Perrysburg finance committee moves multiple routine items to council, backs OML challenge to AT&T tariff change

The Perrysburg Finance and Economic Development Committee on a January meeting packet recommended several routine items be forwarded to city council and unanimously backed a resolution asking the Ohio Municipal League (OML) to challenge an AT&T tariff change that would shift utility-relocation costs to municipalities.

The committee reviewed and agreed to move a resolution designating Perrysburg as an America250 Ohio community — a national 250th-anniversary program — and to treat the item as an emergency so it can return to council by the end of the month. City staff said there is no cost to the city; the local chamber could apply for related grant funds to support events and programming tied to the April 2025–May 2026 celebration.

The committee also recommended council approve a municipal court software upgrade with the municipality’s existing vendor (identified in the packet as Pension and Associates). Staff said the court has budgeted about half of the upgrade cost in advance and will pay the remainder from its computer fund; the upgrade is not coming from the city general fund. Committee members said staff reviewed other vendors and decided to remain with the incumbent provider to minimize disruption.

Members reviewed contracts for the 2024 audit and related financial statement preparation: the audit engagement was $29,880 and the financial-statement preparation quote was $12,700, which together are under the $50,000 threshold that would require formal legislation. Committee members noted the city engaged a different preparer after concerns about declining service quality from the prior vendor.

The committee approved a resolution to advertise and enter contracts for capital purchases previously authorized in the budget; staff said the resolution requests three readings and emergency passage at the end of the process to accommodate time-sensitive purchases. Staff also reported several “then and now” purchases tied to year-end timing and repairs; those items were described as routine and urgent.

On budgeting matters, the committee approved adjustments that do not draw on the general fund and noted a $60,000 line for the city’s contribution to a new HSA plan for employees. Staff described other adjustments earmarked to court accounts, grants, and a DPU design change order tied to the East River Road wider connection project.

Staff briefed the committee on the city’s investment program and quarterly interest returns; 2024 investment interest was reported as approximately $3,400,000 for the year and the fourth-quarter receipts totaled about $877,000. Staff said investments follow an adopted policy and the city limits exposure per bank/CD and per instrument consistent with Ohio law.

Finally, Amber (staff) introduced an OML request asking member cities to support a challenge to an AT&T tariff change that would require cities to pay to relocate certain utility infrastructure when work occurs in the public right-of-way. Committee members said they want more detail from OML but agreed unanimously to send a letter supporting OML’s challenge and to forward the resolution to council as an emergency.

The committee did not record roll-call votes for most routine items in the transcript; where committee members indicated support they asked staff to move items to council and staff said they would prepare the necessary legislation.