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Committee authorizes bidding for 2026'27 chemical contracts for Elyria water and wastewater plants
Summary
The Utility Safety & Environment Committee approved ordinances asking the mayor to solicit bids and sign contracts for operating chemicals for Elyria's water and wastewater plants (2026'27), requested emergency clauses and referred both items to Finance for Jan. 12, 2026 review.
The Utility Safety & Environment Committee voted Jan. 7 to authorize the mayor to advertise for bids and enter into contracts to supply operating chemicals for Elyria's water treatment and wastewater pollution-control plants for 2026 and 2027.
Director Pajnowski said the procurement is part of the department's annual bid-and-contract cycle and noted "there is a slight increase" in estimated chemical quantities because staff are negotiating to add a new municipal customer, which would increase water production. He told the committee the numbers in the referral are estimates and "we won't learn the actual cost until we go through the bid process." Law Director Deary recommended the wastewater-related item be passed with an emergency clause "as a safeguard." The chair requested an emergency clause for both ordinances.
Superintendent Stewart, presenting on the wastewater side, said the referral contained no increases "from last year" in the estimated totals and that the volumes included are maximum, worst-case estimates that staff expect not to reach in normal operations. He said those usage estimates help set the upper limits for the contract but do not mean the city will spend that full amount.
Committee members asked staff to include comparative information in future referrals. Mister Oswald requested prior-year figures so members could compare volumes and costs; Pajnowski said staff can add prior-year volumes and, if helpful, historical cost figures but cautioned market-price fluctuations limit the value of direct cost comparisons.
Votes at a glance - Ordinance: Authorize mayor to advertise for bids and enter contract for operating chemicals, Elyria water treatment plant (2026'27) ' Motion moved and carried by voice vote; emergency clause requested; referred to Finance for Jan. 12, 2026. - Ordinance: Authorize mayor to advertise for bids and enter contract for operating chemicals, wastewater pollution control/water reclamation facility (2026'27) ' Motion moved (recorded as moved by Miss Davis, second by Mister Oswald) and carried by voice vote; emergency clause requested; referred to Finance for Jan. 12, 2026.
The committee recorded the motions and carried both items by voice vote; staff said they will proceed with the advertised procurement and return any contract for mayoral signature after the bid process is complete.
