I-90 tangle
Mayors spar over need for more study
By Jeff Gallatin
Bay Village
Published Feb. 21, 2007

Mayor Debbie Sutherland and her Avon counterpart, James A. Smith, continue to be on different roads when it comes to the planned I-90 interchange project in Avon.

Smith sent a letter to Sutherland last week making a public records request for copies of “any and all correspondence regarding the proposed interchange and copies of all messages and your telephone logs.”

Asked about the letter and Sutherland’s approved request  earlier this month for additional study of the interchange from NOACA (Northern Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency), Smith said he’s trying to make sure he has all the information about what’s going on regarding the project.

“I am trying to fill in certain gaps to be sure I have a clear picture of the entire story on what is taking place,” Smith said, saying he has gotten telephone calls expressing concern about the project and rumors of other potential developments such as a new mall in the area because of the interchange.

“That’s just not the case,” Smith said about a mall being part of the interchange project’s scope.

For her part, Sutherland said she’s complying with Smith’s request, but adds she is somewhat mystified by his reaction and his attitude.

“All I want to do is to get additional study and discussion as to how this would affect the area and my city,” Sutherland said. “I am not opposed to the interchange project. I want to emphasize that. I am only trying to make sure that adequate study of the work and the ramifications of the project are done properly.”

Smith said he’s heard Sutherland on the subject, but said he believes she and other Cuyahoga County officials don’t want the interchange to go through.

“Doing a study or seeking additional discussion or information are other words for ‘we don’t want the project,’” Smith said. “We’ve had many meetings on this subject and there has been adequate study done. Why are we hearing this now? She didn’t say anything when we met about this a couple of weeks ago.”

Sutherland disagrees with Smith’s account, saying she has raised concerns a number of times about possible effects of the project and the need for additional information on it.

“I’ve asked questions a number of times about what is going on and have also raised the question of possible effects on more than one occasion,” Sutherland said, citing one example of her asking about traffic in the area.

Smith said he believes some Cuyahoga County officials are concerned because Avon has had businesses move from Cuyahoga County on different occasions.

“I hear this talk about regionalism, and usually it’s a case of regionalism of being what is best for the person or city speaking about it,” Smith said. “We all need to learn to get along with each other on this and other issues.”

Sutherland notes her request for additional study was approved by NOACA.

“It got unanimous approval from the group, which represents five counties, Cuyahoga, Lake, Medina, Geauga and Lorain,” Sutherland said. “If the representatives from the other areas — including Lorain — had concerns about the request, they would have raised them and they could have rejected it. They didn’t. I think that says something.”

She said the study and analysis work have been put off until the second quarter of 2007 because NOACA officials said they have not received the necessary development traffic information from traffic engineers.

Smith said he hasn’t been adequately informed about meetings or other items pertaining to the project discussion.

“I know I can be a hemmorhoid about this type of thing to people,” Smith said. “But I’ve seen a lot in my years in politics and we want this project go through. We caused a problem for some because we’re using our own money for it. Part of that’s for a reason, so we can control more of our own issues instead of relying on others because of things like this.”

Sutherland said she has no problem about a project going through which aids other communities; she just want to make sure her city and others are also taken care of.

“Anybody who knows me well would certainly say I’m a big proponent of regionalism and having different cities work together,” she said. “I’m also a big proponent of adequate study and preparation. This is just a part of that.”