Joint Community Development, Finance, & Utilities, Safety & Environment Meeting 05/11/2026

The City of Elyria held a joint meeting of the Community Development, Finance, Utilities, Safety, and Environment committees on May 11, 2026. Key procurement and budget discussions included approval of the 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Action Plan with a full allocation of $692,349, focusing on funding various community programs such as youth workforce initiatives, home-delivered meals, legal aid services, and park improvements including the West Park Skate Park. The committees also approved a contract with HDR Engineering for an emerging contaminant study of the city’s sanitary collection system, funded by a principal forgiveness loan from the Ohio EPA. Additionally, a new contract with Echo Tree Service LLC was authorized for tree services through 2027 with a not-to-exceed amount of $300,000. The meeting included approval of a lease agreement for a new iBak camera truck essential for wastewater sewer collection system operations. The creation of a new utilities coordinator position was also authorized to better manage utility projects without increasing staffing costs. Motions for all contracts and budget items were properly moved, seconded, and passed with emergency clauses where applicable to ensure timely project execution and funding compliance.