Explanation
1. BACKGROUND:
This legislation will authorize the Director of Public Utilities to apply for, and if awarded, accept and enter into a Safety Intervention Grant Agreement through the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation’s (BWC) Safety Intervention Grant Program. The total amount of the equipment cost is approximately $65,000.00. The grant amount is $40,000.00 and the match amount provided by the Department of Public Utilities will be the difference of up to $25,000.00. The match will be transferred from the Water Operating Fund.
The purpose of the Safety Intervention Grant Program is to gather information about the effectiveness of safety interventions so BWC may share the results with Ohio employers. The program is available to any Ohio state-fund or public employer who wishes to purchase equipment to substantially reduce or eliminate injuries and illnesses associated with a particular task or operation. The program is designed to work and partner with Ohio employers to establish safety intervention best-practices for accident and injury prevention.
With the safety intervention grant, private and public employers are eligible for a 3-to-1 matching grant, up to a maximum of $40,000 for each eligibility cycle. In return, employers will submit to BWC quarterly data reports and a case study one year after the date of the intervention. BWC will use this information to determine the effectiveness of the intervention and share successes with other employers.
The Department of Public Utilities intends to apply for the BWC Safety Intervention Grant monies to replace equipment currently used to blow-out debris from water curb-boxes to make them workable. The equipment being purchased is a called a “Utility Hydro-Vac.” This piece of equipment will make this type of work safer and more efficient by significantly decreasing the potential for injuries and property damage claims.
2. FISCAL IMPACT:
A grant match amount of up to $25,000.00 for the project will be paid by the Department of Public Utilities should the Department be awarded and accept the grant. This match amount will be transferred from the Water Operating Fund. This Ordinance also requests the authority for the City Auditor to appropriate the proceeds of said grant for purposes of funding this equipment purchase.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of Public Utilities to apply for, accept, and enter into a Safety Intervention Grant Agreement through the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation’s (BWC) Safety Intervention Grant Program; to authorize the appropriation of $40,000.00 within the Water Grants Fund; to authorize the transfer of $25,000.00 from the Water Operating Fund to provide the grant match; to accept the grant and to authorize the appropriation and expenditure in the amount of $65,000.00. ($65,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC) has solicited applications for a grant in accordance with the Safety Intervention Grant Program; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to apply for and, if awarded, accept said grant, to appropriate and expend the funds; and
WHEREAS, the Director of Public Utilities is required to be authorized by Council to apply for and enter into the grant agreement; to accept the grant money; and expend the funds necessary for the grant match; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Utilities, be and hereby is, authorized and directed to apply for and enter into a grant agreement with the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation’s (BWC) through the Safety Intervention Grant Program; to accept a grant in the amount of $40,000.00 from the Safety Intervention Grant; and to transfer $25,000.00 from the Water Operating Fund for the grant match.
SECTION 2. That the Department of Public Utilities has committed to administer the grant through grant coordination, grant reporting, grant fund requests, and contract administration services.
SECTION 3. That from the unappropriated monies in the Water Grants Fund, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015, the sum of $65,000.00 shall be appropriated, effective upon receipt of the executed grant agreement, to the Department of Public Utilities, Department/Division 60-09, as follows:
Fund Type: Grant | Grant Title: Safety Intervention Grant | Fund Name: Water Grants Fund | Fund No: 620 | Grant No: to be assigned by City Auditor | OCA Code: to be assigned by City Auditor | Object Level 3: 6602 | Amount: $65,000.00.
SECTION 4. That the Director of Public Utilities, be and hereby is, authorized to expend $65,000.00 from the Water Grant Fund payable to the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation - Safety Intervention Grants 13430 Yarmouth Dr. Pickerington, OH 43147-8310 for the purpose of meeting the grant match requirement for the Safety Intervention Grant awarded to the Department of Public Utilities for the purchase of a Utility Hydro-Vac as follows:
Fund Type: Grant | Grant Title: Safety Intervention Grant | Fund Name: Water Grants Fund | Fund No: 620 | Grant No: to be assigned by City Auditor | OCA Code: to be assigned by City Auditor | Object Level 3: 6602 | Amount: $65,000.00.
SECTION 5. That the appropriation of $25,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, be and the same hereby is authorized as follows:
Dept./Div.: 60-09
Fund: 600
OCA: 601849
Object Level One: 03
Object Level: 5501
Amount: $25,000.00
SECTION 6. That the Director of Public Utilities, be and hereby is, authorized to transfer $25,000.00 from the Water Operating Fund to the Water Grant Fund 620 as follows:
From:
Dept./Div.: 60-09
Fund: 600
OCA: 601849
Object Level One: 03
Object Level: 5501
Amount: $25,000.00
To:
Dept./Div.: 60-09
Fund: 620
OCA: to be determined
Object Level One: 03
Object Level: 0886
Amount: $25,000.00
SECTION 7. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this Ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 8. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to transfer any unencumbered balance in the project account to the unallocated balance within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project; except that no transfer shall be made from a project account by monies from more than one source.
SECTION 9. That the City Auditor is authorized to establish proper project accounting numbers as appropriate.
SECTION 10. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this Ordinance.
SECTION 11. That at the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 12. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.