By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon
June 23, 2009 07:59 pm
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CONNEAUT — The owner of the Perkins Restaurant closed since a January roof collapse will repair and reopen the eatery, City Manager Robert Schaumleffel Jr., said Monday night.
No firm date has been set for the relaunch of the restaurant, located at the Conneaut Plaza shopping center on West Main Road, Schaumleffel told City Council.
The owner, Unique Ventures of Meadville, Pa., will remove the roof to shore up exterior walls damaged during the partial collapse that occurred Jan. 28, Schaumleffel said.
The restaurant, built in 1979, closed immediately after the collapse, which consumed most of the roof. Employees noticed a bulge in the ceiling that worsened over the span of a few hours. Patrons were evacuated and no injuries were reported.
Council members asked if the repair project qualified for tax abatement from the city. Schaumleffel said he would investigate.
David Smith, Ashtabula County’s chief building inspector, said via a relayed message that no plans for the restaurant’s rebirth have been received at his office.
In other business, council:
• Agreed to sell brick sidewalk pavers removed from downtown Main Street earlier this month. The bricks will probably be sold via sealed bid later this year, Schaumleffel said.
• Learned Tom Udell has stepped down as chairman of the cable advisory committee, the panel that oversees the city’s cable access channels. Shane Brown and Rob Eager will split the chairman duties. Udell will remain as a member.
• Learned a safety committee will be held at 6 p.m. today at Fire Station 3 to discuss the recent decision to yank the 1985 ladder truck from the Conneaut Fire Department fleet. A crack in the frame makes it unsafe to operate, officials have said. Ward 2 Councilman Charles Lewis wants to see the crack for himself and will examine the truck at the street department.
• Reappointed John Palo to another term on the Conneaut Port Authority
• Approved resolutions saluting five retired city employees on their recent retirement. They are Robert Gustafson (water treatment plant superintendent); Steve Grant (water plant operator); Bim Orrenmaa (fire chief); Charles Distelrath (City Hall custodian) and Charlie Beaver (wastewater treatment plant maintenance foreman)
• Approved an ordinance exempting all city employees from residency requirements, as per a recent Ohio Supreme Court ruling
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