April 28, 2015 [Sara Dorn, cleveland.com]
The city’s community development corporation One South Euclid has appointed a new board president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer, and wants to triple the size of its board of directors.
Council renewed the city’s three-year agreement with One South Euclid at its meeting Monday. The organization plans to roll out additional programs this year under its new strategic plan, community services director and ex-officio One South Euclid board member Keith Benjamin said.
Here’s a look at council’s actions Monday.
One South Euclid: Karen Poelking, vice-president for board and community relations at Notre Dame College, is the new president of One South Euclid.
The organization’s new vice-president is Yvonne Sanderson, former executive director of the Heights-Hillcrest Chamber of Commerce and owner of Focal Plane Photography, an aerial photography business in South Euclid.
Longtime resident and Argonne-Avondale Neighborhood Group founder Pam O’Toole is the new secretary and Austen Welter, a pastor at St. John Lutheran Church, is treasurer.
The non-profit, founded in 2007, receives homes from the city and the Cuyahoga County Land Bank and works to sell them to buyers who pledge to occupy the homes or sell them to owner-occupants. One South Euclid has also opened multiple community gardens and hosts neighborhood festivals and events.
Benjamin, who cannot vote on the board, said this year is the first One South Euclid has money to spend. He said the group will seek the community’s input on new programs, which could include: offering grants to help seniors or low-income resident repair their homes or loans for businesses planning to upgrade or expand.
Environmental assessment: Developer DFS Management LLC is seeking a brownfield redevelopment grant from Cuyahoga County to build a new medical office building at 14141 Cedar Road. The company is considering investing $905,000 in the site and renting the space to University Heights Dental and other businesses.
Council unanimously approved the company’s application with the county Monday.
Road tax: Council is considering asking voters to renew a road repair property tax.
Engineer Andy Blackley urged residents and council to support the 2.5-mill, five-year levy Monday and said the city would not be able to resurface roads without the money.
The tax has been on the books since the 1980s and costs owners of $100,000 homes $250 each year.