04/19/17 – 2:41 A.M.
Findlay City Council debated about appropriating money to the capital improvement budget at their Tuesday meeting. The budget needed an appropriation of $1.5 million dollars. Service-safety director Paul Schmelzer compromised on moving the money.
City auditor Jim Staschiak called the plan wise. He said the city should be especially prudent since there is a deficit budget on the books. Any money put in the capital fund cannot come back to the general fund.
04/19/17 – 2:39 A.M.
Findlay City Council heard about a proposed grant to get a Jaws of Life for the Findlay Fire Department. Service-safety director Paul Schmelzer said that the equipment will be helpful.
Schmelzer added that the equipment could be needed with the ongoing work on I-75.
04/19/17 – 1:52 A.M.
The Bed Tax Distribution ad hoc committee met to talk about what events could qualify for a grant. Committee chair Grant Russell said they want to support projects that have the biggest impact.
The committee talked to the Convention and Visitors Bureau about the details they want from projects and events. Since the CVB has experience in handing out grants to applicants, the committee has chosen them to handle the process.
Russell will meet with the city auditor and law director to iron out more details. He also said that he may meet with the board of the CVB to discuss their concerns.
04/18/17 – 5:00 P.M.
You can see men wearing high heels at the Walk-A-Mile In Her Shoes event this Saturday. Open Arms executive director Ashley Ritz says that it’s a fun way to get the word out.
She added that you do not have to bring your high heels. said that the heels are optional though.
Registration for the event starts at 10:30 a.m. and the walk will start an hour later. The walk will be at the Riverside Park in Findlay.
4/18/17 – 12:16 P.M.
A few Hancock County residents raised questions about Blanchard River flood mitigation during Tuesday’s Maumee Watershed Conservancy District meeting. Steve Umphrees of Mount Blanchard asked representatives of Stantec Engineering why the firm hadn’t created a cost-benefit ratio for the dry storage basins proposed south of Findlay. Stantec representatives on hand said the conservancy hadn’t asked for a cost benefit for the basins by themselves. The company said they could provide the numbers if requested by the board.
Stantec says improving river flow through Findlay provides a 4-to-1 benefit to cost ratio. That number falls to 1.5-to-1 when including the dry storage basins.
A letter from Umphrees to the conservancy also mentioned Stantec made errors in a spillway project at Grand Lake St. Marys. Stantec reps said they served as an expert witness in the spillway case, but didn’t design the spillway in question.ion.
4/18/17 – 10:52 A.M.
Update – 12:02 P.M.
The Maumee Watershed Conservancy District is on board with improvements to the Blanchard River in Findlay. The board voted Tuesday to move forward with this part of the project…
Audio: Clark Lynn Army
Conservancy Director Clark Lynn Army says the Maumee Conservancy Court will vote on the plan in early May. This portion of the plan does not include the proposed dry storage basins south of Findlay. Army said it could take up to two years to start work in Findlay if the court approves the plan.
In the meantime, Project Manager Steve Wilson says two information meetings are set for next week to talk more about the project.
Audio: Steve Wilson
The first meeting is next Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Riverdale High School. The second meeting is the following night at the Hancock County Engineer’s maintenance building.
4/18/17 – 5:35 A.M.
Forest officials are ready to enforce nuisance ordinances once again this spring. WKTN radio reports the Forest Police Department plans to enforce laws regarding garbage, tall grass, and weeds.
The department says they want to avoid issues they’ve had with some residents in the past. They are urging people to use a Spring Clean Up day in the village on May 20 to get rid of junk.
MORE: WKTN Radio
4/18/17 – 5:30 A.M.
You might hear fighter jets in the skies above the region this week. The 180th Fighter Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard says they’ll conduct training flights over northwest Ohio through Thursday. A release from the Guard says jets are taking off and landing from the base in Swanton until around 10 p.m. each day.
Pilots must conduct night operations as a part of their readiness training.
4/18/17 – 5:30 A.M.
We continue our look at the candidates running in contested Findlay primary races today. Heidi Mercer is one of four Democrats running for a Council-at-Large seat. Mercer says she’s running so she can give a unique prospective to council…
Audio: Heidi Mercer
Mercer says topics like the opioid epidemic and affordable housing affect younger Findlay residents more.
Mercer says when it comes to the budget, she’d be fairly conservative…
Audio: Heidi Mercer
Mercer adds she believes Findlay residents should have a say in where the budget priorities are.
Mercer says bicyclists should be welcomed in downtown…
Audio: Heidi Mercer
She adds it would also be a good idea to listen to local bike shop owners when it comes to the issue.
Tomorrow’s profile will feature Mary Harshfield.
Full Interview:
4/18/17 – 5:24 A.M.
Carey’s village council wants more information before they make a decision on installing automated water and electric meter readers. The Courier reports members decided to have Verizon Wireless make a presentation about the system at 6 p.m. on May 1.
The cost to install the meters is a little more than $802,000. Village Administrator Roy Johnson says the village would fund the cost over five years. Village officials say installing the meters allows employees to focus on other work.
Some council members expressed concern over the installation costs. Others said they has concerns the equipment could lead to a rate hike in the future.
MORE: The Courier