The Findlay City Finance Committee voted on Nov. 18 to move forward with sales of two city-owned properties through the Blanchard Valley Port Authority after a prolonged discussion about environmental liabilities, appraisal methods and public transparency.

Speaker 1, who addressed the committee as Mayor during the meeting, said the port-authority mechanism is routinely used for targeted economic development and lets the city transfer property directly to a public entity or specific end user while retaining protections. "It allows for flexible economic development in property acquisition, financing, and disposition of properties," Speaker 1 said, adding the approach can "ensure fair market value based on appraisal" and include reversion and remediation provisions.

On the Hostetler parcel, Speaker 1 said the city purchased the site in 2012 for $270,000 and has used it intermittently for storage; the building has mold, a collapsed sewer line and other issues that make it unsuitable for city operations. A local downtown business submitted a letter supporting expansion into the site, saying more warehouse and production space would create seasonal jobs and help the company's ability to take new accounts. The committee discussed Phase 1 and Phase 2 environmental reports; Speaker 1 said the reports showed acceptable risk for the intended use unless a groundwater well is required, and that remediation cost-sharing and a reversion clause were included in the draft terms.

Opponents of the port-authority route urged an open public auction. "We are eliminating a process, a government process, and that's the part I just can't get past," Speaker 2 said, arguing that open bidding provides broader transparency and more competitive price discovery. Legal counsel and other members countered that the council retains control — it can set terms, reject bids, and requires council approval before any final transfer — and that the port authority is an established statutory vehicle in some cases for government-to-government or targeted economic development transfers.

A motion to proceed with the port-authority sale for the first property was made, seconded and approved in voice vote; Speaker 2 recorded a nay. The North Main Street property (the former traffic/fire station) drew similar discussion. The committee noted the property carries structural and sewage issues and said the proposed sale to the local fire union would be "as is"; the stated price discussed on the record was $100,000. Committee members again debated whether selling directly to the union via the port authority was appropriate; legal counsel said such transfers are allowable where the port authority is used and where council determines there is a legitimate public purpose. The motion recommending the union sale via the port authority was seconded and passed by voice vote.

The committee chair said final purchase agreement language and the ordinance authorizing sales have not yet been finalized and that lawyers will draft the definitive contract terms. Speaker 1 emphasized council action and appraisal documentation will be part of the public record before any closing.

Next steps include finalizing purchase agreements and bringing ordinances to council for approval; the transcript records that the committee intends to include remediation allowances and reversion language if unexpected contamination is discovered. The meeting adjourned after completing the property items.