Lorain mayor highlights state, federal grants and council concurs with board appointment

Mayor Bradley reported that recent meetings with the governor's director of public safety and state staff opened doors for grant support and future equipment assistance for Lorain's police department. She said state contacts "have been helping us with public safety in the city of Lorain" and described ongoing collaboration with police leadership and the Safety-Service Director.

Bradley told council Catholic Charities acknowledged shortcomings at the Saint Elizabeth Center and discussed hiring two off-duty police officers to provide on-site policing; she said the charity would pay the officers. "Chief Aylin ' has indicated ' he certainly would support having officers over there, but that would have to be 2 officers," she said. The arrangement, Bradley said, is intended to address repeated problems at the facility.

The mayor also summarized recent recognitions and grant awards cited at a regional meeting, including $1,500,000 for the East Street/6th Street improvements project, $277,139 for the Oakwood Connector South Lorain Library Trail, and $870,807 for asphalt-to-concrete replacement on Long Brook and Yorktown Roads. "Having a source like the state of Ohio ' to the governor's office is really a good thing for us," Bradley said.

Council took formal action on the mayor's personnel request: it voted unanimously to concur with the appointment of Amanda Willie to the Sewer and Water Advisory Board, effective immediately through 10/05/2029. Bradley introduced Willie and described her background: "She works for [county] and she got a master's degree; she has a lot of experience with grants," the mayor said.

What happens next: the mayor suggested staff will continue pursuing identified grant and partnership opportunities. The council did not suspend rules tonight due to absences; several agenda items were moved to later readings because nine members are required to suspend rules.