Brunswick receives $81,000 NOPEC grant for energy efficiency

BRUNSWICK — The city will soon be improving energy efficiency at its service department. Brunswick City Council on Monday passed a resolution that authorizes the city to complete any needed documents to accept a 2024 Energized Community grant from the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council. The grant, worth about $81,000, can be used for energy-efficiency projects or to implement energy infrastructure within a municipality. City Manager Carl DeForest said the city receives the grant annually and uses the funding to improve the energy efficiency of the city's buildings. Service and Streets Director Paul Magovac said the city is looking at putting this year's funding toward many projects at the service department, including replacing the generator, which is more than 25 years old. Another project involves installing gravity vents in the department, he said. "Right now, our airflow system, when it turns on, it creates a suction, and you cannot open up any of the doors to the outside without putting your shoulder into it and beating it down," Magovac said. He said the funding can also be used for putting in carbon monoxide monitors throughout the shop, installing a heater unit and potentially replacing both of the department's rusted man doors. Also on Monday, Brunswick Committee of the Whole passed a motion to accept requests for proposals for its planning and zoning code update. Vice Mayor Nick Hanek said the process involves looking through the code and making suggestions for changes, which will then have to go through the planning commission. "It's something we've been working toward for a number of years," he said. "(It's) part of the idea of modernizing and working toward making sure that we're thinking about what makes sense for the city and how our codes reflect that and reflect modern planning and zoning." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.