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Elyria seeks Ohio workers’ compensation grant to buy robotic field-painting machine
Summary
City staff told committees they will apply for an Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation safety intervention grant to purchase a Tiny Mobile Robots field/line-painting machine; committees voted to authorize the mayor to apply and accept if offered.
Elyria staff said Monday they will apply for a safety intervention grant from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation to buy a robotic paint machine that automates field and line painting.
Director Reardon told the joint committees the department evaluated two vendors and selected a model from Tiny Mobile Robots. "It's got wheels on it and...it's a little robot. It's got paint in it and you have a tablet," Reardon said, describing the vendor demonstration. The device is programmed via a tablet to paint fields and — staff noted — can also paint parking-lot lines.
Director Panowski described operational benefits: "It uses GPS to identify where it's at, where it's going...it will cut the manpower necessary to paint a field down significantly" and increase accuracy, he said. Reardon said the city's interest in the grant stemmed from worker-safety considerations and scenes at a recent conference where the device was demonstrated; grant review will consider reduced lifting, repetitive tasks and exposure concerns.
Staff noted typical uses would include West Park (several soccer fields and softball/football fields), South Park and other seasonal athletic fields; Panowski added that the device could also be used to refresh parking-lot striping. The item was reported as having passed the Utilities Committee on April 23, 2025. The committee moved to authorize an ordinance for the mayor to apply for and accept, if offered, the grant; the motion carried on a voice vote.
