02/07/18 – 2:39 A.M.
Findlay City Council approved grant money for training police officers. Safety director Paul Schmelzer said that the money will be used to train each officer through various courses.
The grant total came to $24,000. Schmelzer said that the police department will look at what training they will need and make a schedule and a budget to match that.
02/07/18 – 2:24 P.M.
Tax deferrals became the topic of an argument during Findlay City Council’s Tuesday meeting. Mayor Lydia Mihalik explained that businesses do not get to defer payments on their taxes.
Mihalik continued saying that the current ordinance makes sure that there aren’t any large refunds due once actual numbers come in from businesses.
Councilwoman Holly Frische disagreed saying that it isn’t fair that large businesses can put off paying their taxes. She told the mayor that this can be avoided by putting money in the appropriate funds.
Many members of council agreed with the mayor. Councilman Jeff Wobser agreed with Frische that the ordinance in place should be looked at more thoroughly.
02/06/18 – 6:40 P.M.
The United Way of Hancock County and the Hancock County Community Foundation has been talking about the results of their community conversations. Community Foundations executive director Katherine Kreuchauf said that affordable housing was one of the major topics. She explained that there needs to be more research on the affordability of homes in Hancock County.
Other major issues according to residents of the county are safety, mental health and substance abuse services, transportation, and workforce development and financial stability. Kreuchauf said that these areas are already being worked on but that they are complex issues. Organizations will need to come together to help bring about solutions.
Kreuchauf said that it is good to know that they are working in these areas.
A local auto dealer acquired a new RV dealer and auto care in Tiffin. Reineke RV announced the purchase of Fort Ball RV & Auto Sales and Eclipse Auto Care Tuesday. Dan Reineke said that the acquisition will allow them to better serve the market in northwest Ohio.
The purchase follows the announcement of a partnership with Coleman Sales & Service in Toledo a few weeks ago.
2/6/18 – 1:57 P.M.
Hancock Public Health wants to move into a more public location, but officials say funding for the facility needs sorted out. Director Karim Baroudi met with the county commissioners to talk about the issue Tuesday. Commissioner Mark Gazarek says he understands the need for space but has concerns about bonding a new building…
Audio: Mark Gazarek
The commissioners suggested Baroudi meet with the city to see if they would lend Hancock Health the money for a new building…
Audio: Mark Gazarek
Baroudi says as an independent board Hancock Health can also seek out its own funding through a bank loan. He adds they want to examine all options before making a decision.
Baroudi says their budget projections show they would have no problem making a loan payment if the state accredits the agency. However, he has concerns about getting accreditation in the current building on County Road 140.
Commissioner Brian Robertson says the county could help with renovations at the current facility to help the agency earn accreditation.
2/6/18 – 12:49 P.M.
More people are using public transportation in Hancock County. Laurie Collins is the director of Hancock Area Transportation Services, and says they gave 45,000 rides in 2017…
Audio: Laurie Collins
Collins says around 34 percent of the people who use HATS get a ride for work.
Collins adds they are expanding their services…..
Audio: Laurie Collins
HATS is offering free rides to Hancock County residents on February 14. For more information, you can call (419)423-7261.
2/6/18 – 7:15 A.M.
A collision involving two semis in Seneca County injured two people Monday morning. The State Highway Patrol reports the crash happened at the intersection of U.S. 224 and U.S. 23 around 10:30 a.m.
63-year-old Jeffery McIntosh of Toledo was driving west on U.S. 224 when he ran a red light and hit a semi driven by 39-year-old Sean Coleman of Westerville. The impact caused Coleman’s truck to jackknife and go off the road.
Bascom EMS took McIntosh to Fostoria Community Hospital. A medical helicopter took Coleman to the hospital. Officials say he was in stable condition.
2/6/18 – 5:33 A.M.
A two-car crash injured a Findlay woman Monday afternoon. The Findlay Police Department reports the collision happened at the intersection of North Blanchard Street and East Foulke Avenue around 3:15 p.m.
27-year-old Chelsea Ayers of Findlay was driving east on East Foulke when she stopped at the intersection. She then pulled into the path of a car driven by 20-year-old Tawnya Oppman of Findlay. Hanco Ambulance took Oppman to Blanchard Valley Hospital for treatment of a neck injury. Police cited Ayers for failure to yield at a stop sign.
2/6/18 – 5:18 A.M.
It will take a little longer before Carey moves forward with a meter reader project in the village. The Courier reports council voted to table the measure Tuesday night. At issue was whether-or-not council members could review bids for the project. Councilors Anthony Fletcher and Chase Fletcher both said they want language added to the ordinance that ensures council members can review the bids.
State law says council has to approve bids for any project over $50,000. Mayor Jenn Rathburn and village Administrator Roy Johnson said council has always had the opportunity to review bids on projects.
The meter project calls for the replacement of more than 1,900 electric meters and 1,400 water meters. Officials expect the work to take six-to-eight weeks once council approves a bid.
MORE: The Courier
2/6/18 – 5:06 A.M.
The Main Street pavement project gets underway later this year in Arlington. That’s according to Mayor Michael Palmer, who gave the state-of-the-village address Monday night. The Courier reports the first phase of the three-phase project is ready to go once construction season begins.
Palmer also told council that ODOT has moved the second phase of the project up. ODOT now says they’ll start the second part in 2019 rather than in 2020.
Councilman Brian Essinger says they’ll maintain traffic on Main Street during the work. He also cautioned that the work will be dusty, dirty, and stony.
U.S. 68 doubles as Main Street in Arlington. Officials have pushed for major repairs to the road for years.
MORE: The Courier