Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The Ohio Attorney General’s Office periodically offers funding on a competitive basis to clean up existing illegal dump sites or help prevent future environmental damage caused by the open dumping of solid waste and demolition debris through its Shine a Light on Dumpers program. The Shine a Light on Dumpers program is a competitive grant program that provides $1 million in funding statewide to help local governments remediate illegal dump sites. Grant awards can be up to $100,000.00 for a county or local government to pay to clean up a dump site (or dump sites) in its jurisdiction. No local match is required.
The City met the criteria to submit an application to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. The Department of Public Service (DPS) is proposing to request funding to purchase a Bobcat skid steer and trailer that can support the cleaning up of illegal dump sites across the city. The total project cost is approximately $60,404.00. DPS will request the full project cost from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.
This legislation will authorize the Director of Public Service to formally apply for a Shine a Light on Dumpers grant from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. It also authorizes the execution of agreements with the State of Ohio, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, or others in connection with the application for the grant, the award of the grant, the expenditure of grant funds, and the return of unused grant funds if any should remain at the end of the grant.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
At this time no financial participation is required. This grant program does not require a local match.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to apply for a Shine a Light on Dumpers grant; to authorize the execution of grant and other requisite agreements with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, and other entities providing for the acceptance and administration of said grant award on behalf of the City of Columbus Department of Public Service; and to authorize the expenditure of any awarded funds and the refund of any unused funds. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office has announced it is seeking applications for its Shine a Light on Dumpers program, which is a grant program to be awarded on a competitive basis; and
WHEREAS, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office was accepting initial applications until July 31, 2026; and
WHEREAS, City Council approval is needed to apply for and to accept the grant funding; and now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Service be and is hereby authorized to submit applications to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office seeking grant funding from the Shine a Light on Dumpers program to purchase equipment necessary to clean up illegal dumping sites in the city.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Public Service be and hereby is to accept said grant, if awarded; and to execute a grant agreement and any other documents necessary to effectuate said applications, acceptance, or agreement on behalf of the Department of Public Service.
SECTION 3. That the Department of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to expend any awarded grant funds in accordance with the terms and conditions of said grant.
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 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.