momentum towards a more promising
future. A recent voluntary Performance
Audit by the State, prudent management, cost-cutting, reorganization,
aggressive grant and other fund development, creative thinking and willing
partners have allowed the City to advance a number of projects.
That being said, despite progress, the positive momentum will only continue if the City of Elyria passes Issue 5, the half percent income tax renewal that does not increase taxes but simply continues to fund vital basic city services like police and fire protection, maintaining our roads and parks, and leaf pick-up and snow removal. Because Issue 5 represents 20 percent of Elyria’s General Fund Budget, failure will unfortunately result in the layoff of about 125 of the city’s 450 employees, thus stopping the momentum and crippling city services.
Over the past 22 months the City of Elyria’s new
administration and city employees have worked very hard to create a more
efficient and effective city government and do more with less. Over $1.7
million of reductions have already occurred and additional cuts are being made even
with the passage of Issue 5. Grant dollars discussed here cannot take the place
of public funding to support basic city services. That being said, despite progress, the positive momentum will only continue if the City of Elyria passes Issue 5, the half percent income tax renewal that does not increase taxes but simply continues to fund vital basic city services like police and fire protection, maintaining our roads and parks, and leaf pick-up and snow removal. Because Issue 5 represents 20 percent of Elyria’s General Fund Budget, failure will unfortunately result in the layoff of about 125 of the city’s 450 employees, thus stopping the momentum and crippling city services.
Road, Bridge and Infrastructure Improvements
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| Photo courtesy of the Chronicle Telegram |
A
New Economic Development Focus
The City of Elyria also has a new focus on economic
development and job creation underway. A
planning and market analysis project has started that will help the City update
its economic development strategy for the downtown, Midway and Cleveland Street
business districts as well as our industrial base. The City administration has brought to the
table new, regional and local economic development partners representative of
area financial institutions, commercial property owners, educational
institutions, and a group of regional volunteer experts in the areas of real
estate redevelopment and planning to inform the reinvention of Elyria’s
downtown. Before the end of the year,
Elyrians will begin to see an infusion of pop-up businesses with an initial
focus on the arts. To further advance economic
development efforts a Community Development Corporation is being created and a
new Economic Development Specialist has been hired by the City. The position was made possible with no
additional tax dollars through a reorganization of services.
Strides
to make Elyria Safer
Additional reallocation of resources has also allowed the
City to reinstitute its Elyria Police Narcotics Unit. Since its inception in late Spring, the unit
has helped make Elyria safer by yielding 162 arrests, 51 undercover buys that
resulted in 44 arrested drug dealers, and the issuance of 14 search warrants
that led to the confiscation of 36 firearms, 13 vehicles seized and $91,000 in
cash. The total estimated street value
of drugs confiscated to date is about $500,000. The City is also working very closely with
volunteer neighborhood Block Watch organizations to support their efforts,
increase communications and grow the number of block watches across Elyria. Moreover, recent actions by the police and law
departments have made the downtown area much safer, closing down a number of
bars and business establishments that were harboring criminal activity.
Improving
Elyria Neighborhoods
Another safety
focus has been on the improvement of Elyria’s neighborhoods. In the past 18 months, the City of Elyria has
processed for demolition 100 condemned homes and another 72 are pending. These demolitions are being made possible
with funds from a combination of outside federal grants and national mortgage
loan settlement funds being distributed through the Lorain County Land
Bank. The homes being targeted for
demolition are beyond repair and often harbor criminal activity. Their removal is reducing crime and will
preserve, and in some cases improve, neighborhood property values. Elyria residents have stepped forward to work
with the City to help return some of these now vacant lots to productive
reuse. This past summer eight community
gardens popped up throughout the City that grew fresh produce to help improve
neighborhoods and nurture families.
Anyone interested in participating in the 2014 City of Elyria Community
Garden project can call the Mayor’s Office on Volunteer Engagement at (440)
326-1402.
Parks
Improve Our Quality of Life: Cascade, Summer Camps, Holiday Lights, Ice Arena
Anniversary
Before the end of the year, largely through grants, the
City of Elyria will complete about $1 million of improvements to Cascade
Park. In addition, a new partnership
struck between the City of Elyria and the Lorain County MetroParks that begins
in 2015, will make an additional $2 million of improvements and enable the
MetroParks to take over the daily operation and maintenance of Cascade and
Elywood Parks throughout the period of a renewable 50-year lease. This
new partnership will help the City of Elyria return Cascade Park to its
original glory and beyond.
And thanks in large part to the generosity of
Individuals, corporations, foundations and other willing non-profit partners –
the City offered 14 free summer camps to almost 900 Elyria children and youth
this summer and it will be continuing the program in 2014. The fun will continue this fall and winter as
the Elyria Parks and Recreation Department, in partnership with the community,
hosts Holiday at Finwood Estate and the Holiday Lights program in Ely Square –
this year with the added twist of ice sculptors for your family viewing
pleasure.
And if that isn’t enough, don’t forget it’s the 50th
anniversary of the North Park Ice Arena and there are special events planned throughout
the skating season including a special appearance by the Lake Erie Monsters on
October 28 from 6:00 – 7:30pm. Bring the
family, watch their practice and meet and skate with the players themselves! Mascot Sully the seagull will also be on hand
for the festive evening. The official
skating season begins Friday, November 1, with four more special events
scheduled from December through March.
For more details, go the to the City of Elyria Website and click on the
Elyria Parks and Recreation page.
Issue
5 is Needed to Keep the Momentum Going
The City of Elyria is on the upswing, but renewal of the
half percent income tax is critical to the City’s ability to keep moving
forward. With 20 percent of the city’s
workforce at stake, citizens who want to keep vital city services must come out
and vote. And remember, Issue 5 is not a
tax increase and only applies to earned income – it does not apply to retirement,
social security, unemployment and disability income.