Tiffin council backs tax‑incentive review recommendations, accepts donated clock and passes multiple ordinances

Tiffin — The Tiffin City Council voted unanimously on several measures March 17, approving recommendations from the Tax Incentive Review Council, accepting a donated downtown post clock from the Rotary Club, authorizing an easement for 806 West Market Street and passing multiple budget and project ordinances.

The council suspended rules and moved for immediate passage on a resolution accepting the Tax Incentive Review Council’s (TIRC) recommendations for enterprise zone, tax increment financing (TIF) and community reinvestment agreements after a presentation from Bryce Riggs of the Tiffin Seneca Economic Partnership (TCEP). Councilman John Hayes made the motion; Dennis Snay seconded it, and the measure passed 7–0. The law director was asked to prepare legislation to reflect the council’s action so TCEP can file the required report with the Ohio Department of Development by the March 31, 2025 deadline.

Why it matters: continuing the listed tax‑incentive agreements preserves previously negotiated development arrangements and clears a compliance step with the state agency that administers economic development oversight.

Council also approved, by unanimous vote, an ordinance accepting a donated post clock from the Rotary Club and agreed to place the clock in City Lot 7 in downtown Tiffin. Rotary representative Keith Hodkinson told council that placing the clock under the city’s insurance would entail "little to no cost at all," and that Rotary would maintain the clock and keep a service agreement with the manufacturer at Rotary’s expense. The council asked the law director to draft a gift agreement that specifies the location and maintenance responsibilities; the location was left flexible in the legislation so it can be finalized without another formal ordinance if adjustments are needed.

The council approved an ordinance authorizing an easement in the right of way adjacent to 806 West Market Street to allow a future business to construct within and use a portion of the right of way. City engineer Matt Watson presented staff’s support for the easement and an update on a safety study for West Market Street between U.S. 224 and Hopewell Avenue; he said the corridor’s long‑term improvements would take an estimated five to ten years to implement.

Other legislative actions passing unanimously included: - An ordinance to proceed with the Seneca U.S. 224 (PID 01/20616) urban paving project and related contracting; and - An ordinance enabling the city administrator to set rates for electric vehicle charging stations (codified as chapter 9.37 of the city code); and - Budget appropriations to pay the Parks & Recreation ice‑rink contractor and a six‑month extension of funding for a part‑time prosecutor contracted through the county prosecutor’s office (both passed as budget amendments).

Council confirmed Mayor Lee Wilkinson’s appointment of Eileen Kleinfelder to the Seneca County Board of Health to serve the unexpired term through Dec. 31, 2027; the resolution passed 7–0 after a motion by Councilmember John Hayes and a second by Kevin Reisner.

Law Director Zach Fowler briefed council on a recent Ohio Supreme Court ruling in a challenge involving New Carlisle. Fowler said that the court affirmed the city practice used in Tiffin — that the ordinance establishing a levy need not be passed before placing a levy on the ballot, clarifying the procedural step for the upcoming May ballot.

Finance Director Kathy Kaufman presented the February financial report: total month receipts were $4,121,238.62 and expenses were $3,903,237.72; the general fund unencumbered balance was $4,684,297.14. Income tax receipts for February 2025 were $1,095,517.18, an increase of $217,585.59 compared with February 2024 (a year‑to‑date increase of 7.94%). The unexpended balance for all funds was $40,351,268.23.

Council scheduled a Personnel and Labor Relations Committee meeting for March 24 at 5:15 p.m. to discuss mayoral requests that include changes to police administration and forthcoming appointments.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 20‑5‑20‑3 (TIRC recommendations) — Motion to suspend rules and immediate passage; mover: Councilmember Kyle Daugherty; seconder: Dennis Snay; outcome: passed 7–0. (Law director to prepare enabling ordinance.) - Resolution 20‑5‑20‑4 (appointment of Eileen Kleinfelder to Seneca County Board of Health) — motion to pass; mover: John Hayes; seconder: Kevin Reisner; outcome: passed 7–0. - Ordinance 20‑5‑19 (Seneca U.S. 224 PID 01/20616 urban paving project) — third reading; motion to pass; mover: Cheyenne Thacker; seconder: Dennis Snay; outcome: passed 7–0. - Ordinance 20‑5‑21 (codified chapter 9.37 — EV charging rates) — third reading; motion to pass; mover: Cheyenne Thacker; seconder: Kevin Reisner; outcome: passed 7–0. - Ordinance 20‑5‑26 (amend 2025 budget to appropriate park funds for ice‑rink contractor) — motion to suspend rules and pass; mover: Kevin Reisner; seconder: Cheyenne Thacker; outcome: passed 7–0. - Ordinance 20‑5‑24 (amend 2025 budget to appropriate funds into mayor’s budget) — motion to suspend rules and pass; mover: Kevin Reisner; seconder: Scott Herneman; outcome: passed 7–0.

What’s next: several items (easement legislation, the gift/agreement for the clock, and budget appropriations) will be converted into ordinances or gift agreements prepared by the law director and brought back to council for formal adoption as needed.

Ending: Council adjourned after setting the committee meeting and announcing the April 7 public hearing on the readability/placement ordinance. The mayor also reminded the public that the road and bridge levy will be on the May ballot for renewal.