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Defiance council adopts ordinance to acquire parcels for Ottawa Avenue pedestrian improvements
Summary
On July 8, 2025 the Defiance City Council suspended the rules and adopted an ordinance authorizing the acquisition of parcels for the Ottawa Avenue Corridor pedestrian improvement project. Council members said the work is largely grant-funded and that several additional acquisitions will come forward as negotiations proceed.
Defiance City Council on July 8 adopted an ordinance authorizing the city to acquire parcels needed for pedestrian improvements along the Ottawa Avenue corridor and declared an emergency to allow immediate action.
Mister Mack, speaking during the meeting, said the city's engineer division is preparing for the 2026 Ottawa Avenue Corridor pedestrian improvement project and needs channel easements to ensure proper drainage for a planned multiuse path. The ordinance caption read by staff described acquisition of specific parcels to support those improvements.
Council voted to suspend the normal ordinance rules and adopt the measure on first reading. A roll-call vote on suspending the rules recorded one dissenting vote from Councilmember Mister Ingram; the subsequent roll-call vote to adopt the ordinance recorded multiple "yes" votes and the presiding officer declared the ordinance adopted.
Officials said the acquisitions are primarily grant-funded; council members and staff described roughly 90% grant coverage in the discussion and noted roughly $115,000 in previously secured funding and about $5,300 in parcel payments made so far. Staff and council also gave project counts: on the Ottawa corridor there are eight parcels remaining and five completed; for the Rolfson roundabouts there are 16 remaining and two completed. City staff said additional, similar acquisition ordinances will be brought to council as negotiations conclude.
The council also requested an executive session under the provision noted in the meeting transcript as "1 21.22 g 1" to discuss the employment of a public employee before adjourning to closed session.
The ordinance authorizes staff to proceed with property acquisitions and easements necessary for drainage and multiuse-path construction on Ottawa Avenue; council members said the purchases are part of funded corridor-improvement work and additional ordinances will follow as parcels are negotiated and acquired.
