Mentor — City Council approved applications for more than $1 million in state funding for two major infrastructure projects Monday during a meeting that also advanced short-term rental regulations and heard updates on an ongoing sewer odor investigation.
The Ohio Public Works Commission recommended Mentor for funding on two separate initiatives. The first project involves resurfacing Mentor Avenue from the Painesville Township border near Target west to approximately 500 feet beyond Hopkins Road. The $3 million project will receive a $650,000 grant and $150,000 loan from OPWC.
Work will include 3-inch mill and resurfacing, full-depth pavement repairs, curb and manhole repairs and restriping. The project will also replace traffic loops with radar detection systems throughout the corridor.
The second project targets three outdated traffic signals at the intersections of State Route 306 and State Route 84, State Route 84 and Garfield Road, and State Route 306 and Industrial Parkway Boulevard. The $1.4 million reconstruction will receive a $350,000 grant and $150,000 loan.
City Engineer Dave Swiger explained the work will replace span-wire signalized intersections with mast arm poles and update all controller cabinets, vehicle detection equipment and signal hardware. Both projects are scheduled to begin construction in summer or fall 2026.
Council also unanimously passed a resolution designating October 2025 as SUDEP Awareness Month. SUDEP stands for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. The resolution came after a request from a North Olmsted council president whose daughter Brena died suddenly in her sleep after living with epilepsy for 10 years.
Council President Blake explained that one in 1,000 people with epilepsy die annually in their sleep, making SUDEP more common than sudden infant death syndrome. Steps to reduce SUDEP risk include closely following medical instructions, taking medications as prescribed, maintaining healthy sleep patterns, avoiding alcohol and recreational drugs, and recognizing seizure triggers.
Ohio House Bill 731 designated every Oct. 26 as SUDEP Awareness Day, also known as Brena’s Day.
Council approved its 2026 regular meeting schedule with several modifications. Meetings will be canceled July 21 and Aug. 4 for summer break, and Dec. 15 for the Christmas holiday. The Nov. 3 meeting was moved to Nov. 4 due to Election Day. Four meetings will start at 5:30 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. due to conflicts with Mentor Rocks concerts.
City officials announced Operation Snow Lift, a pilot emergency snow removal assistance program for low-to-moderate-income Mentor seniors partnering with the Lake County Council on Aging. Residents 62 and older who meet program requirements will receive three driveway snow removal vouchers per household for the 2025-2026 winter season. Voucher distribution will be held Thursday, Oct. 16 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Mentor Senior Center at 8484 Munson Road.
From Oct. 27 through Dec. 12, the limit for yard waste collection increases from 12 to 25 units per residence.
New businesses opening in Mentor include Purple Lotus Yoga Studio at 8642 Mentor Avenue and Pet Vet Well at 8900 Mentor Avenue.
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