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Resident urges action on homelessness; council shares event, budget and utility notices
Summary
A resident raised concerns about homelessness in Defiance at the Oct. 14 council meeting; council members announced trick-or-treat and parade dates and discussed a water treatment plant purchase order and electricity aggregation opt-out notices.
A resident urged Defiance City Council on Oct. 14 to do more to address visible homelessness in the city, describing people sleeping in public spaces and asking what additional help the city can provide.
The resident, during the public-comment portion of the meeting, said, “I understand there's about 200 of them, and I don't know what to do to help them out,” and described people sleeping in graveyards, on the bridge and in other public areas. The resident also advocated for recognizing local law enforcement and veterans, suggesting banners or other public acknowledgments to show appreciation for police, the sheriff's department and state patrol.
Council members and staff responded that social-service agencies and police already refer people to available shelters and resources. Council member Posey said the police have had training on how to interact with people experiencing homelessness and that officers make referrals to shelters; he added the city’s response is ongoing though “probably never enough.” The council did not take formal action on the resident’s requests during the meeting.
Separately during council reports, Mayor McCann reminded residents that the city's trick-or-treat will be Oct. 23 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and that the Halloween parade is scheduled for Oct. 25 at 7:00 p.m. Council member Sprague reported a purchase order for the water treatment plant (PO 2025-01562) to Water Solutions Unlimited in the amount of $15,900 and said proposed budgets and capital documents for the water pollution control, water treatment plant and water distribution were distributed to council members and placed in their electronic drop boxes. Sprague also said the city renewed an electricity aggregation and that residents would receive opt-out information that takes effect Jan. 1.
The meeting concluded after a motion to adjourn; council members set the next official meeting for two weeks.
