11/22/17 – 7:17 A.M.
North Baltimore has a new village council member. The Courier reports council appointed Leisa Zeigler to fill the seat left open by Holly Ryder. Ryder recently stepped down because she moved outside the village.
Village resident Charlotte Powell also expressed interest in the open council seat. Council spent 20 minutes Tuesday in closed executive session to discuss the appointment before selecting Zeigler.
MORE: The Courier
11/22/17 – 6:56 A.M.
The man trying to unseat Congressman Bob Latta brought his campaign to Findlay Wednesday. The Courier reports Republican Todd Wolfrum went door-to-door around the city to get the word out about his candidacy. He tells the newspaper his goal is to walk more than 1,000 miles to personally meet potential voters.
Wolfrum adds he’s running because he’s tired of politicians getting to Washington and not delivering on campaign promises. His campaign material features a letter titled, “10 Things I Will Do If Elected, That Bob Latta Hasn’t Done And Never Will.”
The 5th Congressional District includes Hancock, Wyandot, Wood, Hardin, Putnam and Henry counties. Wolfrum says he’s walked around 500 miles so far to reach voters in the area.
MORE: The Courier
11/22/17 – 5:35 A.M.
Wyandot County emergency workers had to rescue two people who ignored high water signs Monday night. The Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office reports 29-year-old Caitlin Herrick of Carey was driving west on Township Road 44 near Township Road 103 around 6:45 p.m. when she tried to cross high water in her pickup truck. The Upper Sandusky Water Rescue Unit rescued her.
Four hours later a rescue crew pulled Anthony and Brandon Leeth from the roof of their SUV. Anthony Leeth was driving on County Highway 16 near State Route 53 when he got stuck in high water.
No one was hurt in either incident.
Deputies cited both drivers for disobeying a traffic control device.
11/22/17 – 5:26 A.M.
It’s official, Fostoria’s property tax levy has passed. The Board of Elections in Hancock, Wood, and Seneca counties met Monday to count provisional ballots. The Courier reports the provisional count added five votes in favor of the levy. The 6-mill property tax passed by 50 votes on election night.
The levy is part of a fiscal recovery plan for the city. Officials expect it to generate around $3.5 million for the general fund by 2022.
MORE: The Courier
11/22/17 – 5:19 A.M.
Fostoria’s mayor says he’ll work harder to include council members in personnel decisions. The Courier reports Eric Keckler made the comments during Tuesday’s council meeting. They came after the city parted ways with former City Engineer Dan Thornton and Zoning Inspector Sandy Coleman last week.
Keckler says the moves were, “an administrative decision meant as a reorganization process for the city.” He added that the administration has a reorganization plan in place. Keckler will present the plan to council in its entirety in the future.
Keckler has said the firings were for operational reasons. He added the goal is more efficiency from the city.
MORE: The Courier
11/22/17 – 5:08 A.M.
The Hancock County Commissioners officially awarded a contract to a company from Vickery, Ohio to improve the Dalzell Ditch Tuesday. Great Lakes Demolition bid a little more than $455,000 to win the contract. The only other bid came from Helms and Sons Excavating in Findlay. It was a little more than $37,000 over the low bid.
The commissioners expect the work to start this year.
The ditch runs through residential neighborhoods in northwestern Findlay. Residents say it causes flooding in the area.
11/22/17 – 4:58 A.M.
Findlay City Council heard the first reading on an ordinance that would give council members a pay raise during their Tuesday meeting. The Courier reports council read the ordinance into the record without discussion. They’ll have readings at their next two meetings before voting on the issue.
An ad hoc council committee recommended a $1,000 pay raise for council members earlier this month. The committee also recommended a $2,000 raise for the city’s treasurer.
Councilman Jeff Wobser introduced a counter-proposal that would delay raises until at least 2020. No one offered a second on the motion so it did not move forward.
Council also held the first reading of an ordinance that would give around 150 non-union, non-elected city employees a 2 percent pay raise next year.
MORE: The Courier
11/22/17 – 3 A.M.
Findlay Fire Department earned a grant from the Bureau of Workers Compensation for new equipment. Fire Chief Josh Eberle said they are getting new hoods to protect local firefighters from carcinogens.
The new hoods will block the carcinogens and are washable. Eberle said that they received over $12,000 to purchase 132 hoods. Findlay City Council approved the grant at their Tuesday meeting.
11/22/17 – 2:00 A.M.
Findlay City Council approved a grant from the Ohio Attorney General Law Enforcement Diversion Program. Safety director Paul Schmelzer said that the $87,500 grant will help form a quick response team to follow up on overdose patients.
Schmelzer said that the team will offer people that suffered an overdose.
He added that the $87,500 will help people seek treatment and get better.
11/21/17 – 7:19 P.M.
ODOT gave an update on the I-75 Project through Findlay Tuesday. Project Engineer Robert White said that the ramps at U.S. 224 will be open Wednesday.
White also talked about the construction around the Harrison Street Bridge.
They are also preparing for shifts in the southbound lanes of I-75 in the beginning of December.