The City of Lorain is bringing in the new year with a list of goals, and Mayor Jack Bradley is proud of the city’s “exciting” accomplishments last year.
“First of all, I want to wish all of you a Happy New Year. 2023 was certainly an exciting year for the City of Lorain, and it is my hope that Lorain will continue to move forward,” Bradley wrote in a news release.
“I have come to realize that our city has some of the best government workers around and they work diligently every day to make Lorain better for all of us,” said Bradley.
As part of the year-end roundup, Bradley requested each city department provide a review of the goals each accomplished in 2023 and the goals set for this year.
“Upon completing my first term as mayor, I look back at all I have learned in the past four years. We are still experiencing the effects of the worst pandemic in 100 years and yet, I believe the City of Lorain is stronger than ever,” said Bradley. “I am so proud of what has been accomplished by our departments in the past year and looking forward to reaching their goals in 2024.”
As far as Bradley’s goal, he said, “It is my goal to continue to work with City Council to make Lorain a place where we are all proud to work, live and enjoy life.”
In Chief of Staff Rick Soto’s office, the employee handbook was updated with more than 40 policies in 2023. Work is planned to continue on the handbook this year.
Additionally, the Keep Lorain Beautiful project boasted 27 volunteer groups with over 219 participants in 2023, the news release stated.
The City Hall LED sign was started in 2023 and is expected to be completed in 2024.
The sign will provide updated information to the public on current notices from City Hall.
Soto will also continue work on projects such as the solar eclipse, the commemoration of the Lorain Tornado and the Lorain County Bicentennial, the release stated.
“We will also be involved in the Keep Lorain County Beautiful Program, Summer jobs program, a new partnership with the Lorain County Children and Families First Council, Salvation Army Angel Tree Program, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program and the annual United Way Campaign to name just a few,” Bradley wrote.
In addition, safety training at city hall will continue in conjunction with the Lorain Police Department as well as the implementation of the city hall security system.
In the Safety Service Department, weekly meetings were used for department heads to provide overviews of their active priorities last year.
“These communication efforts have assisted in the majority of 2023 goals being accomplished. Operating procedures were continuously reviewed and improved for better efficiency,” the release stated.
Discussions were held regarding a “seamless succession plan” as the city anticipates that over the next five years, potentially seven departments will need new directors.
The new year also brings with it a new safety service director, Rey Carrion, who replaced Sanford Washington.
Carrion’s goals for the year will be developed and shared with council, however, “the overall goal is to continue moving the city forward and to encourage all departments to attain the goals they have outlined for 2024,” Bradley said.
In the Lorain Police Department, the Patrol Impact Team continued to be effective in 2023 in addressing violent crime and confiscating narcotics and firearms off the streets, the release stated.
The police department has maintained current staffing which has allowed for increased traffic enforcement and helped to reduce speeding and other traffic violations.
The department continued to obtain millions of dollars in grant funding to assist in offsetting the cost of equipment, up-to-date technology and other areas.
In 2024, one of the department’s goals is to reintroduce a dispatching center into the department.
To continue the impact on reducing violent crime, the goal is to maintain current staffing in 2024 which Bradley believes will “remain strong” due to the approval of the collective bargaining agreement last year, he said.
The implementation of an animal control officer to assist officers in the city is another goal on the department’s list.
“Finally, it is a goal for 2024 to work with first responders in other communities regarding training cooperating to improve policing in not only our community but in the county as a whole,” Bradley wrote.
At the Lorain Fire Department, the final section of the roof repairs was completed at the central station last year.
School fire prevention and public events were completed with use of the fully operational smoke trailer and new extrication equipment was purchased to replace outdated equipment, Bradley noted.
Additionally, a new tower truck, command vehicle and fire prevention vehicles were put into service in 2023.
The department increased its number of firefighters, saving approximately $572,200 in related overtime and other costs, Bradley said.
The department also invested in new communication radios which are ready to be switched to a new frequency this year, a goal of the department’s, Bradley wrote.
The fire department is also expected to put a second aerial truck into operation as well as complete a new roof on Station 3 this year, the release stated.
In the Human Resources Department, the city was able to realize rebates on prescription drugs in 2023 of $546,333. This was an increase over 2022 of $271,101, Bradley wrote.
The city was also able to retain Medical Mutual as its health care provider and negotiate an approximate 10-percent savings of the anticipated increase in costs of health care.
The department also worked with the Safety Committee to keep job-related injuries from increasing in 2023 and safety forms are now available in departments to allow employees to report safety concerns to the Safety Committee.
The department also obtained a discount on Bureau of Workers Compensation premiums by attending safety meetings held by the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce, the release stated.
The department’s goals this year include the implementation of new software program for employees being hired and for benefit enrollment.
“This will ensure that the process moving forward is more efficient,” Bradley wrote.
The department will continue educating employees regarding health care choices which will help them and the city save money on health care claims.
The Parks Department completed several projects, including the Campana Park project last year, Bradley noted.
The department also installed new playground equipment and made improvements at several of the city’s other parks, such as Lakeview Park, Oakwood Park and Pawlak Park, the release stated.
Bradley expects to “see development of a thriving recreation program” this year,” he wrote.
The department intends to hire a recreation coordinator this year and last year, four laborers were added to the staff.
Through the Street Department, the city’s paving program involved 47 road segments of milling and paving and included the purchase of a new paver.
There were several total road replacements and approximately 2,000 feet of curb replaced.
Global positioning units in the street department vehicles were upgraded to provide better tracking of the snow removal process which is expected to be an improvement this year, the release stated.
The street department also improved traffic signals on the Route 58 corridor and replaced at several other intersections.
This year, “the city should see a more efficient paving program with the addition of a new milling machine,” Bradley wrote.
Snow and ice removal are expected to be completed more quickly this year with the addition of pre-treatment capabilities and the addition of four new trucks to its fleet of existing trucks.
“It is the goal to hire people for open positions and to add an Assistant Street Superintendent to increase productivity and to continue the upgrade of traffic signals where needed,” Bradley also noted.
In the Engineering Department, the goal for 2023 was to maximize road work and increase the overall road score.
“This goal was accomplished and the overall road score was increased,” Bradley wrote.
The department completed the Ohio Public Works Commission design work and applied for the next round of funding last year.
An update on all city streets was also successfully completed.
Last year, the department’s overall water works project priority list was updated and the first year of the water main replacement contract was completed, the release stated.
“In all, a majority of the goals for 2023 were completed as planned,” Bradley wrote.
This year’s goals include the continuation of maximizing road work based upon available funding sources and continue to increase the overall road score.
Engineering will continue to assist the Utilities Department with infrastructure improvements and capital projects, Bradley also noted.
In the Utilities Department, the goal last year was to restructure the Summer Sewer Discount Program which was completed successfully, the release stated.
“As a result, preliminary numbers show a positive impact to the Water Pollution Control (Sewer) revenues of approximately $500,000,” Bradley wrote.
The Water Distribution and Sewer Department implemented the CityWorks Asset Management Program in addition to “paperless work orders,” the release stated.
Research began in 2023 to explore available technologies to assist the Utilities Department in increasing efficiencies and customer service.
As a result, a new call recording system was implemented in November of 2023.
This year, the Utilities Department’s goal is to use a more technologically advanced time clock and record keeping system.
The department will also continue to overhaul vehicles and equipment to reduce maintenance and cost issues.
Another goal includes coordination and management of revenues and expenditures to hit a net zero differential for the Water Works and the Water Pollution Control Funds, the release stated.
The Information Technology Department, with the use of computer software systems, improved the security of our information technology and will continue to be improved this year, the release stated.
A new time clock system will be implemented this year to further improve the city’s payroll system.
The Information Technology Department will also assist the Building, Housing and Planning Department in the implementation of Mobile Inspections.
The department will also assist all other city departments in operating in a more efficient and cost-effective manner, the release stated.
In the Building, Housing, and Planning Department, the goals for 2023 were to connect residents to neighborhood development and modernize the structure of the department.
The department has been able to support 56 small businesses with funding of more than $1.49 million.
Through the department’s Small Business Navigator program, 41 businesses were assisted and four new businesses were established.
The department was also able to secure about $1.5 million to establish the first revolving loan fund to assist small businesses for the first time since 2015, Bradley said.
The Choice Neighborhood Initiative in conjunction with the Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority has “fostered community cohesion and the possibility of a transformation of an underserved neighborhood in South Lorain,” Bradley also noted.
“For 2023, BHP (Building Housing and Planning Department) has significantly improved code enforcement and property maintenance processes. This has resulted in the largest increase in housing court cases and citations in the city’s history,” the release stated.
The department was also responsible for 11 homes being demolished, 11 properties are under contract for demolition and an additional 12 more are slated for demolition.
The department met its requirement for spending federal funds in a timely fashion for the first time in over 12 years, Bradley noted.
“All the improvements made in the department in 2023 resulted in the department being selected as the Community Development Department of the Year in the State of Ohio. The department is proud of meeting and in most cases exceeding its goals for 2023,” Bradley noted.
The department’s goals for the new year include enhancing overall departmental effectiveness while promoting a positive and user-friendly experience for the public. Its second goal is to increase overall neighborhood development.
“In conclusion, I commend all our managers for the great work they have done for our community,” Bradley said. “By working together, we have finished 2023 with a significant cash balance in our general fund, the highest rainy day fund in the City’s history, an outstanding bond rating with Moody’s and endless possibilities for the future.”
“By being Lorain Proud, we should all be anticipating the future and to the goals we will attain in 2024. Let’s all work together to make 2024 the best year ever,” Bradley also said.
Lorain City Council meets in regular session at 6 p.m. on Jan. 2, according to the meeting agenda.
