Mayor’s request for funds sparks more discussion

More discussion sparked between Elyria City Council when Mayor Holly Brinda’s request of funds to the city’s economic develop- ment account was discussed Feb. 5.

The request first was brought to the city’s Finance Committee on Jan. 29 and ended in a tie vote.

Brinda is seeking to add $400,000 to the city’s economic development account for future initiatives.

Funds that are available in the city’s temporary appropriations can be added to the economic development account for operating maintenance, said Assistant Finance Director John Farrell.

Brinda said with the help of funds from Issue 6 and the $400,000 for economic development, it can cover expenses for future projects.

Brinda said Issue 6 is meant to allocate $500,000 annually for economic development and the revitalization of the city.

Last year, the city only spent about $105,000 in that account, she said.

For this year, she said $500,000 would carry over from Issue 6 into the economic development account, not including the $400,000 that could be added.

In all, $800,000 to $900,000 could be in the economic development fund, Brinda said.

Some of the funds include dollars to Carnegie Management Co. of Westlake and Great Lakes Development in Elyria to provide services for those future plans in the growth in the Midway Mall area.

The plan also called for hiring an economic development director.

There were two applicants for the position, but both declined the offer because the salary was too low, Brinda said.

She said she is seeking to raise the director’s salary to an amount that is near the going rate of $100,000 to $105,000 to become more competitive for the position.

To give Council a better understanding of where funds would go, Brinda provided a potential budget yo Council members of items they would like to see in the city’s redevelopment.

Items that they have been on their radar have a better chance of being funded with more allocated into their budget, she said.

Some of the items or projects shared from the budget list were residential and other developments for Midway Mall area, potentially, a new property for a party center, handling legal fees associated with annexation of property in the Chestnut Commons area and launching the passenger rail platform project that would replace the Amtrack station at 410 E. River St.

Elyria Works Now, a team put together by the city, came together last year to submit a proposal to receive a grant to assist in Elyria’s redevelopment, Brinda said.

The city still is waiting for results after providing a proposal that took eight months to plan, she said.

The grant can provide either $100,000, $500,000 or $5 million to the city for business and manufacturing opportunities.

Brinda said the key pieces of the grant were put into the budget so some items won’t need funding from the economic development account.

The plan to bring more business to Elyria with the help of the grant would bring more interaction for the city in a positive way, she said.

“This (project can) bring to the table non profits and for profits, our faith-based community and wrap-around services to hopefully get some folks employed to lower the poverty rate,” she said.

If Elyria Works Now doesn’t receive the grant, the city will remain to move forward and use funds from the economic development account, Brinda said.

Brinda said she has been accepting requests of proposals from marketing professionals to develop communities, she said.

She encourages the community and the Council to engage with one another in ways to redevelop and help spread the word.

Taking action in any form for the redevelopment of the city will push forward in the rebirth of the Elyria, she said.

After the breakdown of the potential budget plan, all of Council members, but two, voted for the request of funds.

Second Ward Councilwoman Brenda K. Davis was absent. Fifth Ward Councilman Marcus D. Madison voted no.

Fourth Ward Councilman Mark F. Craig shared he is in full support of Council being included in spreading the message and suggested ideas for plans of redevelopment.

“It’s nice to see that there is at least a structure or framework and there’s a plan for a process in place,” Craig said. “If we can pull ourselves in at any point where we feel we can be of use, I do support this.”

Brinda is seeking to add $400,000 to the city’s economic development account for future initiatives.

Brinda