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Rossford council adopts full-time fire-department reorganization, updates zoning map and approves several emergency measures
Summary
On Feb. 24 Rossford City Council adopted multiple ordinances and resolutions — including reworking the new full-time fire department command, updating the city zoning map, dedicating a street in the Ambrose development and approving appointments — all by suspension of readings and emergency declaration.
Rossford City Council on Feb. 24 voted to adopt a package of ordinances and resolutions that reorganize the newly established full-time fire department, update the city zoning map, accept a street dedication in a new development, authorize continued participation in a county housing program and confirm three mayoral appointments.
Council members suspended the second and third readings, declared the measures emergencies and approved each item by roll call. The package included changes to the command structure of the full-time fire department after consultation with the fire chief, an updated official zoning map to reflect planning commission actions, dedication of Gateway Avenue in the Ambrose development and an agreement to participate in Wood County’s CHIP environmental review.
The ordinance altering the fire department reorganizes the command positions that had been approved at a prior meeting; Chief Siroca said the change moves one captain role into a battalion-chief position and preserves union protections for certain captains. “This way, there is a separation… and he’s gonna be doing chief’s assignments and work,” Chief Siroca said.
Allison, the city administrator, told council the zoning-map ordinance simply adopts a consolidated map that reflects prior planning-commission actions and a spreadsheet listing those changes. She described the CHIP (Community Housing Impact and Preservation) action as the city agreeing to participate in a county-managed environmental review record for federal Housing and Urban Development–related funds handled through Wood County.
Council also approved three mayoral personnel actions: the appointment of a new superintendent of public works, the appointment of Zach Schmidt to the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) board and the reappointment of Andrea Henlein to the Municipal Planning Commission. The public-works appointment was adopted as an emergency after a public comment question established the previous superintendent had retired.
Votes at a glance:
- Ordinance 2025-11 — Repeal and reenact Rossford Municipal Code section 139.02 to establish a full-time fire department (first reading; suspended; emergency adopted). Vote (roll call as read at the meeting): Heben — Aye; Owen — Aye; Tinney — Aye; Echol — Aye; Toth — Aye; Reynolds — Aye. Outcome: approved.
- Ordinance 2025-12 — Amend and adopt a new zoning map for the City of Rossford (first reading; suspended; emergency adopted). Vote: Echol — Aye; Tinney — Aye; Owen — Aye; Heben — Aye; Reynolds — Aye; Toth — Aye. Outcome: approved.
- Ordinance 2025-13 — Accept dedication of Gateway Avenue and related public places in the Ambrose development (first reading; suspended; emergency adopted). Vote: Owen — Aye; Heben — Aye; Reynolds — Aye; Toth — Aye; Echol — Aye; Tinney — Aye. Outcome: approved.
- Ordinance 2025-14 — Authorize the mayor to enter a partnership with Wood County for the 2024 CHIP partnership environmental review record (first reading; suspended; emergency adopted). Vote: Owen — Aye; Heben — Aye; Reynolds — Aye; Tinney — Aye; Echol — Aye; Toth — Aye. Outcome: approved.
- Ordinance 2025-15 — Amend Supplemental Appropriation No. 4 to the 2025 annual appropriation (first reading). Allison said the supplement includes routine refunds, the new fire chief salary, vehicle-related items and TIF payments. The ordinance was introduced; council members noted the vehicle purchases referenced should be reviewed by the finance committee before funds are spent.
- Ordinance 2025-16 — Authorize purchase of three Ford Explorer vehicles via the Ohio cooperative purchasing program, waiving competitive bidding (first reading). This item was introduced; council members requested it go to committee for review before adoption.
- Resolution 2025-02 — Approve the mayor’s appointment of a superintendent of public works (first reading; suspended; emergency adopted). Vote: Owen — Aye; Heben — Aye; Reynolds — Aye; Tinney — Aye; Echol — Aye; Toth — Aye. Outcome: approved (appointee sworn/introduced at the meeting).
- Resolution 2025-03 — Approve the mayor’s appointment of Zach Schmidt to the TARTA board (first reading; suspended; emergency adopted). Vote: Heben — Aye; Owen — Aye; Tinney — Aye; Echol — Aye; Toth — Aye; Reynolds — Abstain. Outcome: approved (one abstention reported).
- Resolution 2025-04 — Reappoint Andrea Henlein to the Municipal Planning Commission (first reading; suspended; emergency adopted). Vote: Echol — Aye; Toth — Aye; Reynolds — Aye; Owen — Aye; Tinney — Aye; Heben — Aye. Outcome: approved.
Council discussion included a request from at least one council member that the ordinances referencing vehicle purchases be routed through the finance committee rather than adopted without committee consideration. Allison confirmed personnel steps — retirements and appointments — driving several of the personnel resolutions.
The session followed standard procedure of reading by title only, suspension of additional readings and immediate roll-call votes for items declared emergencies. Several votes were unanimous; the TARTA appointment recorded one abstention.
