Engineering department seeks to fund intern hire, adds $150,000 for storm projects and cleaning contracts

The engineering department told the Lorain City Council finance subcommittee on Jan. 13 that it plans to recruit an intern to replace a recently retired civil engineer and is seeking extra contractual funds for storm-related maintenance.

The department representative said the position vacated by Greg Hassell would be filled by a near-term hire — an intern expected to graduate in May — and requested roughly $20,000 to fund that hire for approximately three quarters of the year. The official described that figure as approximately 20–25 percent of a full-year salary and said capital outlay could cover additional costs once the employee begins full time.

On storm infrastructure, the department requested a $100,000 increase for trench/business and catch-basin cleaning contracts and an additional $50,000 for a pedestrian-safety storm project. The engineering representative said those amounts were added to contractual services to ensure catch basins and storm facilities are cleaned and to address pedestrian-safety drainage needs.

Council members asked clarifying questions about where costs appeared in the worksheet and whether contractual services had increased; the engineering director and council members agreed administration would reflect these changes in the consolidated budget worksheet.

No final council vote occurred on Jan. 13; the engineering department’s requests will be consolidated with other departmental changes and reviewed by the auditor and administration ahead of the permanent budget adoption process.