.... seemingly minor issues become major topics of debate.

Take Mentor City Council's special meeting this week. It was scheduled after a vote on a minor rezoning for a subdivision on Becker Avenue was blocked last week by three ward councilmen and Councilman at large Ron Micchia, who is seeking his old Ward 4 seat again this election.

Micchia was concerned that the church across the street would be required to tie into the sanitary sewer line and that it could be costly. He was told by the administration and the developer that the only entities that could determine that were the county and the EPA, regardless of whether the property was rezoned, according to Councilman at large Ray Kirchner.

"He insisted on playing games and, after much back and forth, we forced a vote to suspend, which failed because Walsh, Bucey & Aliberti went along with him," Kirchner said, "even though Walsh said there was nothing the city could do about it."

It was later learned that the church had tapped in several years ago. Ward 4 candidates John Krueger and Erik Bednarcik accused Micchia of being politically motivated.
Micchia defended himself, saying there were too many unanswered questions to vote last week. The exchange between he and Kircher got heated, according to witnesses.

The item ultimately passed 7-0.
"Seven days off the normal schedule," Micchia said. "That's not consequential.
And in seven more days, perhaps the council meeting will be a bit more subdued.

-- Betsy Scott, BScott@News-Herald.com