Tiffin Council pushes state agency for answers after proposed Seneca Poultry plant raises water and health worries

Mayor Lee Wilkinson and Tiffin city councilors pressed state regulators this week for more information about a proposed large-scale poultry operation at 1539 West County Road 90 after the city—9s water utility raised concerns about the site—9s proximity to the city—9s water source protection zone. The council agreed to place the mayor—9s letter into the official written record and later voted to have the council president submit a letter on behalf of the City of Tiffin to the Ohio Department of Agriculture asking for updates on the permit status and environmental tests. The mayor said the plant—9s planned site lies "within or immediately adjacent to the corridor management zone as defined by the source water protection plan developed for Aqua Tiffin water treatment plan" and read a statement from Aqua Ohio that "Aqua has serious concerns about the plan to build this facility on the site—9s location ... Aqua will object to the proposal in the strongest way possible and they are investigating legal options." The mayor said Aqua treats water from the Sandusky River and warned that additional treatment needs could raise costs for customers. Councilors, residents and other speakers raised several specific concerns at the council meeting: the potential for manure runoff and leachate to reach wetlands and the Sandusky watershed, the location of on-site manure storage that may be open to birds and wildlife, the effect of well drilling on an old city landfill and nearby private wells, and emergency-response considerations including which fire departments would respond to incidents at the site. Multiple residents who live on or near County Road 90 told council they were not notified in a way they considered adequate, described prior meetings and outreach they had attended, and urged council to act quickly. Several speakers said they had provided technical input, including Dr. Roy Zinn—9s analysis mentioned during public comment, and said additional site visits and hydrogeologic data were needed before a permit decision. Council action came in stages. Early in the meeting, members voted 7-0 to accept the mayor—9s letter into written communications on file with the clerk. Later, a motion brought by a council member to have a letter submitted to the Ohio Department of Agriculture 97 using language drafted and circulated that night 97 was amended to direct the council president to send a version based on the mayor—9s section 1 wording on behalf of City Council; that amended motion passed by roll call 7-0. The council discussed timing: the submission deadline to the ODA comment portal was before 5:00 p.m. the next day. Mayor Wilkinson and councilors said the intent of the city—9s correspondence was to request information and express concern, not to halt the process unilaterally. ``Our first priority is the safety of our citizens,'' one council-drafted paragraph said; the circulating language asked for disclosure of any current or prior EPA violations, and for environmental test results and permit updates. Residents at the meeting described a range of local concerns beyond water quality, including unspecified impacts on property values, the potential for future expansion of poultry operations, and how emergency services and local infrastructure would be affected. Fire-response information included in a permit fact sheet noted the Tiffin Fire Department as a listed first responder and two 1,000-gallon propane tanks on site, a point Councilmember Reisner read aloud during public comment. The council did not adopt ordinance or regulatory action restricting the proposed operation; the formal action recorded at the meeting was the addition of the mayor—9s letter to the clerk—9s files and the council vote to have the council president submit a statement of concern to the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Councilors encouraged residents to continue to submit technical comments to state reviewers and to provide any additional data the city can review. The city—9s correspondence and copies of emails and letters council members referenced will be kept on file in the clerk—9s office, and council members said they would accept additional edits or signatures from colleagues before the mayor or council president transmits the final letter to the ODA.