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Fostoria council waives three-reading rule, approves ODOT resurfacing contract and escrow agreement
Summary
Council unanimously suspended the three-reading rule and adopted emergency ordinances to approve revised permanent appropriations, an escrow agreement with ODOT and Sutton Bank, and a local public agency (LPA) contract with the Ohio Department of Transportation to keep an upcoming resurfacing project on ODOT’s schedule.
Fostoria City Council voted unanimously to suspend the three-reading rule and adopt emergency ordinances authorizing revised permanent appropriations, an escrow agreement tied to an Ohio Department of Transportation resurfacing project, and the city’s LPA contract with ODOT.
The actions were taken after the Director of Law told council that ODOT set a bid timeline that requires the city to adopt the measures as emergencies so bids can be released on ODOT’s schedule. "The ODOT legislations, both of those will need to be passed as an emergency tonight with the 3 reading rules suspended," the Director of Law said.
Council moved quickly through the items. Councilmember Laymon moved and Councilmember Cassidy seconded suspending the three-reading rule for the ordinance adopting 2025 permanent appropriations; the roll call vote was recorded as unanimous. Council then suspended the three-reading rule and adopted the escrow agreement ordinance and the ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute the LPA contract with ODOT; both votes were recorded unanimous as well.
Votes at a glance
- Ordinance 2025-01: Amending and adopting permanent appropriations and transferring funds to the capital infrastructure fund — motion to suspend three readings by Councilmember Laymon, second by Councilmember Cassidy; roll-call vote recorded as Yes from Laymon, Cassidy, Podek, Baker, Hall, Mendoza and Lake. Outcome: adopted as emergency.
- Ordinance 2025-02: Authorizing the mayor and director of finance to enter an escrow agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation and Sutton Bank of Attica, Ohio — motion to suspend three readings by Councilmember Laymon, second by Baker; roll-call vote recorded as unanimous. Outcome: adopted as emergency.
- Ordinance 2025-03 (LPA contract): Authorizing the mayor to execute an LPA contract with the Ohio Department of Transportation for resurfacing projects — motion to suspend three readings by Councilmember Hall, second by Councilmember Cassidy; roll-call vote recorded as unanimous. Outcome: adopted as emergency.
Council members and staff said the compressed schedule stems from ODOT’s bid timeline and the city’s need to deposit its share of project funds into escrow. At the Finance Committee meeting earlier in the evening, staff reported the city’s share for the ODOT project is $9,933,000 and that those funds "will need to be deposited into escrow" within the week.
No amendments, dissenting votes or divided tallies were recorded in the meeting transcript for these three emergency adoptions. The Director of Law emphasized that failing to pass the ordinances now could jeopardize meeting ODOT’s bid deadlines if weather or absence prevented approval at a later meeting.
The council plans to continue routine oversight of the project through committee and future council meetings; staff did not give additional details about project scope or schedule beyond ODOT’s bid/deadline requirements.
