$9M considered for complex

City Council Finance Committee endorses idea for city service center

A new Lorain municipal service complex could have a price tag approaching $9 million, but City Council’s Finance & Claims Committee is endorsing the idea.

On Dec. 10, the committee spent almost 90 minutes discussing legislation to hire a design-build contractor to create a new service center at 2130 W. Park Drive. The new facility would house staff and equipment for streets, parks, traffic signal technicians, paint and signage, along with the mechanics and tools for repairing city cars, trucks and implements.

In the end the committee voted to have the full Council consider the legislation, which will be on the agenda for second reading at the Dec. 17 meeting.

But not before discussion of financing and whether the project might go forward in stages.

Everyone agreed on the abysmal conditions at the city’s current garage, which is a complex

“The building is in dire straights,” and there’s no doubt Council needs to do something about it, said committee Chairman Joe Koziura.

of ramshackle buildings at 114 E. 35th St.

The city garage is “absolutely deplorable” and was featured in a New York Times article about cities hurting due to lack of local government funding from the state capital, said Mayor Chase Ritenauer. Councilwoman-at-Large Mary Springowski said she met the raccoon living in service center.

“The building is in dire straights,” and there’s no doubt Council needs to do something about it, said committee Chairman Joe Koziura.

After consulting with other city staff, city Auditor Karen Shawver said she still is figuring out the best way to finance the construction.

Due to timing and borrowing constraints, Lorain may have to borrow $3 million by the end of 2018 and then sell bonds to borrow more in 2019, borrowing $9.5 million, Shawver said. She had estimated annual payments ranging from $652,000 to $737,000 for borrowing the money for terms of 20, 25 and 28 years.

The situation is complicated because the city internally charges back departments for costs of using the city services and supplies, Shawver said. It is possible to calculate the proportions — but difficult when city officials are busy preparing

the 2019 city budget, she said.

“At this point, nine million dollars, it’s very high to me,” Shawver said. “I can’t unequivocally say today, December 10th, that we can afford $9.5 million.”

Springowski, Council members Beth Henley, Dennis Flores, Greg Argenti and Joshua Thornsberry and Council President Joel Arredondo all had questions and comments about the project and costs.

They considered the possibility of creating a multiphase project. Springowski asked if a segmented project would be cost effective and protect the city’s borrowing power, while being responsible to city workers who now endure poor conditions.

The building areas are tied together, so realistically, the only part that could be divided up would be climate controls for conditioned vehicle storage, said architect Ron Cocco.

Conditions are so bad at 35th Street, Public Property Manager Lori Garcia was passionate urging Council to consider the new facility, which was designed to be a no-frills structure.

“I understand that it’s a money issue,” she said. “Believe you me, I know how the city budget works. I understand what you’re saying in doing it in increments.

“I don’t see how that’s feasible,” Garcia said. “And if we did have to do it in increments, what employee do I pick to leave in the unsafe, unhealthy conditions that we’re working in right

now?”

Workers are living with black mold, termites and an animal that moved a ceiling tile over the head of an employee, Garcia said.

City workers call the garage for repairs when heat goes out at other city offices, but the workers at the garage do not have heated areas, Garcia said. They also use flashlights and headlights to illuminate repairs because lighting is so poor, she said.

“I know you guys don’t want to say no to us and I know the money is a great concern, but I don’t see how we can not find a way to do this,” Garcia said.

Residents Jerry Donovan, John Gargasz and John Wargo also commented on the conditions.

Wargo suggested using the money to rehabilitate the existing facility, but Safety-Service Director Dan Given said a refurbished garage still would be a 50-year-old building whose useful life was done when the city bought it.

Construction on the service complex could start in 2019, but it will not sprout up overnight.

Cocco estimated it would take four to six weeks to request proposals from contractors. Once a builder is selected, the final design process likely would take a couple months.

So the city is at least three to four months away from ground breaking, not counting the time it will take for the mayor and auditor to arrange a financing plan, Cocco said.