05/16/18 – 11:16 A.M.

A Findlay Street is scheduled for repaving work causing some closings starting tomorrow. Cory Street is scheduled to be milled and paved from Lima to High Streets tomorrow and Friday. Sections of Cory will be closed during the work and detours will be posted.

You’re urged to avoid the area if possible. If you have any questions call the engineering department at 419-424-7121.

5/16/18 – 5:30 A.M.

Fostoria is taking further action to deal with a vacant lot in the 900 block of North Countyline Street. The Review-Times reports the city has sent a cease and desist letter to Rensko Property LLC. The letter demands the property owners being the land back up to grade.

Rensko had planned to bring a Tim Horton’s to the site. When the plans fell through, construction on the property stopped. Mayor Eric Keckler said in April the company had agreed to remove excess dirt and level the land. However, that hasn’t happened yet.

Rensko has until Friday to respond or the city will issue the company zoning citations.

MORE: Review-Times

5/16/18 – 5:20 A.M.

Area veterans looking for a place to live can get some help next month. The Hancock Metropolitan Housing Authority is opening its rental assistance waiting list at 8 a.m. on June 4. It will close again at 8 a.m. on June 6.

“Veteran preference” offers rental assistance to a family whose head of household or spouse is a veteran or current member of the four branches of the U.S. military. They must have received a discharge or release for anything other than dishonorable conditions. Widows of former service members are also eligible if they have not remarried.

For more information, you can go to hancockmetro.com. The agency is not accepting paper applications.

5/16/18 – 4:58 A.M.

An internal review shows Findlay police officers followed department protocol during a police chase that led to the death of a Findlay woman last week. Lt. Ryan Doe says the department has rules officers have to follow before, during, and after the chase. One standard includes completing an internal review within a week of the incident.

Doe says the review shows officers followed the department’s guidelines. Officers used their overhead lights and siren in a marked police car. The regulations also say two officers can take part in two separate police cars, with a supervisor joining in a third car.

The protocol requires officers to evaluate roadway conditions, traffic, proximity to schools, and time of day among other items.

48-year-old Crystal Moore died when her car hit a house north of Findlay last Wednesday. She had led authorities in Crawford County on a chase earlier that day. Findlay officers found her on the south side of the city and pursued her until she lost control after crossing railroad tracks.

MORE: The Courier

05/16/18 – 2 A.M.

Findlay City Council approved using Community Development Block Grant funds for a Howard Street improvement project. The CDBG funds came in around $202,000. The city will make up the difference for the project by providing over $1 million. The money will come from the capital, water, and stormwater funds

The total cost of the project is around $1.2 million.

Findlay City Council Chambers was full of people wanting to voice their opposition to the rezoning of a property on Spruce Drive. Councilman Dennis Hellman said that residents didn’t think a duplex or triplex would fit into the community.

Dennis Hellman

Over 20 residents were at the meeting claiming that the rezoning was a bad idea. Many were also concerned with how Findlay handles notices of rezoning work. Current policy says that only the budding property owners have to be noticed.

Dennis Hellman

Hellman said that there needs to be more notifications for people that are affected. Many residents didn’t know about the rezoning ordinance until last weekend. Hellman said that they are considering using signs to show when a property is getting rezoned.

Council voted against rezoning the property.

05/15/18 –  11 P.M.

Findlay City Council met as a whole to learn more about the income tax program that allows some businesses to pay at a later date. Findlay Income Tax Administrator Andrew Thomas explained that they allow businesses with volatile income taxes to delay payments so that the payments are more accurate.

Andrew Thomas

He added that businesses are expected to make payments 10-18 months before they have a final income report for the year. By allowing them to wait for a final report, income tax collections are more accurate and save the city money.

Many members of council agreed that this is a good practice but that there needs to be more transparency. Safety Director Paul said that administrators will work to help make this process as transparent as legally possible.

Paul Schmelzer

Schmelzer said that they will put the process in writing as well as how people and business can qualify. He said that they can’t name any businesses due to confidentiality laws. Schmelzer said that the key word is volatile. Businesses and individuals in volatile markets can overpay their tax estimates.