Ford Road Bridge Funding Approved by ODOT--up for consideration by Utilities

On July 21, the Utilities Committee will review the approval of 80% of the bridge replacement project for the Ford Road Bridge to determine if the City should accept the funding. Elyria will be responsible to pay 20% of the project cost. Additional information is in the Available Documents section of the web page. The meeting is listed in the Upcoming Events.

Happy Independence Day!

I hope that everyone is safe over this holiday weekend, as we celebrate the birth of our great nation with family and friends. Over the course of history, we have shown time and time again why we are the greatest nation on Earth through our hard work and our dedication to liberty and opportunity. We must never forget the roots of our democracy and the freedom so many have died to preserve.

Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die. ~Dwight D. Eisenhower

No Police Audit At This Time

Monday evening, the Finance Committee decided to table the matter of an audit of the EPD. The discussion included statements from the Chief of Police that any money that would be used for an audit would be better spent by the EPD for personnel, overtime or equipment. The members of the committee generally agreed that an audit would be a good idea, but tabled the matter until City finances improve.

I continue to believe that an audit of the EPD at this time has the potential of saving money, giving the department some new direction with its new chief and providing some greater detail and insight into the department prior to the income tax ballot issue that will be decided by the residents in November. There has not been an audit of the EPD since 1979. Since that time, the geography, businesses and other demographics of the City have changed substantially and new technologies are available that warrant consideration for use by our department. An audit would help to develop operational and financial efficiencies and identify methods for improvement.

No Public Funds To Support Income Tax Campaign

Mayor Grace, at the last Council meeting, directed the President of Council to remove the ordinance from the agenda that would have provided money from the JEDD in the amount of $30,000 to support the income tax campaign. President Bullocks complied immediately and the item was removed from the agenda without comment.

Income Tax and Public Funding Proposal

The income tax and use of public funds to campaign for it will both be on the agenda for Monday's Council meeting.

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day weekend! I hope that everyone takes time out to remember those who have laid down their lives for our country.

TAPS - Major General Daniel Butterfield

Day is done...Gone the sun
From the lake...From the hills...From the sky.
All is well...Safely rest
God is nigh.

Fading light....Dims the sight
And a star....Gems the sky....Gleaming bright
From afar....Drawing nigh
Falls the night.

Thanks and praise...For our days.
Neath the sun...Neath the stars...Neath the sky
As we go....This we know.
God is nigh
Falls the night.

New Income Tax for the Ballot

The proposal offered by Mayor Grace to eliminate the temporary .5% and replace it with a permanent .75% income tax dedicated solely to the Elyria Police Department passed Strategic Planning and will, most likely, be the plan that goes to the ballot in the fall.

A majority of Council also supported a proposal to use public funds to pay for the income tax campaign, using $30,000 of money from the JEDD fund. This is the first time that Elyria has ever used or tried to use public money to pay for a political campaign, which is a concept prohibited by the Ohio Revised Code for other public bodies.

There is a specific exception for charter municipalities in R.C. Section 9.03(A) that allows them to avoid the prohibition set forth in R.C. Section 9.03(C)(1)(e) that "no governing body of a political subdivision shall use public funds to do any of the following: * * * (e) Supports or opposes the nomination or election of a candidate for public office, the investigation, prosecution, or recall of a public official, or the passage of a levy or bond issue."

Income Tax Discussion Continues

City Council will have a second Strategic Planning meeting on Monday, May 24, 2010 to discuss Mayor Grace's income tax proposal that will increase the income tax to 2%, eliminate the city’s existing 0.5 percent general fund temporary income tax, replace it with a .75% permanent and give the Police Department 1.125 percent of the city’s proposed 2 percent income tax.

These meetings are open to the public and the public is welcome to speak at these meetings. Council has also asked that all affected Department Heads for General Fund departments speak at this meeting to give their personal opinion and concerns about how their department will be impacted or alternatives to consider.

The Law Director's office has been asked to provide additional information about using public money to pay for a tax levy campaign, when such activity is illegal for all public bodies other than charter municipalities, including the legislative history and rationale from the Ohio General Assembly in making such activity illegal for other public bodies. Also under consideration will be whether or not to send this idea to the Charter Review Committee for consideration in creating a change to the City Charter such that the City of Elyria is similarly prohibited from using public funds to pay for elections and campaigns to pass a levy.

I also submitted a referral to consider an independent audit of the Elyria Police Department, which should be referred at the next Council meeting (tomorrow night). The department had a management audit completed in 1979 and Chief Whitely believes that such an audit would be a waste of time now because he feels the department is already operating within the guidelines of the last review. I believe this would be a better use of JEDD funds than supporting a tax levy campaign.

Draft Rubbish Removal Regulations

In response to the numerous questions I have received regarding the implementation of the new trash pickup system, I have attached the draft rubbish removal regulations in the Available Documents section of the web page. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding these draft regulations, please contact Don Brackenhoff at dbrackenhoff@cityofelyria.org or contact me with your comments and I will direct them to him.

PRESENTATION EXPLAINING OPERATION OF SIGNALS

NEWS RELEASE

On Monday May 17th, 2010 during the Elyria City Council meeting, the Traffic Engineer from TMS Engineers will make a presentation explaining the operation of signals and new traffic pattern at the intersections along State Route 57. The representative from ODOT District-3 will also be available for questions related to SR-57. The Council meeting will be held at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers, second floor of Elyria City Hall at 131 Court Street, Elyria, OH 44035. The meeting will be open to public.

Please contact the City Engineer’s Office at (440) 326-1444 for any further questions regarding this presentation.

Elyria Police Proposed Funding Plan

Today Mayor Grace announced the administration's plan to increase manning levels for the Police Department. This plan will be discussed by Council at the special Strategic Planning Committee meeting to be scheduled for Thursday, May 13 in Council Chambers at 6:00 p.m. Once the meeting date and time is known for certain, I will update the Upcoming Events.

This proposal involves repealing the temporary, 5-year 1/2% Safety Forces income tax and replacing it with a permanent 3/4% income tax. Documents regarding this proposal are in the Documents Section of this web page for your review and consideration.

Please consider attending this special meeting and offering your reaction to this new income tax proposal for the Elyria Police Department.

Streets for 2010

Last night, Council approved the 2010 street repair list. As a result of this meeting, the only side street in the 4th ward that will be paved this year through the regular street repair program is Eschtruth.

However, as you can see from the document associated with the streets, there are several streets that will be repaired using Issue 2 monies, including portions of Washington Avenue, Ohio Street, Columbus Street, Harrison and St. Clair.

Beverly Ct will also be repaired as part of a water main replacement.

April 14 Utilities Meeting--Streets and New Sanitation Trucks

Tonight, one of the items on the agenda will be a preliminary discussion of which streets in the City will be repaired this year. Engineering's proposed list and the Auditor's proposed funding for 2010 street repairs are in the Documents section of the web page. If you have any questions, please come to the meeting where you can voice your concerns and comments.

Also, the new sanitation trucks will be further discussed at tonight's meeting, due to several questions that were raised at the last Council meeting and as a result of discussion from the Town Hall meeting. Those questions and responses are also available in the Documents section.

2010 Budget Passed

The 2010 budget was passed by Council with only one modification, which shifted funds from the JEDD Professional Services to the Police Department for capital expenditures, which will allow the EPD money to upgrade the computer systems.