Lorain County approves $3 million for Gerber Property wetland and stream restoration

The Lorain County Board of Commissioners voted Feb. 14 to approve $3,000,000 in appropriations for the Gerber Property wetland and stream restoration project, intended to provide flood control and improve water quality in the Fortune Ditch watershed.

The funds come as three separate million-dollar sources: a grant from the state H2Ohio Fund, a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and a donation being coordinated with the county prosecutor's office, county staff explained.

"The $3,000,000 that you see for appropriations, represents, a grant from the state of Ohio, H2Ohio, the H2Ohio Fund for the Gerber property, a million dollars, a million dollars from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, another grant that we had received. And then, the third million is a donation that the county prosecutor's office and us have been working on," a county staff member said during the meeting.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the restoration will provide flood control and water-quality benefits in Eaton Township, Columbia Township and part of North Ridgeville. County staff also said the project remains subject to a legal matter; work can begin only after the matter is resolved in the Ninth District Court of Appeals.

Commissioner Moore voted yes, Commissioner Gallagher voted yes and Commissioner Redell voted yes to approve the appropriation.

County staff did not provide a construction schedule at the meeting and said the project cannot proceed until the appellate issue is resolved. The board did not specify which contractor will perform construction or an estimated on-the-ground start date.

The action was listed on the commissioners' appropriations agenda and funded from the accounting lines identified at the meeting.