09/06/18 – 6:19 P.M.
The Hancock Regional Planning Commission and the Hancock County Commissioners received a grant for the Village of Mount Blanchard. The critical infrastructure grant came from the Ohio Office of Community Development for $304,000.
The grant will be used to replace corroding asbestos cement waterlines. The new waterlines will help provide sufficient water pressure and will improve water flow within the village. The project is expected to begin in the spring of 2019.
09/06/18 – 6:06 P.M.
September is Recovery Month and Focus is ready to celebrate. Executive Director Ellyn Schmiesing said that it is important to recognize the efforts of recovery.
Schmiesing said that there are many times when recovery is left out.
She said that there are plenty of success stories in the community. Focus is hosting several events throughout the month to celebrate those stories. You can see what they have planned at focusrwc.org/sept18
09/06/18 – 3:24 P.M.
A damaged gas line prompted the evacuation of a Findlay business. Jack’s Lawnmower shop on Bigelow Avenue was evacuated this afternoon after workers hit a gas line. There were no injuries reported.
09/06/18 – 2:49 P.M.
Findlay Mayor Lydia Mihalik was on WFIN to talk about current issues facing council and the administration. She said that the vacation of an unimproved street by Sandusky Street has been controversial. She said that she thinks the council should make some decisions on how people can use unimproved roadways.
Mihalik said that these roads aren’t meant to be driven on because they haven’t been kept to standards. She added that she doesn’t think people should drive on them because they are essentially backyards.
She also addressed the potential auction of buildings on West Main Cross Street. She said that she just wanted to get the conversation going.
The buildings were purchased to house the city health department but that plan was abandoned when the city and county started talking about merging their health departments. She added that it would cost over $1 million to turn the facility into an office space.
9/6/18 – 1:07 P.M.
The Hancock County Commissioners have denied a petition from McComb to separate overlapping borders with Pleasant Township…
Audio: Mark Gazarek
Commissioner Mark Gazarek says the commissioners heard from both sides before making their decision.
Commissioner Brian Robertson says the split would have gone against collaborative efforts government agencies are trying to spearhead…
Audio: Brian Robertson
He added that the commissioners spoke to several county agencies before making a decision.
Representatives from Pleasant Township said they would consider pulling out of the joint fire district if the commissioners approved the split.
McComb officials had argued that residents in the Pleasant Township part of the village weren’t getting value for their tax dollars.
9/6/18 – 11:44 A.M.
Hancock County will contract with a local company to help form a strategic plan for the future. The commissioners voted 2-1 Thursday to pay $15,000 to Six Disciplines for a two-day consulting seminar…
Audio: Tim Bechtol
Commissioner Tim Bechtol says the session will get the elected leaders working in the same direction.
Commissioner Brian Robertson says this will help give voters a clear picture of where the county is heading…
Audio: Brian Robertson
Commissioner Mark Gazarek voted against the plan…
Audio: Mark Gazarek
Robertson responded by saying the county has to invest in solutions rather than always saying “no” and not doing anything about problems. Both Bechtol and Robertson say since the county has several independent offices headed by elected officials it makes sense to get everyone on the same page.
Robertson says the planning sessions won’t violate sunshine statutes because sunshine laws allow for planning meetings. He adds they’ll make anything that comes out of the planning meetings available to the public.
9/6/18 – 7:00 A.M.
Mount Blanchard residents can talk about issues that matter to the community following Riverdale football games this season. The community Heart & Soul program says it’s hosting a “5th Quarter for Adults” discussion following games at the gazebo in Hurricane Park. The group will provide pizza and drinks.
Each meeting will feature a different topic. This week organizers will talk about schools.
The Heart & Soul group is looking for action items that can enhance community values.
MORE: The Courier
9/6/18 – 5:25 A.M.
A motorcycle crash seriously injured an Upper Sandusky man Wednesday morning. The crash happened on U.S. 23 in southern Wyandot County around 6:15 a.m.
The State Highway Patrol says 71-year-old Robert Shepard of Nebraska was driving a semi south on the highway when he made an illegal left turn onto County Highway 113. Shepard turned into the path of a motorcycle ridden by 52-year-old Brian Bryant.
A medical helicopter took Bryant to St. Rita’s Medical Center in Lima. The crash remains under investigation.
9/6/18 – 5:15 A.M.
The Findlay Police Department has gone without a police captain for 20 months. City service director Paul Schmelzer says they plan on filling the role this fall. The legal fight with former acting police chief Sean Young has delayed the process. The city fired Young following allegations of domestic abuse in February of 2017. They settled a suit filed by Young earlier this year.
The captain is the second-in-command and reports to Police Chief John Dunbar. The captain also oversees all three lieutenants, as well as the department’s certification process. Currently, Chief Dunbar and lieutenant Ryan Doe are handling the captain’s duties.
MORE: The Courier
9/6/18 – 5:04 A.M.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Richard Cordray made a stop in Findlay Wednesday. While touring the One Energy wind farm Cordray talked about working for farmers in the state. He said he would work to secure markets for Ohio’s agriculture industry. Cordray added that recent efforts to clean Lake Erie didn’t include communication with farmers in the watershed.
Governor John Kasich issued an executive order in July that could lead to increased fertilizer regulations.
Cordray also talked about campaign commercials. He said a law that required rape kit testing within 30 days wasn’t on the books when he was attorney general. He added the issue came up when he had five months left in his tenure, and that his office put protocols in place that DeWine’s office uses.
MORE: The Courier