Elyria finance committee tables Elyria Community Partnership request; approves water contracts, DEFA loan application, Black & Veatch amendment and staffing, 1/
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Summary
The Jan. 12 Finance Committee voted to table a $75,000 Elyria Community Partnership request until permanent appropriations; it authorized water- and wastewater-chemical procurement, approved a $367,075 design amendment for Black & Veatch, voted to apply for a $12.16 million DEFA loan for aeration-tank work, and amended fire-department rank ordinances.
The Elyria Finance Committee on Jan. 12 moved several budget and contract items forward and tabled a community funding request pending permanent appropriations.
Elyria Community Partnership: Monet Roberts of the Elyria Community Partnership presented a 2025 impact report and asked the city for a $75,000 contribution for 2026 programs (wayfinding, murals, business development and downtown events). Finance staff and counsel recommended following precedent and allocating a one‑time lump sum at the time permanent appropriations are passed. The committee voted to table the request until the permanent budget process; Councilmember Van Warmer recused from that vote.
Water and wastewater chemicals: The committee authorized the mayor to advertise for bids and enter contracts for operating chemicals for the water pumping plant and the wastewater pollution control (reclamation) plant for 2026–27. Scott Nalitz (water superintendent) described the item as a routine contract renewal.
Black & Veatch amendment — chlorine building design: Engineer John Schneider said Amendment No. 3 to the professional service agreement with Black & Veatch would complete design work for the chlorine building and address EPA-identified deficiencies. Schneider said the city is seeking an additional $367,075 to finish the work; the committee approved the amendment with an emergency clause.
DEFA loan application for wet-weather program: Schneider also described the activated‑sludge aeration-tank improvement project and asked the committee to authorize applying for a Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance (DEFA) loan. The city requested $12,164,140 to cover construction, construction engineering/inspection and contingencies; Schneider said bid results put the likely construction cost near $10.5 million. The committee authorized the mayor to apply for the loan, noting some DEFA funding can be low-interest or partly forgivable.
Leona Street change order (OPWC): The committee approved a project change order for the Leona Street/Griswold OPWC resurfacing project to cover additional curbing and sidewalk work. Schneider said final costs are expected at $118,811.36; the committee report lists a $31,587 municipal motor‑vehicle fund share and an OPWC grant/loan split for the remainder.
Personnel and equipment items: The committee authorized creation of a project manager position for the Elyria Water Reclamation Facility (to be filled by promoting an existing employee, not by adding headcount), approved a resolution declaring a 2002 GMC 2500 pickup in the cemetery department unfit for service and authorizing disposal, and tabled a separate fire-department equipment disposition item until the next finance meeting.
Fire-department ordinance amendment: The committee approved an ordinance amending Elyria Codified Ordinance 137.01 to reflect current staffing levels: increasing authorized captains from 6 to 7 and lieutenants from 7 to 12. Safety Service Director and Chief Vernesti said promotions will come from existing staff and that the change is “housekeeping” to align the ordinance with current operations; the change carried as an emergency.
Temporary appropriations: Finance made targeted adjustments to 2026 temporary appropriations to cover open purchase orders in water pumping and distribution capital accounts ($136,007.76 and $89,009.82, respectively) and added $16,700 in the civil service commission budget for fire department testing. The committee approved the appropriation changes.
What’s next: Several items required follow-up. The Elyria Community Partnership contribution was tabled until permanent appropriations. Staff said DEFA application timelines motivated the emergency request and will continue processing bond/loan paperwork. Other contracts and ordinances will return to full council as required by the charter.
