work with us here and put down the smoke bombs. 

Here’s some of the facts behind the use of fireworks in the City of Kent:

Student Volunteerism...

Over the last couple of years I’ve had a chance to work more and more with Ann Gosky in the Student Affairs Office at Kent State and besides being unbelievably dedicated to student development she is also seriously committed to community development.  The good news is that her position affords her the chance to combine these two passions into a single cause by connecting student volunteers with community needs. 

Thousands of students raking leaves, cleaning yards, or tutoring might not make the local headlines as much as late night parties but that’s the untold story of student life in a college town that Ann helps script.  YouTube probably doesn’t have many video shots of student volunteers in our community which is too bad because that’s the side of students that Ann gets to see every day, and that’s what she wanted to share with the rest of us. 

Here’s a snapshot of student volunteerism in the 2009-10 academic year:

Ann was proud that a new program was launched, Adopt-A-Senior, that assisted residents of Kent with snow removal and students will be assisting again this upcoming school year but they will actually start the program with leaf clean-up in the Fall.  Ann is hoping to designate two Saturdays in October and two in November when she can send students out into the neighborhoods for these events. She’s asked for help identifying households that could use a helpful hand.  If you have some ideas, feel free to drop me an email.

I went to back to see the student volunteer numbers from the 2008-09 academic year and the numbers are up in every category. The total number of students engaged in community volunteerism is up 17%, and the total volunteer hours is up 49%.  At a time when students are busier than ever they’re still finding time to give back to the community at record levels.   Big thanks to all those volunteers! 

I’ve heard it said that you should never underestimate the impact of students in neighborhoods and it’s great to see such a large number of students using their powers for good.    

Summer Lov’n In Downtown Kent...

I received a note from the good folks at Standing Rock Gallery announcing the first outoor movie of the summer season:  Grease.  It turns out that John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John’s Grease will be making its giant inflatable screen debut on June 25th at the Home Savings Bank Plaza – probably around dusk (which tends to be 8:30 or so).  But come early, stake your claim on the best lawn seat in the house and enjoy an early evening stroll through downtown Kent. 

The summer season outdoor movie schedule is as follows:

JUNE 25th, 2010 Grease 

-corner of Main and Water Streets in Downtown Kent -bring a blanket or a lawn chair

CONTACT: 330-673-4970

Cost: Free

2 Quick Bridge Notes...

City of Kent CDBG 5 Year Plan...

Some of my best friends in city government have been planners, but despite that, I’ve always felt that as a group city planners were a hazard to themselves.  Not because they’re bad people but because they’ve built a world of acronyms that only they can understand so the average Joe and Jane can’t relate — and more importantly appreciate — all the good things that the planners do.  Try sitting through most planning meetings and tell me I’m wrong.  Not likely. 

Which is too bad because city planners do a lot of great work that is very meaningful in our community but they’re cursed with aconymitus.  The truth is it’s not really their fault — they’re just using the language of the state and federal agencies that send money their way.  Who’s going to argue with the hand that feeds you so the fed-speak gets passed from generation to generation until only those inside can understand it.  For most of us it’s like Latin, we can see the relevance but we can’t speak it. 

The good news is that the City has a great translator in Bridget Susel.  She can drop acronym-bombs with the best of them but she is also well versed in language of non-planners and she is one of the best planners that I’ve had a chance to work with when it comes to interpreting fed-speak into what we speak.  She’s just completed the 5 Year Plan update for the City’s CDBG programs (that’s Community Development Block Grant for you and me) and she and I thought we’d share a few pieces of it for those that have wondered what all that CDBG stuff was about. 

The City of Kent doesn’t actually get a lot of Federal CDBG funds — around $325,000 a year — so it doesn’t go that far, but Bridget works hard to make sure whatever we get has a real impact in the areas of low income housing assistance which is the heart and soul of CDBG. 

For the true adventurer’s you can download the full document here:  2010-2014 CDBG Strategic Plan

But for novice, I’d recommend a quick read of the executive summary (below):