Here are the top five stories of 2012 in Fairlawn as selected by Copley-Fairlawn.Ohio.com correspondent David Paulk:
Fairlawn cuts part-time workers' hours
Fairlawn City Council has determined that Fairlawn part-time workers must work less than 30 hours a week.
This new definition of a part-time worker was instituted at Monday night's city council meeting.
Mayor William Roth said this is the best way the city can bypass the federal government's Affordable Health Care Act, which will require the city to provide healthcare for anyone who works more than 30 hours.
Roth said it was not an easy decision to make.
City Council approves construction of GetGo gas station
On June 18, the Fairlawn City Council barley approved the building of a GetGo gas station at the intersection of West Market Street and Trunko Road. The ordinance only passed 4-3.
John Adams, a federal judge for the Northern District of Ohio who lives near Trunko Road, and a few other council members had a problem with the construction of the gas station.
“It is a dangerous intersection to begin with, and if you place this gas station in that location, it will only increase dangers to the general public and the traveling public,” said Adams.
Mayor William Roth and Council President Russel Sharnsky supported the construction of gas station. While admitting location was not ideal, both believed the station would be a vast improvement over a vacant plot.
Police department holds Share-A-Christmas program
In order to help out the less fortunate, the Copley Police Department continued its traditional Share-A-Christmas program during the month of December. The program started 30 years ago and has been thriving ever since.
According to Officer Duane Scott, the Share-A-Christmas program is supposed to help families who cannot provide a nice holiday season for themselves and their children.
The police department accepted donations of gifts and money beginning Dec. 1. The families who requested assistance picked up their gifts on Dec. 22.
Scott said the program is only open to Copley-Fairlawn residents.
Naturalist holds backyard stream workshop
Lisa Shah, a naturalist with the city of Fairlawn, hosted a workshop showing residents the relevancy of backyard creeks and streams on Oct. 20.
Shah's objective was to stop residents from tossing dangerous pollutants into streams. She utilized many selling points to accomplish her task, including the impact of chemicals on a property's environmental health and value.
“Houses that have a more natural approach to landscaping, and natural streams will have a property value three times higher than those with a channelized stream,” Shah said. “A lot of people enjoy watching wildlife and are willing to pay a higher property value cost for that.”
Mayor sends invoice to President Obama
At the Aug. 13 City Council meeting, Mayor William Roth announced his decision to send an invoice to President Barack Obama.
Roth said the driving force behind the invoice was the night that the president spent in Fairlawn’s Hilton Hotel on Aug. 1, and he requested compensation for the security detail the city had to provide for the president.
Roth said the president being a Democrat had nothing to with the request.
