New Resident Guide
Dear New Resident:
Congratulations on the new and exciting changes in your life! Oberlinians take great pride in welcoming a very diverse mix of permanent residents, college students, and visitors to our unique and historic City. We are happy you are here!
Oberlin is governed by the Council-Manager form of government. Our City Council is comprised of seven residents elected at-large to two-year terms. A professional City Manager is hired by City Council to administer the day-to-day activities of the City. The City Council also appoints a Finance Director, Law Director, and City Clerk. The City Council meets on the first and third Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in Oberlin City Hall at 85 South Main Street. Residents are welcome to attend and are encouraged to participate in meetings. Council meetings are also broadcasted on Cable TV Channel 9. We have numerous citizen boards and commissions that advise the City Council. We hope you will consider serving on one.
Oberlin is a full service City offering Safety Services, Utilities, Departments for Recreation, Recycling, Cemetery and Parks, Public Works, and many more. Information for each of these departments can be found within this handbook or on the City’s website: www.cityofoberlin.com.
At the heart of our community is Oberlin College, with its rich variety of educational and cultural programs that are available to residents, as well as students.
There are many recreational opportunities within the City of Oberlin including recreation programs, parks, and trails. The Oberlin Recreation Complex on West Hamilton Street has baseball/softball and soccer fields. Lorain County Metro Parks operates Splash Zone, an indoor-outdoor swimming pool/water park and fitness center, also located on West Hamilton Street. The College also operates an athletic facility that offers memberships to the public. Through this membership, residents may access an indoor swimming pool, tennis and racquetball courts, weight rooms, and gymnasiums.
Oberlin’s intimate school district offers a variety of opportunities that belies its size. Oberlin boasts an outstanding school system that provides an exceptionally well rounded education. The District places emphasis on academic rigor, having been recognized by ACT as a Regional Red Quail District, and places a value on the arts, having been awarded an Outstanding Support of Music Education by the NAMM Foundation. The school district is the first district in the state of Ohio (and one of the first in the nation) to be fully authorized to offer the highly regarded International Baccalaureate curriculum in all grades, for all students. Almost 90% of Oberlin High School graduates attend college upon graduation, and those who qualify for admission to Oberlin College receive full four-year tuition scholarships.
We welcome you to Oberlin, and if I can be of any assistance, please feel free to contact me at (440) 775-7206.
Sincerely,
Eric Norenberg
City Manager
Please visit the links below for overviews of City Departments and Services:
City Government
City Council
Boards and Commissions
City Council Clerk
City Law Director
City Manager’s Office
City Regulations
Finance/Utility Office
Fire Department
Human Resources Department
Oberlin Municipal Court
Oberlin Municipal Light and Power System
Oberlin Community Services
Planning & Development Department
Police Department
Public Works Department
Recreation Division
Oberlin Connector Para-Transit Service