[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6053177,"mediaKeyId","3376233-367ea5d1223095ae9386ea7d4b2625b5","parentId",3376233,"title","Council approves bridge engineering amendment, road salt contract, wastewater equipment purchase and splash pad application; adopts social equity plan on first ","audioSeconds",177,"startMs",3889000,"endMs",4066000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3376233-367ea5d1223095ae9386ea7d4b2625b5&start=3889&end=4066","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3376233-367ea5d1223095ae9386ea7d4b2625b5/thumbnail_3889000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6053177/Oberlin/Lorain-County/Ohio/Council-approves-bridge-engineering-amendment-road-salt-contract-wastewater-equipment-purchase-and-splash-pad-application-adopts-social-equity-plan-on-first","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053177-6eb4a3f79e6257951a99f6bddcb513f7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448332&Signature=jFbTmP1cyeuvIIBkZZxoP9kkhK7gq~s~TBXqtWyhjGozkcdCmiFVFdOS7onVo7vCYJa5rz~aEZa30ZJlYkBUm-qTI7w5C7Pf91KKNnz5rKecUK-d2dOJ-lEgnh4ImB3-oOU2Lys5W3eRmRw1LVW43UrZo6URoJZSiXTIveNp3xjGMomTlhQ2pLQz~XqVhlF-hTYR9OZZ56vXwgLf3186Z4ZqdKDgckxibUrNs7ca9ricLm7F1mG28fjAMNlooFF9BY7kQ2hZperSPGIRS7pUUbucZ-aXkrL--zZjR7R4N-Hg~7mRWg0lNC46HtEk45Q9ZQY57wQpPq9vw-plsa~GSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Oberlin OH ","date","2025-04-21T00:00:00Z","article","The Oberlin City Council on April 21 passed a package of ordinances addressing a bridge replacement, road salt purchasing, wastewater equipment and a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application for a splash pad, and it approved the city’s social equity plan on first reading.

All votes recorded in the meeting were unanimous.

South Pleasant Street bridge — ordinance 25-21
The council approved an amendment to a professional-engineering-services agreement with Schaefer Johnston, Lick and Waters and Associates Inc. to provide additional design work for the South Pleasant Street bridge replacement and authorized an additional payment not to exceed $6,220. City staff explained the project had been delayed by a 1973 Land and Water Conservation Fund commitment that designated part of the park as dedicated parkland; the city proposed a small land swap and sewer relocation to resolve the conflict. City staff said right-of-way acquisition has begun and the plan is to be ready to bid the project in approximately one year.
Quote: Jeff Baumann, city staff, summarized the issue during the reading: \"You can't build that bridge like that in that location because you committed that property as parkland in 1973.\" (reading and explanation recorded during the meeting.)
Action: Ordinance 25-21 (amend engineering agreement for South Pleasant Street bridge). Motion to waive three readings and move to first and final reading carried by roll call; ordinance passed on first and final reading. Vote record (examples from roll calls): English Aye; Lopez Aye; Peterson Aye; Walter Aye; New Aye; McFarland Aye.

ODOT road salt contract participation — ordinance 25-22
Council authorized the city manager to participate in the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) road-salt contract awarded in February 2025 and to execute necessary contracts. Staff recommended continued participation to achieve stable pricing and avoid buying salt on the open market.
Action: Ordinance 25-22 (participate in ODOT road salt contract). Motion to waive three readings and move to first and final reading carried by roll call; ordinance passed on first and final reading. Vote record: unanimous aye votes recorded.

Wastewater facility gear-drive assembly — ordinance 25-23
Council authorized the city manager to contract with Bergen Associates of Sylvania, Ohio, to purchase a new gear-drive assembly for the Water Environment Protection Facility at a purchase price of $80,820 and waived competitive bidding under the city charter. Staff said the drives remove settled solids from primary and secondary tanks; staff had planned to rebuild an existing unit for roughly $75,000 but recommended buying a new unit for approximately $80,820.
Action: Ordinance 25-23 (purchase gear-drive assembly, waive bidding). Motion to waive three readings and move to first and final reading carried by roll call; ordinance passed on first and final reading. Vote record: unanimous aye votes recorded.

Park Street Park splash pad CDBG application — ordinance 25-24
Council authorized the city manager to apply for up to $150,000 in CDBG funds from the Lorain County Commissioners toward installing a splash pad in Park Street Park and committed up to $163,944.70 in income tax capital-improvement funds as a local match if an award is made. Recreation staff said the park falls in a qualifying low- to moderate-income neighborhood and that, if awarded, the project would need to be completed by February 2028. Council members pressed staff about restrooms and accessibility; staff said restroom construction was not included in the CDBG request but that plans would stub utilities for a future restroom building. During discussion a councilmember noted that a restroom building could have a cost similar to the splash pad and therefore would be a separate funding question.
Action: Ordinance 25-24 (apply for CDBG funds for splash pad; commit matching funds). Motion to waive three readings and move to first and final reading carried by roll call; ordinance passed on first and final reading. Vote record: unanimous aye votes recorded.

Social equity plan — ordinance 25-25
Council approved the city’s Social Equity Plan on first reading and directed that members of the public may comment; staff and committee members said a redline amendment could be brought at later readings if council wishes to make changes. The plan document and a public comment portal are available at OberlinSocialEquityPlan.com.
Action: Ordinance 25-25 (approve and adopt social equity plan). Motion to approve on first reading carried by roll call; first-reading vote recorded as unanimous aye votes.

Meeting context and next steps
Several ordinances were moved and adopted on first and final reading after council voted to waive the three-reading rule; in each case council recorded unanimous aye votes during the roll calls recorded in the meeting minutes. Staff provided timelines for follow-up: right-of-way acquisition and bidding for the South Pleasant Street bridge are underway with bidding targeted for next year; the splash pad application must be submitted by April 25 and, if funded, the project completion deadline cited in the application would be February 2028; the wastewater purchase will allow continued compliance with Ohio EPA permitting requirements.

Votes at a glance (ordinance number — short result)
- Ord. 25-21 — approve engineering amendment for South Pleasant Street bridge; passed (unanimous).
- Ord. 25-22 — participate in ODOT road-salt contract; passed (unanimous).
- Ord. 25-23 — purchase gear-drive assembly for wastewater plant and waive bidding; passed (unanimous).
- Ord. 25-24 — authorize CDBG application for Park Street Park splash pad and commit matching funds; passed (unanimous).
- Ord. 25-25 — approve Social Equity Plan (first reading); passed first reading (unanimous).

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Oberlin OH, Regular City Council Meeting Apr 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","On April 21 the Oberlin City Council unanimously approved ordinances amending an engineering contract for the South Pleasant Street bridge, joining ODOT’s road-salt contract, buying a gear-drive assembly for the wastewater plant, and applying for CDBG funds for a Park Street splash pad; council also approved first reading of a social equity plan.","taxTitle","Oberlin, Lorain County, Ohio","taxId",72266,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6053182,"Oberlin Community Services says demand for food and housing aid rose in 2024; warns of federal, state cuts",1216,500000,1716000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3376233-367ea5d1223095ae9386ea7d4b2625b5&start=500&end=1716","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3376233-367ea5d1223095ae9386ea7d4b2625b5/thumbnail_500000.jpg","/articles/6053182/Oberlin/Lorain-County/Ohio/Oberlin-Community-Services-says-demand-for-food-and-housing-aid-rose-in-2024-warns-of-federal-state-cuts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053182-771283e8fb3443a7ab0daae2b126ad0e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448332&Signature=bSfwA4S1PdR18duas48BYzNbSAaHwh6eK~S5gUVeoPWiGcYx-Bkg-7TVf~vkyq8vjdjUmNp6pTATnGhxqIDcIGjgF3KSBD0Q7DM86Rod6SK5jQVw35S5ICgutq2g-7SsqrOH1TYwWk8jFaTZ0A1MMH-ZNvu-kl4MR3RDpIN2prjh6pee6XJXtfAbOx3UZxy-ON2m9IOaROfiF-LFVoXodW7Gs9bOcePlrhq2XsHCzU54mKuHIpDusZK0sNZ6aI138mHkRd~k8NGJTMCGSg7MCEeJggLFN38lOTUMxoF0oupPnx07a9qFbSNC~7HqvKF1VlsutdV4jqKhJeu0nuZBYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Oberlin Community Services told the Oberlin City Council on April 21 that demand for its food and emergency-assistance programs rose in 2024 and has remained high so far in 2025.

The presentation by Jason Hawk, a representative of Oberlin Community Services, said the agency served 2,460 unique households in calendar year 2024 and distributed food to 7,429 people that year. Hawk told council members that the pantry recorded 17,831 tracked pantry visits in 2024 and that the agency received nearly 250 tons of food into its warehouse over the course of the year. He said 563 unique families from the 44074 ZIP code used the pantry during 2024.

The figures show a sustained increase in use since the pandemic. “The answer is going to always be yes,” Hawk said when describing the agency’s policy of trying to meet requests for help. He also urged council and the public to contact state lawmakers about proposed budget cuts to food programs. “Writing your state general assembly person is probably the best thing that you can do,” Hawk said, naming several legislators serving Lorain County.

Why it matters: OCS is a primary local safety-net provider for food and short-term housing assistance in southern Lorain County. Hawk warned that recent federal and likely state funding cuts could reduce supplies reaching local food banks and increase pressure on the nonprofit network that supplies OCS.

What OCS reported
- Food pantry use: 2,460 unique households in 2024; many households use the pantry multiple times (the average number of visits per family listed was 7.25). OCS reported that the most common frequency is one or two visits per year.
- People served: 7,429 individuals received food through OCS in 2024.
- Pantry visits: 17,831 tracked pantry interactions in 2024 (this figure includes deliveries to institutional recipients and curbside/choice pantry visits but excludes some pop-up distributions and Meals on Wheels, which are tracked separately).
- New clients: 1,164 families who used OCS in 2024 had no prior record in the statewide food-bank registration system, indicating a first-time use of a food pantry.
- Emergency financial assistance: OCS handled 901 requests for financial help in 2024; 506 of those were from the city of Oberlin. Hawk said emergency assistance is limited to defined ZIP-code service areas and is intended to prevent eviction and stabilize households.

Partners and operations: Hawk described a network of partners that feed and support OCS operations, including Second Harvest Food Bank (the agency supplies the bulk of OCS food), Mercy Health (provides Meals on Wheels), United Way (contributes emergency funds), Legal Aid Society of Greater Cleveland (monthly brief clinics), the Bonner Center at Oberlin College (volunteers), OSU Extension (nutrition education), and other counseling and workforce providers that lease space at OCS’s Cooper Center location. Hawk said Second Harvest provided 444,000 pounds of food to OCS in fiscal year 2024.

Funding risks and advocacy: Hawk outlined two federal budget moves he said would reduce food available to food banks: a roughly $1 billion reduction split across two programs that had supported food-bank supply and farmer payments, and a separate cut he said already halted a 43,000-pound USDA shipment to Ohio food banks. He said OCS also expects to lose about $30,000 in FEMA funding this year and that the Ohio General Assembly’s proposed biennial budget currently would provide substantially less than the Ohio Association of Food Banks sought. Hawk and councilmembers urged residents to contact their state legislators about the budget.

Council questions and follow-up: Councilmembers asked whether OCS tracks demographic data and new residents; Hawk said demographic fields are collected voluntarily through the Ohio Association of Food Banks system and many clients decline to provide them, but he said he could supply sampled demographic data on request. When asked how councilmembers could help with the state budget, Hawk named specific state legislators representing Lorain County and repeated his recommendation to contact them by letter or phone while the Senate review was pending.

Practical information: Hawk said OCS operates at 500 East Lorraine Street in Oberlin. Office hours are 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Thursday and 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Friday. The food pantry hours are 1:30–4:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays and 1:30–3:30 p.m. Fridays; Hawk said staff will assist visitors who arrive during operating hours even if the pantry window is closed.

Next steps: Hawk said OCS is in the third year of a three-year city grant cycle, plans to apply for more city funding later in 2025, and will continue to monitor state and federal budget developments that could affect food-bank supply and emergency-assistance funds.

","At an April 21 City Council meeting, Oberlin Community Services reported year-over-year increases in food pantry visits and emergency housing assistance and urged local advocacy as federal and state funding face cuts.","actionData","errors"]

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Council approves bridge engineering amendment, road salt contract, wastewater equipment purchase and splash pad application; adopts social equity plan on first

Oberlin Community Services says demand for food and housing aid rose in 2024; warns of federal, state cuts