At Vermilion City Council’s first meeting of 2026, Mayor Russ Owens delivered a sweeping and pointed report outlining his administration’s priorities for the years ahead. Owens described the coming term as a pivotal moment for Vermilion, telling council members the city must “do better” and “be better stewards” of taxpayer dollars to reverse years of deferred maintenance and rising costs.
Owens opened by thanking residents for their support and recognizing both new and returning members of council. He then moved into a critique of how the city has operated in recent years, including what he described as chronic underinvestment in roads, stagnant revenue, and an approach to public complaints that often left residents feeling dismissed.
He said Vermilion can no longer afford to “kick the can down the road,” and noted that the city’s income tax rate has remained unchanged since at least 2016 even as labor costs and infrastructure needs have increased.
Major road overhaul plan coming
A central focus of Owens’ remarks was Vermilion’s aging road system. He announced plans to create a volunteer road commission led by a road czar who would develop a long-term improvement plan for every neighborhood.
Owens said he intends to bring forward new incremental revenue strategies dedicated solely to street repairs. He told council that if members are not supportive of his proposals, they should be prepared to offer alternative funding solutions to ensure the work is done.
Shift in City Hall operations
Owens said his administration will emphasize the following:
• Negotiating more aggressively on contracts and purchases
• Asking why something costs what it does before approving spending
• Eliminating redundant processes
• Improving responsiveness to residents, including holding weekly open office hours for citizens
• Ensuring directors are accountable for results
• Expanding communication with citizens and with county, regional and state partners
He said many people warned him that government does not operate like a business, but he rejected the idea that public service should tolerate inefficiency or poor customer service.
Directors and financial leadership
Owens thanked council for approving his slate of directors, which includes:
• Tony Valerius, service director
• Chris Howard, city engineer
• Anthony Pecora, law director
• Scott Orille, assistant law director
He also noted that the city’s new finance director, Chad Agney, will begin in March.
A call for transparency and collaboration
Owens closed by acknowledging that Vermilion faces significant challenges but also new opportunities. He said his administration will not hesitate to ask for help from residents, neighboring communities, Lorain and Erie counties, the state and the federal government. He pledged to run a transparent, responsive administration centered on citizen needs.
“Our goal,” he said, “is not just keeping Vermilion a small town on a great lake, but making it the most special place to live on all of the Great Lakes.”
The Road Forward
Owens’ remarks signal that 2026 will not be a continuation of business as usual at Vermilion City Hall. His message combined urgency with a promise of accountability, placing both the administration and council on notice that significant change is expected. As his leadership team settles in and the incoming finance director arrives in March, the months ahead will show how the administration’s priorities begin to take shape across city departments and community services.
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