Elyria committee approves 50% reimbursement for Tokar Tower water‑damage overruns

The joint Community Development and Finance Committee voted Oct. 27 to approve a recommendation from the Elyria Economic Development Committee to reimburse Tokar Tower — the building at 124 Middle Avenue known as the Northwest Bank building — for 50% of cost overruns tied to a water‑meter replacement that damaged the building's plumbing.

Community Development Manager Grama Bayad introduced the request, saying the EEDC recommended funding 50% of the additional costs and that the city treat the payout as an extension of the original 2022 grant application rather than a new application. The reimbursement recommendation was framed so the total payment would remain below the program cap of $50,000.

Annette Streving, property manager for Tokar Tower, told the committee the problems began after a water‑meter installation when debris and mineral deposits entered the building system. “Rust and mineral deposits just started flowing in and we started pumping it up. … It destroyed our water pumps,” Streving said, describing clogging of toilets and sinks and two pumps that needed replacement. Streving said tenants on the upper floors were without water for more than two weeks and that the repair work is already complete; she said she will submit paid invoices to the city.

Law Director Dery told the joint committee the request would be handled as an amendment to the original ordinance that approved the 2022 grant application (the transcript references ordinance numbers '2022-169' and a recent amendment '2024-478').

Committee members asked whether insurance had been pursued; Streving said she had not contacted the insurer and had not confirmed coverage. Members also confirmed building details (the property has 10 floors and was partially without water above the fifth floor) and that occupancy is nearly full except for the second floor. The EEDC also voted to extend the original project completion deadline to Dec. 31, 2025.

A motion to approve the EEDC recommendation was made and seconded by community development and by finance and passed by voice vote. The committee instructed staff to treat the reimbursement as an amendment to the original 2022 grant file and to include the extended completion deadline in the grant paperwork.

The ordinance authorizes the amendment and funding consistent with the Downtown Historic Redevelopment Grant Program; specific payment will be processed after the applicant provides paid invoices and required documentation. The committee did not identify a precise vote tally in the record; the motion was carried by voice vote.