Officials draft federal money spending plan

The Oakwood Park Pool, housing demolition and home repairs are on the list for spending more than $1.23 million federal Community Development Block Grant money in Lorain.

But that plan could change due to spread of the novel coronavirus, city officials said.

On March 30, city officials and staff gathered in person, with the public watching online, for a “virtual” public hearing on Lorain’s 2020 action plan for the money. An in-person hearing was canceled due to current social isolation to slow infections of COVID-19.

Kellie Glenn, director of building, housing and planning for Lorain, outlined the CDBG expenses coming over the next year.

The city spending plan was drafted before the worldwide pandemic of the disease, said Mayor Jack Bradley. Because of that, it may change, depending on local needs and federal rules for spending the city’s allocation.

“A lot of these plans were made prior to this pandemic confronting us and so I think everyone has to realize we have to reevaluate and see what we’re going to be able to do as time goes on,” the mayor said.

The full economic effects of COVID-19 probably won’t be known until May, Bradley said, citing analysis by city Auditor Karen Shawver.

Money for a pool

The Oakwood Park Pool prompted the most questions about the CDBG spending plan.

Ward 3 Councilwoman Pamela Carter said when she took her seat, pools were outdated and considered a maintenance nightmare.

“So how do we have the funds now?” Carter said. In Ward 3, residents still ask about restoring the Central Park Pool, even as the city has installed a splash pad at that park, she said.

Glenn said when she began working for the city, she was told it would be too costly to repair it and maintain it, so Central Park received the splash pad.

Oakwood Park was to receive a splash pad, but the new administration aimed to improve the pool, she said. The city also has plans to put money toward other improvement sat the park Glenn said.

Bradley and Ward 6 Councilman Rey Carrion spoke in favor of the pool.

A number of residents are willing to step up to help with revitalizing that park, Carrion said.

In a Ward 6 town hall meeting, Bradley said he mentioned the possibility of an Oakwood Park splash pad and residents were ready to throw him out of the meeting because they want a pool.

Leaders of the French Creek Family YMCA are ready to help the city operate the pool, Bradley said. The city administration and staff hope to upgrade other facilities at the park and it is importantfor Lo rain children to learn how to conduct themselves around water, he said.

“I know that pools are considered a thing of the past but this is 2020, this is a new era, and we’re going to try some things that maybe are things of the past but maybe are going to become things of the future,” Bradley said. He recounted learning to swim as a boy at the YMCA and young children of Lorain should have that same opportunity, he said.

Carrion and Ward 5 Councilwoman JoAnne Moon also commented on the pool.

Carrion argued it would stabilize the neighborhood by providing a source of recreation.Moon suggested Central Park could use a changing station for families using the splash pad.

Carter said her goal was to ensure money was spread around the city.

“I’m not here to block anything or discourage, I’m all about being positive but I’m just trying to express what was told to me at the beginning when I first came on council,” Carter said. “I just want the same thing for central Lorain as we have for Oakwood Park as well.”

Demolition

Carrion also asked if the money for demolition was conditional based on a city match of $250,000. In the past City Council voted to spend the money, but Carrion said it could be reduced due to the crisis of the pandemic.

The Council match pays for demolition of houses that are not in low- to moderate-income areas of Lorain, Glenn said. But the CDBG money for demolition is not based on city spending, she said.

Code enforcement

The city also will allocate $335,075 for property maintenance code enforcement for Lorain. There will be $225,000 for emergency home repairs and $450,000 for owner-occupied housing rehabilitations.

Dealing with code enforcement and rehabilitation loans, Carrion asked if the city would re-evaluate an earlier Western Reserve Land Conservancy study that graded every home in Lorain. A new housing study to grade Lorain’s residential properties, conducted through Cleveland State University, is nearly complete, Glenn said.

Preliminary results found Lorain may need to remove 200 homes; there likely are thousands that need renovation or risk deteriorating so badly that demolition is needed, Glenn said.

More comments

Another public hearing is scheduled for 5 p.m. April 20 at City Hall at 200 W. Erie Ave. The city officials and staff said they expect to have more details about the CDBG spending at that time.