[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6169057,"mediaKeyId","5405327-3ab3d8197f0dc701b128ac3aad4e1d02","parentId",5405327,"title","Findlay council approves ad hoc investment committee after months of questions over city investment reporting","audioSeconds",486,"startMs",1148000,"endMs",1634000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5405327-3ab3d8197f0dc701b128ac3aad4e1d02&start=1148&end=1634","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5405327-3ab3d8197f0dc701b128ac3aad4e1d02/thumbnail_1148000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6169057/Findlay-City/Hancock-County/Ohio/Findlay-council-approves-ad-hoc-investment-committee-after-months-of-questions-over-city-investment-reporting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6169057-6499bdec900ac1962d742865949c6c7c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773325844&Signature=dUMzwrM0SIEMXRK6GPcfUlW1uAT4XellBh~QF1VQQJ2Plb-D9KueVK65UfMPDyPB4dzBze98huewoAr~QFytczAMgIdVZ3aAk7ox-QS0PZXakObli4wB7GTXJBoXfYhHgI1nYufuY0mmwvKDYJ7DWI0L9MVnlijMlrGw7SqJr2xX1U2LiLn6MQLw0OvCyZ9Zn76s0xtWAqoV3oZFMLjJEg9zMqLuxuamSao1y3u-QF3WJksuEgy1fd9wz4ONx1tQpy9CWKYSq-6OEj7YNf1modTpioRoC3HuTwDQnkHMyJlm1CO1Tm7BXmuQsI2BDaSWd3G7wEI7jW9drc7hwYVAIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Findlay, OH ","date","2025-07-16T20:08:13.257Z","article","Findlay City Council on July 15 approved creation of an ad hoc investment committee to review the city’s investment policies, reporting practices and strategy after a letter from three council members requested an expedited review.

Councilman DeArmond introduced the request, saying the goal is to “evaluate communication, transparency, reporting, accountability, and strategy” around municipal investments. The motion to create the ad hoc committee passed on a roll call vote with six members recorded as voting in favor and four opposed.

Why it matters: Council has statutory responsibility over municipal investments. The request followed months of questions from council members about the city’s investment returns and reporting formats; the city auditor and administration have provided estimates and new reporting fields (such as yield to maturity) but some council members said they still lack sufficient clarity.

Discussion highlights
Councilmember DeArmond said the committee is a first step to ensure the city’s investment governance aligns with best practices. City Auditor Stasiak (referred to in discussion) noted that the city recently added yield‑to‑maturity information to investment reports and that most of the city’s investments at the time were yielding near or above 5 percent. DeArmond and others expressed frustration about historical back‑and‑forth over information requests and said Appropriations Committee review could be an alternative forum; several members urged that politics and personalities be set aside.

Legal and process context
Law Director Rob Feiner (role cited in the meeting) and other staff were involved in conversations about a proper forum for review. Some council members urged handling the matter within the Appropriations Committee and in the mid‑year budget review; others supported a narrower ad hoc body to advance focused review and recommend changes. The chair said she will solicit volunteers for the ad hoc committee by email and provide a letter to council for confirmation votes on membership.

Action and next steps
The ad hoc committee was authorized by council. The chair will solicit interested council members and present a proposed membership and charge in a future council packet for full‑council confirmation. The agenda and staff indicated an Appropriations Committee mid‑year review is being planned for August to provide additional budgeting context.

Provenance: Discussion of the investment letter and the vote to form the ad hoc committee appears in the meeting transcript beginning with the council agenda item on the investment letter (transcript ~1148–1187) and concluding with the roll call vote and clerk’s direction to solicit volunteers (transcript ~1617–1634).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Findlay City Council 7/15/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council voted to form an ad hoc committee to review city investment strategy, reporting and transparency after repeated requests from council members and disagreement about the appropriate forum to handle the matter.","taxTitle","Findlay City, Hancock County , Ohio","taxId",52832,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6169062,"Findlay council approves design contracts for downtown riverfront park and pedestrian bridge amid public safety and timing disputes",3574,2737000,6311000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5405327-3ab3d8197f0dc701b128ac3aad4e1d02&start=2737&end=6311","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5405327-3ab3d8197f0dc701b128ac3aad4e1d02/thumbnail_2737000.jpg","/articles/6169062/Findlay-City/Hancock-County/Ohio/Findlay-council-approves-design-contracts-for-downtown-riverfront-park-and-pedestrian-bridge-amid-public-safety-and-timing-disputes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6169062-77cdaa7c09b7dc36a3549048ce0fc2a8/orig.mp4?Expires=1773325844&Signature=Td8o1Pb7oclmd-in~hWKsXbp2VoAGA51pJD3HqHLICWixlQECXSwUd8BRERG5sWf35HDgWkRfhTZs3LbvVBS2S~gLtQV1yk3OTR28og-nEb-uTS~ofLHQM1x~e3KvHnlcJu5alAPxNuW6seVOxZ3ecdw1DMbetsjacaew9x7mfv2-mdKGDwkgp~STYUHjHbrE6rxf8OY5Q4MZgIKX7B6WTCehV3yAfeoOEZJzknuFt8vD-poIH0XC~wiJKCNkFAA~qJ~gMTcph0K4GO6JduA6I5jq2jPvLoiMMZz7vYwvzVNLsNQk7isgY-f0L-AdB0PMd~W7IzMRpNZCRhzblw13Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Findlay City Council on July 15 voted to authorize design work for a proposed downtown riverfront recreation park and a pedestrian bridge, approving two ordinances that appropriate roughly $4 million for park design and $1.5 million for bridge design despite public calls to pause the spending until a November ballot initiative is decided.

The approvals formalize contracts the city will use to proceed with preliminary design and engineering. Council adopted Ordinance 2025-76 (park design) and Ordinance 2025-077 (pedestrian bridge). The bridge ordinance passed with two council members recorded as opposing (Councilmember Niemeyer and Councilmember Frishee); the park ordinance passed with the same two recorded nays. Council President Pro Tem Grant Russell presided over the meeting in the council president’s absence.

Why it matters: the parcels targeted for the park include land with a legacy of industrial use. Speakers and several council members raised questions about environmental contamination, remediation standards and legal liability. The city is pursuing cleanup under Ohio’s Voluntary Action Program with an Ohio EPA–certified consultant (CEC). Opponents urged that the council delay spending until the public votes and until cleanup levels and procurement practices are clarified; supporters said remediation will follow established, risk‑based standards and that the project could catalyze downtown investment.

Council action and votes
- Ordinance 2025-76 (design and engineering for downtown recreation area; project 31913700): adopted. Recorded opposition: Councilmember Niemeyer and Councilmember Frishee. Supporters argued design funds are required to pursue grants and private donations.
- Ordinance 2025-077 (design and engineering for pedestrian bridge; project 31913700): adopted. Recorded opposition: Councilmember Niemeyer and Councilmember Frishee.

Discussion and technical context
City officials and the city’s chosen environmental consultant are pursuing remediation under the Ohio EPA Voluntary Action Program (VAP). That approach uses risk‑based cleanup standards tailored to the proposed future use of a site; the city’s consultant, CEC, was described in public comment as an Ohio EPA–certified remedial firm. In public comment, Jeffrey Fort—an attorney and former environmental practitioner—said, “I think the path taken by the city thus far with its consultant CEC is reasonable and in compliance with the law.” He added that cleanup standards are risk‑based and that very low exposure levels are typically considered when determining appropriate remedies.

Opponents emphasized perceived gaps in transparency and procurement. Public speakers said the pedestrian bridge designer, Rosales Partners, already lists a completed Blanchard River bridge project on its website; speakers called that practice misleading and urged a pause and an investigation. Melissa Humphreys told council: “Either the work was done prior to approval, raising serious questions about procurement and transparency, or the company is misrepresenting its relationship with the city of Findlay.” Petitioners reported gathering signatures to place the park approval on the November ballot; one speaker said the group had about 1,365 signatures.

Public testimony captured a range of views. Supporters framed the park and bridge as economic development tools likely to spur private investment, encourage downtown vitality and help recruit talent. Eric Proctor, a Findlay resident and hospital executive, described benefits he saw from a similar park in Winston‑Salem and said a signature waterfront park could “help to recruit and retain talent.” Opponents voiced health and safety concerns that included references to hexavalent chromium (chromium‑6) in older industrial soils and asked the council to seek a higher cleanup standard or delay design spending until remediation and procurement issues were fully resolved.

Officials’ responses and next steps
Mayor and staff representatives said the design funds are necessary to finalize plans that will be used to pursue state infrastructure grants and private fundraising; staff noted that subsequent steps—including final permitting, planning commission review and construction contracts—would require additional council action. City Law Director Rob Feiner (role cited in committee discussion) and the city auditor discussed financial reporting and procurement process options; Law Director Feiner told the council that owning and controlling the property gives the city authority to determine future use and remediation actions.

The council’s votes authorize the city to move forward with design and engineering work. They do not authorize construction funding, nor do they change the remediation process; those matters require later approvals. Supporters said moving into the design phase is needed to “shop” grant and donor prospects; opponents asked the council to “hit pause” until public questions and the initiative petition are resolved.

Provenance: Transcript excerpts documenting the topic begin with developer presentation and project discussion (transcript ~2737–2793) and end with the ordinances’ votes and related public comment wrap‑up (transcript ~6294–6311).

Ending: With council approval of the design contracts, the city will enter a phase of detailed design, grant applications and further environmental work. The park and bridge projects will return to council for any construction appropriations, and petitioners seeking a public vote say they plan to pursue placement of the matter on the November ballot, which could influence the project’s eventual scope and schedule.","On July 15, Findlay City Council approved $4 million in design work for a downtown riverfront recreation park and $1.5 million for a pedestrian bridge, prompting heated public comment over environmental cleanup, vendor transparency and whether the spending should wait for a November ballot initiative.","actionData","errors"]

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Findlay council approves ad hoc investment committee after months of questions over city investment reporting

Findlay council approves design contracts for downtown riverfront park and pedestrian bridge amid public safety and timing disputes