Explanation
BACKGROUND
The Ohio EPA Division of Drinking and Ground Water will award and administer water infrastructure grant projects made possible under Governor Mike DeWine’s H2Ohio Initiative. Grants are provided to reimburse the initial cost of valve exercising, leak detection and meter accuracy testing equipment. Items cannot be purchased until an agreement has been signed by the City of Columbus Public Water System and Ohio EPA. H2Ohio is a comprehensive and data-driven approach to reduce harmful algal blooms, improve wastewater, and water infrastructure, and prevent lead contamination.
The Department of Public Utilities requests approval to apply for and if funded, receive a grant for $6,824.00 for a Public Water System Distribution Equipment Grant project. The City requests funding for underground radio detection utility locator equipment to be used by the utility line locating staff to locate marker balls placed on our underground sludge line facilities. The line locators currently utilize similar equipment for everyday operations, which helps keep all Department of Public Utilities-owned facilities safe by accurately marking them for excavators. This equipment will help City staff locate the underground sludge lines more accurately.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this legislation will authorize the Director of Public Utilities to apply for, receive, and if funded, appropriate and expend grant funds from Ohio EPA and the H2Ohio Initiative. ($6,824.00)
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to apply for, receive and execute Ohio EPA H2Ohio Initiative Public Water System Distribution Equipment Grant funding; to authorize the execution of grant and other requisite agreements funded with the H2Ohio grant and providing for the acceptance and administration of said grant award on behalf of the Department of Public Utilities; to authorize the expenditure of any awarded funds and the refund of any unused funds. ($6,824.00).
Body
WHEREAS, The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) will award and administer water infrastructure projects identified under the H2Ohio Initiative; and
WHEREAS, requests are received through Ohio EPA Division of Drinking and Groundwater and the City requests funding for Public Water System Distribution Equipment. If awarded, H2Ohio funds will provide the City up to $6,824.00 for the purchase of eligible equipment; and
WHEREAS, the City authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to apply for, receive and execute Ohio EPA H2Ohio Initiative funds for water infrastructure equipment; and
WHEREAS, City Council approval is needed to apply for and accept the grant funding;
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Utilities be and is hereby authorized to submit an application for Ohio EPA H2Ohio Public Water System Equipment grant funding; to accept said grant, if awarded; and to execute a grant agreement and any other documents necessary to effectuate said application, acceptance, or agreement on behalf of the Department of Public Utilities.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Public Utilities be and hereby is authorized to execute any agreement or other documents necessary to effectuate applying for and receiving Ohio EPA H2Ohio grant funding.
SECTION 3. That the Department of Public Utilities be and hereby is authorized to expend any awarded grant funds in accordance with the terms and conditions of said grants.
SECTION 4. That, at the end of the grant period, or upon request of the grantor, 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 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.