01/10/19 – 8:23 P.M.

The Findlay City Council appropriations committee got a look at upcoming projects in the capital plan this year. Service director Brian Thomas said that the biggest and most expensive project will be improving equipment at the wast water plant.

Thomas added that there are also sewer line and street resurfacing projects that are major highlights.

Thomas also talked about a project that got its start in 2017. The city was looking at building a salt barn but put the project on hold because they weren’t sure what was happening with the Blanchard River Benching Project.

The plan includes building a bigger storage area for salt. Thomas said that council will have to approve the project along with the others in the capital plan.

1/10/19 – 11:20 A.M.
UPDATE – 3:45 P.M. (Power restored)

A large power outage affected the west side of Findlay for several hours Thursday. American Electric Power’s website says around 2,400 customers lost power. AEP says an equipment outage on Township Road 94 caused the outage. Officials report that power was restored to the area around 2 p.m. A glitch in the AEP outage map made it look like there was still an outage affecting the area for about an hour after it was resolved.

The outage knocked out power to several stop lights in the area and Liberty-Benton schools went without power for a majority of the school day. The outage forced several businesses and organizations to close.

Power was knocked out for about 4 hours

01/10/19 – 3:19 P.M

Flag City Honor Flight has announced two dates for 2019 flights. According to a release from the organization, they will be taking the flights on June 11 and September 24 this year. FCH said they will take around 80 veterans and their guardians to Washington D.C. to visit war memorials.

The trip costs the veterans nothing. They are funded through donations.

1/10/19 – 1:05 P.M.

Plans for an affordable housing development in Findlay hit a snag Thursday. The city planning commission heard from several Bishop Lane residents who said they had major concerns about increased traffic from the proposed 50 unit development…

Audio:

Ben Taylor says the big issue is that the only entrance into the development is from Bishop Lane, which he says isn’t designed for heavy traffic. The road would serve as the only entrance to the development.

The commission voted to table the issue until next month after a suggestion from committee member Jackie Schroeder. She suggested a compromise that would extend Breckenridge Lane south and build a cul-de-sac that would connect to the north side of the new development. Residents say they like that idea better because it would provide direct access to Melrose Avenue.

However, the land needed for the cul-de-sac isn’t owned by the property developers, Blanchard Station Housing Partners LLC.

The developers asked the commission to table the issue so they could talk to all of their partners before moving forward with a compromise deal.

1/10/19 – 6:39 A.M.

Leipsic is looking for a new village council member. The Putnam County Sentinel reports Councilman Brian Reynolds is stepping down. In a letter to council, Reynolds said he couldn’t serve “in a level that I feel is acceptable to those who have elected me.”

Leipsic council members have 30 days to appoint a replacement.

MORE: Putnam County Sentinel

1/10/19 – 5:34 A.M.

The Putnam-East water system in Putnam County is in violation of EPA regulations. Not because of water quality issues, but because the system currently doesn’t have an “operator of record.” The Putnam County Sentinel says county and Ottawa officials are hashing out ownership issues.

Ottawa has been the operator of record in the past. The village wants to take ownership of the Putnam-East water system. However, the newspaper reports the county doesn’t want the village to take ownership without also taking ownership of an adjacent sewer system.

MORE: Putnam County Sentinel

1/10/19 – 5:08 A.M.

The cost for license plates in Putnam County is going up. The Putnam County Sentinel reports the county commissioners approved two separate $5 increases during their first meeting of the year. That means that starting in 2020 it will cost Putnam County residents an extra $10 for license plate renewals.

County Engineer Michael Lenhart says they need the extra fees to help pay for roadway maintenance and repairs. He adds the cost of asphalt is 250 percent more expensive than it was in 2005.

MORE: Putnam County Sentinel

1/10/19 – 5:01 A.M.

Findlay Auditor Jim Staschiak is running for reelection. The Findlay Republican submitted petitions to run for office to the Hancock County Board of Elections Wednesday. Staschiak says he wants to focus on the auditor’s office, where he says he can do the most good for the city.

Staschiak has served as city auditor since March of 2011. The Republican Party appointed him to fill the position after Robert Sprague became a state representative. Findlay voters then elected Staschiak in 2011 and 2015.

Staschiak is only the second person to file petitions to run for office in Findlay this year. 1st Ward Councilwoman Holly Frische has submitted papers to run for mayor.

MORE: Other elected officials are circulating petitions