GIRARD — City officials plan to act at a Nov. 24 council meeting to create a new fund to specifically cover costs for mandated repairs to the Girard Upper Lake Dam and other Girard Lake projects.

Currently, costs for needed and required dam work have come from the water fund, which officials do not want to drain further.

Fourth Ward Councilman Thomas Grumley said at this week’s council meeting he was concerned about the local monies needed for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources-mandated work at the dam and the future financial impact it will have on the city.

“I am asking for legislation to remove the Girard Lake property project from the water fund and to create a line item specifically for the Girard Lake property retroactive to August 2025. All expenses and any future revenue from sale of property will come from that fund,” Grumley said.

He said he also wants to see a property committee formed in 2026 to address issues related to the lakes and dams.

Mayor Mark Zuppo said he understands money needs to be spent for mandated improvements at the dam, but noted that lake property is valuable.

“I want to keep some of the property residential and the lake water clean for future development that can benefit the city,” Zuppo said.

Grumley said the two dams were purchased by the city in 1995 at $2.5 million.

He said in 2007, the ODNR deemed the lower lake dam as unsafe due to eroded sections, maintenance issues and inadequate spillway capacity.

Zuppo agreed with Grumley to remove the Girard Lakes and dam expenses from the water fund and to establish a new fund.

Last month, council voted 5-2 to proceed with the mandated repairs and updates to the dam with an agreement for engineering, planning and designing of Girard Upper Lake dam improvements project between the city and Ohio Water Development Authority.

Grumley and 2nd-Ward Councilman Mark Standohar cast the “no’ votes.

Grumley said he is concerned that people struggle to pay water and sewer bills, stating the minimum usage water bill has increased from $57 per 1,000 gallons in 2023 to $75 per 1,000 gallons in 2025.

Councilman-at-Large John Moliterno said the water fund should be used for water issues such as waterline breaks.

FUNDING PROJECTS

Girard was recently approved to receive a $547,231 loan at 4.8% for five years for the design of safety improvements to the Upper Girard Lake Dam.

The loan comes as part of the $11.7 million in financing from the Ohio Water Development Authority toward improving wastewater and drinking water infrastructure to improve water quality across the state.

Girard’s loan, one of the 11 project loans through the Ohio program, will also include work on the emergency spillway and toe drain to comply with ODNR requirements.

Safety Service Director Mark Ragozine said the city is re-evaluating the dam’s design and engineering and will go to the Ohio Water Development Authority for funding for the mandated work at the dam.

He said if funds are acquired for the project, the work should be completed by 2030.

“We are under an ODNR mandate to secure the dam and complete improvements to the dam in the next five years,” Ragozine said.

Ragozine said the city is working with Verdantas, formerly CT Consultants, which is the project’s consulting firm.

“We are looking at what improvements need to be done and what studies will have to be done that will help us prepare a plan for moving forward with construction,” Ragozine said.

He said the ODNR is mandating the city to complete improvements at the dam and secure it. Otherwise, ODNR will come in and do the work, which will be a larger expense.

Officials have said the dam requires remedial measures be completed by the city that include modifications and repairs to the existing dam such as a new emergency spillway, lowering the normal pool level, and rehabilitating the existing spillway and drains.

Items not completed by the city are a violation of the Ohio Administrative Code allowing ODNR to take control of the project and bring civil action against the city to cover the project cost plus additional penalties.

Officials have said grant funding includes $187,500 secured through a 2022 Federal Emergency Management Agency grant, which is a 65-35% match with the city paying $65,625 and a federal match of $121,875.

An application was submitted for $275,000 through the 2024 FEMA grant program and is pending a funding determination, officials said.

That amount has the city match at $96,250, which is 35%, and the federal match is $178,750, which is 65%.

The city administration recommended applying for a five-year low-interest loan for planning and design through OWDA. The loan can be rolled over into a 30-year dam safety construction loan with a potential 25% maximum reduction in the interest rate.

Officials have said securing an OWDA planning and design loan for $713,900 would allow the city to be reimbursed $195,208 to the city’s water fund.