Q. I want to recycle, what are my options?
A. The City of Mentor subsidizes the cost of the weekly, curbside recycling program. Call Waste Management at (800) 989-9278 for pricing and details. The City of Mentor also funds a drop-off recycling center at the Center Street Ballfield Complex located on Carpenter Drive (off Center Street, just south of the Mentor Lumber entrance).
Q. Once Christmas is over, where can I recycle my Christmas Tree?
A. Residents can take their tree to one of four drop off locations: Bellflower Park at 7221 Bellflower Road (behind the Farmington Meadows development); Eleanor B. Garfield Park at 7967 Mentor Avenue; Donald E. Krueger Park at 7556 Chillicothe Road, or Morton Park at 9325 Rosemary Lane.
Please remember to remove all decorations before depositing your tree in the designated area. The drop-off sites will remain open until January 31st.
Q. I want to report a burned out traffic signal (or a traffic signal is not operating properly).
A. Call the Public Works Dept. at 974-5781 or submit an e-mail.
Q. Who should I call when the power goes out?
A. First, do NOT call the Emergency Dispatchers. 9-1-1 is only to report a crime in progress, or a fire, or to request an ambulance. DO call the Illuminating Company’s Automated Outage Reporting Line at (888) 544-4877. Doing so will allow the Illuminating Company to restore service that much quicker.
Q. I’m having problems with the utility company. What can I do?
You can file a complaint with the Public Utility Commission of Ohio (PUCO) by calling (800) 686-7826 or log on to the PUCO’s web site.
Q. Who should I call about a pot hole?
A. Call the Public Work Dept. at 974-5781.
Q. When does my yard waste get collected?
A. Mentor’s yard waste program operates from the first FULL week of April through the last FULL week of December. The yard waste is picked up the same day as your garbage.
Q. When is the Police Records Department open?
A. The Records Department is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Q. When can I come in to make a report?
A. Police Officers will take reports 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Q. How can I get a copy of a report?
A. You can request a copy in person, by fax, or mail. You can also e-mail us at policerecords@cityofmentor.com; because we cannot return a report by e-mail, so you will also need to provide us with a fax number or a mailing address.
Q. Where do I go to pay a ticket?
A. Mentor Municipal Court, 8500 Civic Center Blvd., in the same building as the Police Station and City Hall.
Q. Does the Mentor Police Department conduct vacation house checks?
A. Yes. You can fill out a form at the police station, or download the Residential Checks form.
Q. What is on the next agenda?
A. All Council agendas are listed under Public Meetings.
Q. Who do I contact about a burned out street light?
A. Call Public Works at (440) 974-5780 and have an accurate description of the location of the pole. The outage will be reported to First Energy.
Q. Water is backing up in my basement through the floor drain (or through a basement toilet or shower) – who should I call?
A. Call the Lake County Dept. of Utilities at (440) 350-3431 ext. 0. They will verify that the main sewer line is functioning properly. If it is, then it is the property owner’s responsibility.
Q. There is a dead animal (or other debris) in the road. Who should I call?
A. Weekdays between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. call the Public Works Department at (440) 974-5781. Call the Police Dept. at 974-5789 at all other times.
Q. When does my yard waste get collected?
A. Mentor’s yard waste program operates from the first FULL week of April through the last FULL week of December. The yard waste is picked up the same day as your garbage.
Q. Who is responsible for repairing my sidewalk?
A. The property owner is responsible for the proper maintenance of sidewalks within the public right of way. The city can provide a list of licensed contractors.
Q. Who should I call if I notice a problem with one of the City parks?
A. To report a maintenance concern, call the Public Works Dept. at (440) 974-5781.
Q. My neighbor’s grass is really high, what can I do?
A. The Mentor Code of Ordinances states that “Lawns and landscaping shall be kept from becoming overgrown and unsightly…” and that “Any growth of weeds or grass to a height greater than eight (8) inches on average…” is considered rank vegetation. High grass complaints should be reported to the Code Enforcement Officers at (440) 974-5785. The Officers will check out the complaint and post the home with a notice that the owner has 48 hours to cut the lawn. If that is not done, a notice will be sent to the City Public Works Department who will cut the lawn and the homeowner will be billed.
Q. I want to put address numbers on my house; what size numbers should I use?
A. Chapter 1347 of the Mentor Code of Ordinances addresses this topic. The City’s Economic & Community Development Department assigns the address number. Each house and building shall bear the identification of the address in numeric form. The minimum size of number on the house or building is four inches. If the house or building is located between 61 and 100 feet from the road right-of-way and the address is posted on the building, the minimum size is six inches. The number size for posting on buildings beyond 100 feet from the road right-of-way is ten inches. Posting numbers on mailboxes may be accomplished with numbers provided with the mailbox.
Q. Who is responsible for maintaining the sidewalk in front of my house?
A. Maintenance of sidewalks and aprons in the public right-of-way are the responsibility of the adjoining property owner. For example, vertical and/or horizontal separations between adjoining sidewalk slabs shall not exceed one inch. Please contact the Engineering & Building Department at (440) 974-5785 for a complete listing of sidewalk maintenance requirements.
Q. What is required to be a registered contractor?
A. In order to be a registered contractor in the City of Mentor, minimum bonding and insurance requirements must be met. The City requires an ORIGINAL Mentor Bond form for EACH trade registration. Minimum requirements include evidence of liability for bodily injury and property damage in the amount of $1,000,000. A $70.00 registration fee is also required for each trade.
