Fostoria council adopts multiple ordinances and park-grant resolutions; health levy renewal discussed

The Fostoria City Council on an evening meeting adopted multiple ordinances and resolutions affecting city traffic, parks and municipal utility operations, and heard a public presentation on a Seneca County General Health District renewal levy that would maintain local public-health services.

Council members voted to adopt an ordinance approving the City of Fostoria Plan of Operation and Governance for a municipal natural gas aggregation program (Ordinance No. 2025-68), an ordinance adding overnight parking at Veil Park (Ordinance No. 2025-69), and a 25 mph speed limit on South Towne Street from the Center Street underpass to Columbus Avenue (Ordinance No. 2025-72). The council also approved two park-grant resolutions to apply for Wood County and Hancock County park grant programs (Resolution Nos. 2025-70 and 2025-71) and passed a permanent-appropriations amendment (Ordinance No. 2025-73).

Why it matters: the votes set near-term rules for traffic and park use, allow the city to seek grant funding for parks, and put in place a municipal framework for gas aggregation that could affect how the city purchases natural gas. Separately, the health-levy discussion centered on local public-health capacity for clinics, vaccinations, emergency preparedness and overdose prevention.

Votes at a glance

- Municipal natural gas aggregation program — Motion to adopt by Councilmember Podak, second by Councilmember Baker; roll call unanimous among members present; passed as Ordinance No. 2025-68 (motion and roll call recorded at the meeting).

- Overnight parking at Veil Park (hours of operation amendment) — Motion to adopt by Councilmember Lehman, second by Councilmember Cassidy; roll call unanimous; passed as Ordinance No. 2025-69.

- Wood County park grant application — Motion to suspend three-reading rule and adopt by Councilmember Mendoza, second by Councilmember Lake; roll call carried; passed as Resolution No. 2025-70.

- Hancock County park grant application — Motion to suspend three-reading rule and adopt by Councilmember Mendoza, second by Councilmember Grine; roll call carried; passed as Resolution No. 2025-71.

- South Towne Street speed limit (25 mph) — Council amended ordinance to add an emergency declaration, then suspended the three-reading rule; motion to adopt by Councilmember Mendoza, second by Councilmember Baker; roll call carried; adopted as Ordinance No. 2025-72.

- Permanent 2025 appropriations amendment and transfers (from unappropriated funds and city cleanup fund) — Motion to suspend three-reading rule and adopt by Councilmember Lake, second by Councilmember Cassidy; roll call carried; adopted as Ordinance No. 2025-73.

Other items: A proposed contract with Bascom EMS District for emergency medical services received a first reading; a resolution authorizing the finance director to search for unclaimed funds held by the Ohio Department of Commerce received its first reading. A separate resolution concerning funding for two school resource officers with Fostoria City Schools was on second reading and not voted on during this session.

Public-health levy

Julie Richards, Seneca County health commissioner, addressed council about a renewal levy before voters that would continue a 0.3-mill levy at its current rate. Richards said the levy is a five-year renewal that would generate $467,913 annually to support the Seneca County General Health District’s programs. "For an average $100,000 valued property, it costs the taxpayers $8 a year to support our levy and that does not go up if your property value goes up," Richards said. She emphasized the levy is intended to sustain current services rather than expand them.

Richards listed local services supported by the district: WIC and nursing clinics at the Kirk Street location in Fostoria, drive-through vaccination clinics in partnership with the local fire department and the library, school nursing support on an as-needed basis, Narcan distribution for overdose prevention, disease surveillance and emergency-preparedness training for incidents such as train derailments. She told council the countywide overdose count fell from 22 in 2023 to five in 2024 and said the levy supports that continuing work.

Proclamation and service-provider remarks

Mayor [title recorded in the meeting] presented a proclamation declaring October Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Fostoria and invited representatives from First Step, a local domestic-violence victim-services provider, forward. A First Step representative noted the organization has served the community for more than four decades and said the agency continues to be at capacity: "First Step has been in the community of Fostoria for 45 years ... since January 1, we've been unable to provide shelter to 86 individuals," the representative said, urging continued support for local victim services.

Public comments and other concerns

During the public-comment portion, resident Laurie Hall described a newly placed prayer box near the Fostoria reservoir that community members can use to leave prayer requests; Hall called it a "tangible way to collect and organize written prayer requests" and said the ministry is nondenominational. Resident Rebecca Kimball raised concerns about Fostoria spanning three counties and asked whether the city could pursue creating its own county; Kimball said she is "tired of Bowling Green getting what should be coming to us too" and urged community action to attract investment and improve streets and property conditions. Deb Tyson told council she supports recent traffic-calming changes but raised a complaint about drivers making rolling stops and encouraged greater voter education for younger residents who may lack current IDs.

Next steps and committee notes

Council committees announced upcoming meetings: the Finance Committee will meet Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 5:30 p.m.; the Public Affairs Committee will meet Thursday, Oct. 21, at 5 p.m.; the Law and Ordinance Committee will meet Thursday, Oct. 21, at 5:15 p.m. Councilmembers suggested the Law and Ordinance Committee review rules and public education related to bicycles, e-bikes and e-scooters following several recent accidents involving pedestrians and micro-mobility devices.

The council adjourned at 6:44 p.m.