09/19/2026
RESOLUTION 2026-75 REFERENDUM: WHY THE TIMELINE MATTERS
There has been a lot of discussion about Resolution 2026-75, the referendum petition, and North Ridgeville's participation in Lorain County's Urban County CDBG program. I want to put the most important dates in one place, because what happened between September 1 and September 17 matters.
SEPTEMBER 1
The referendum petition challenging Resolution 2026-75 was filed with Council President Holly Swenk.
SEPTEMBER 2
One day later, Mayor Kevin Corcoran executed and submitted North Ridgeville's Cooperation Agreement to Lorain County.
Council was not informed that this had occurred.
SEPTEMBER 4
I submitted a public records request to Lorain County seeking records regarding North Ridgeville's participation.
SEPTEMBER 10
The County responded to my request. That is when I learned that the agreement had already been executed and submitted on September 2.
That same day, I contacted HUD directly to determine North Ridgeville's status in the federal approval process. I also verbally requested that our Law Department address my questions surrounding the referendum and Cooperation Agreement.
HUD's response was significant.
When I asked whether North Ridgeville was currently considered a participating UGLG, HUD answered:
"No, not yet."
HUD explained that the County's application and Cooperation Agreements were still under review and that final approval had not occurred.
HUD also explained that before final approval, North Ridgeville could repeal the resolution supporting the agreement, withdraw for FY2027, and potentially choose to participate beginning in FY2028.
HUD told me the process was expected to be completed "by the end of September."
So as of September 10, final approval had not occurred and HUD had described an avenue to withdraw before it did.
SEPTEMBER 15
Having received no answers to the questions I raised with our Law Department on September 10, I submitted a written request for a legal opinion, along with several additional questions directly to our Law Director.
Also on September 15, the Clerk's office transmitted the referendum petitions to the Lorain County Board of Elections for signature certification. The BOE receipt documents 131 pages of part-petitions.
And also on September 15, HUD issued final approval. (This was not yes communicated)
SEPTEMBER 16
HUD confirmed that approval had occurred the previous day and advised that the County and participating communities with binding Cooperation Agreements were now locked into the upcoming three-year cycle.
Our Law Director also responded to my written request that day, advising that he needed additional time to research the issues I had raised. Seems like that research should have been completed prior to signing.
SEPTEMBER 17
We received the Law Director's legal opinion. After the fact.
WHY DOES THIS TIMELINE MATTER?
Because North Ridgeville's position changed while all of this was happening.
On September 10, HUD told me final approval had not occurred, explained an avenue for withdrawal before approval, and said the process was expected to be completed "by the end of September."
Just five days later, on September 15, HUD would issue final approval.
After that approval, HUD's answer changed: participating communities with binding Cooperation Agreements were now locked into the upcoming three-year cycle.
And that has practical consequences.
North Ridgeville can choose not to accept Urban County funding or participate in community-development activities. But that does not return us to the position we were in before participation.
As HUD explained to me, Urban County status means North Ridgeville is excluded from receiving CDBG funding through the State Community Development program during the qualification period. Instead, eligible CDBG activities would be pursued through the Urban County structure.
So yes, the City can choose not to take the money. But we cannot simply decline it and then pursue State CDBG funding instead.
That is why I think residents should see the entire sequence together.
September 1: Referendum filed.
September 2: Agreement executed and submitted.
September 4: Records requested from Lorain County.
September 10: County records confirm the September 2 submission; HUD says "No, not yet" approved; questions raised with our Law Department.
September 15: Written legal opinion requested; petitions transmitted to BOE for certification; HUD final approval issued.
September 16: HUD confirms approval and the resulting change in status; Law Director advises additional research is needed.
September 17: Legal review received.
Whatever your opinion of the Urban County program itself, those dates matter.
City Council and the residents we represent deserve respect, transparency, and communication. It really is that simple.