Members cite funding uncertainties
VERMILION — City Council rejected a proposal Monday to join Lorain County’s federal community development program after members raised questions about funding guarantees, project selection and Vermilion’s existing relationship with Erie County.
Lorain County Commissioner Jeff Riddell asked council to approve a cooperation agreement supporting the county’s application for designation as a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Urban County.
The designation is a federal funding classification that would allow participating communities to seek Community Development Block Grant money administered through Lorain County.
County officials said Lorain County recently found another path to qualify for the program after its population outside the cities of Lorain and Elyria exceeded HUD’s approximately 200,000-person threshold.
The county must submit the required agreements by Aug. 10 to participate in the 2027-28 funding cycle. HUD is expected to notify the county of its decision in October.
Riddell said officials learned July 9 that the county had another opportunity to qualify, leaving limited time to contact communities and obtain the necessary resolutions.
“We take responsibility for that,” Riddell said. “It’s new to us.”
Councilman Drew Werley criticized the county’s outreach, saying outdated contact information did not justify asking council to approve the agreement shortly before the deadline.
“Some of the excuses are the laziest excuses I’ve ever heard,” Werley said. “We don’t know if the emails are right? Check the website. Every city, every township has a website. It’s an absolute no for me.”
The proposal presented an unusual question for Vermilion because the city is divided between Lorain and Erie counties.
Residents currently may apply for housing assistance through a HOME program administered by Erie County. During the discussion, officials said Erie County allocates about $150,000 annually, or $300,000 during a two-year cycle, for eligible projects involving Vermilion residents.
Riddell emphasized that the allocation is not guaranteed money for the city. Residents must submit qualifying projects, and those applications must receive approval before the funding is used.
Riddell said officials from Lorain and Erie counties had reached a verbal understanding intended to offset any loss Erie County could experience if Vermilion joined Lorain County’s program.
Several council members said they wanted more information about that arrangement, including a written memorandum of understanding, before approving the agreement.
Multiple council members also questioned whether Vermilion would receive a fair share of Lorain County’s funding. Joining the program would make the city eligible to submit projects but would not guarantee approval of any particular request.
Riddell said Lorain County expects to establish an advisory committee that would set priorities and help rank projects. Kleinfelder, a Toledo-based company, would process applications, manage paperwork and conduct inspections.
The Lorain County program could be used for eligible infrastructure projects in low- and moderate-income areas, including waterlines and other public improvements. Officials said that flexibility could provide broader community benefits than Erie County’s HOME program, which focuses on residential rehabilitation.
Council members said that potential benefit had to be weighed against uncertainty surrounding how projects would be selected and what assistance Vermilion residents could lose through Erie County.
Council members Homer Taft and John Gabriel said they were not necessarily opposed to the program but believed the city had received too little information before being asked to make a decision. After about 10 minutes of discussion, council decided to vote on the matter instead of having a special meeting to have time to get more information and make the decision at that meeting.
Councilman Gary Howell made a motion to put the proposed ordinance to vote, with Werley providing a second.
Council voted 5-1 against the cooperation agreement, with Gabriel abstaining and Council President Jeff Lucas being the sole yes vote. The vote ended Vermilion’s consideration of joining Lorain County’s proposed Urban County program for the 2027-28 funding cycle.
