03/15/17 – 1:47 P.M.
This Friday is St. Patrick’s day and the Findlay Police Department will have extra patrols out to keep an eye on things. That’s the message from Sgt. Brian Dill.
Dill said there are things you can do to have a good time while being safe.
The Findlay post of the State Highway Patrol will also have extra forces out and about.
3/15/17 – 5:32 A.M.
Fire destroyed a garage near the Iron Triangle in Fostoria Tuesday afternoon. Firefighters responded to 330 Boston Avenue just after 2:30 p.m. The blaze didn’t cause any injuries but did damage three cars inside the building.
Lt. Jerry Goodman tells the Review-Times the damage from the flames made it impossible to figure out what started the fire to begin with.
The blaze did a total of $30,000 in damage to the building and its contents.
MORE: Review-Times
3/15/17 – 5:25 A.M.
There’s been a change to the plan to get Fostoria out of a fiscal emergency designation. The Review-Times reports Fostoria City Council voted 4-3 Tuesday to put a 6-mill property tax levy in front of voters later this year. The group voted 5-1 in favor of a 4-mill levy last week. At-large Councilman Brian Shaver said the 6-mill option is the only option that accomplishes a state-imposed goal of giving the general fund a three-month carryover balance by 2021.
For a resident with a home valued at $100,000 a 6-mill levy costs an extra $210 on their yearly property tax bill. That’s $70 more expensive than the 4-mill plan.
Fostoria’s council meets again Thursday for a second reading of the plan. A third reading is set for next Tuesday. After that the seven-member Financial Planning and Supervision Commission is set to vote on the plan March 29.
MORE: Review-Times
3/15/17 – 5:13 A.M.
A company out of Minster is the apparent low bidder for Hancock County Courthouse drainage work. The commissioners opened bids for the project Tuesday. Heyne (HI-nee) Construction submitted a general construction bid for a little more than $262,000. The bid also had an additional $54,000 for alternate projects.
The improvements aim to keep water from getting into the lower level of the courthouse on South Main Street.
An initial architect’s estimate for the project was more than $408,000.
MORE: The Courier
3/15/17 – 5:06 A.M.
The future of Hancock County’s juvenile and probate court remains up in the air. With renovating the aging building seemingly too expensive, the county commissioners may look to move the facility. The Courier reports the commissioners talked about that option with Judge Kristen Johnson Tuesday.
Commissioner Tim Bechtol told Johnson they were, “looking at another building to move you to permanently.” Commissioner Brian Robertson added the commissioners want to spend the money once, spend it right and provide long-term benefit for taxpayer dollars.
The group talked about possibly swapping places with the adult probation department in a county owned space on South Main Street. Judge Johnson said she didn’t think the space would be big enough. She added that it wouldn’t be appropriate to bring shackled juveniles into the Main Street building through an alley.
MORE: The Courier
03/14/17 – 6:22 P.M.
A Findlay man was arrested in Tiffin Tuesday after he allegedly brandished a knife against a police officer. The Courier reports that the officer was trying to take 34-year-old Vincent Fedele into custody at a Rite Aid on a warrant.
Hancock County Common Pleas Court Judge Jonathan Starn issued the warrant. Fedele failed to report to the county’s adult probation department.
Fedele was charged with possession of heroin and tampering with evidence in October. No officers were harmed in the incident.
03/14/17 – 5:58 P.M.
Findlay City Council Appropriation Committee talked about funds for a traffic light at Hamlet Drive and County Road 212. Chairman Ron Monday said that they will recommend that council passes that $25,000 ordinance.
Service-Safety Director Paul Schmelzer said that the initial $25,000 will be used for design and to take soil samples. He said that projects like this usually cost less than $100,000 but there’s no guarantee.
The light should be installed by late fall if council approves the ordinance.
03/14/17 – 3:13 P.M.
Gliding Stars of Findlay will be holding their annual adaptive ice show starring people with developmental disabilities. Cindy Bregel said that they have a lot of stars taking part this year.
Bregel said that besides watching the skaters you can try to win baskets.
The show will start at the Cube in Findlay this Sunday. Doors will open at 1:30 p.m. and tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 10 and under. This years theme is “Gone Country”.
03/14/17 – 2:21 P.M.
Century Health is raising money for a couple of improvement projects and is nearly there. Fund development director Gary Bright said that they are about halfway to their goal.
Bright said the money will fund two major projects.
He said that these projects are needed because of the increase in patient traffic.
You can donate online at centuryhealth.net or on their facebook page. You can also donate by check or by calling Gary Bright at 419-427-5128.
3/14/17 – 10:36 A.M.
The next phase of Stantec Engineering’s review of Blanchard River flood mitigation options starts soon. The Hancock County Commissioners agreed Tuesday to spend $265,000 for several assessments…
Audio: Steve Wilson
Project manager Steve Wilson says the surveys focus on the river channel through Findlay. Upgrading the river channel is one of Stantec’s proposed options for flood mitigation.
Wilson says Stantec will include their findings from the new surveys in a report to the community in May.