Tiffin City Council passes sewer and infrastructure measures, expands CRA and adds Juneteenth as paid holiday
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Summary
The council unanimously approved multiple sewer‑infrastructure resolutions and ordinances (including WPCLF loan applications, bids for interceptor/high‑rate treatment and sewer replacement), consented to an ODOT resurfacing of US‑224, expanded Community Reinvestment Area No.4, and adopted Juneteenth as a paid city holiday; the council also approved a budget amendment to cover insurance shortfalls.
At a regularly scheduled meeting, the Tiffin City Council approved a package of infrastructure, budget and administrative measures intended to advance sewer work, enable grant and contract processes, and expand economic development incentives.
Resolutions and emergency declarations: Council passed several resolutions authorizing the mayor to apply for and accept Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) agreements for wastewater projects (resolution 2026‑4 for the interceptor upgrade; resolution 2026‑5 for the high‑rate treatment project; resolution 2026‑6 for the 2026 sewer replacement project). The council also passed resolution 2026‑28 consenting to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) resurfacing of a portion of US‑224 inside city limits and resolution 2026‑7 to participate in ODOT road salt contracts. Each resolution was moved, seconded where recorded, and carried on roll-call votes recorded as 5 to 0.
Ordinances and bidding authorizations: On third reading the council approved ordinances to authorize the city administrator to prepare plans, advertise for and receive bids, and enter into contracts for construction and related professional services for the interceptor upgrade (ordinance 20‑26‑6), high‑rate treatment facility (20‑26‑7), the 2026 sewer replacement (20‑26‑8) and professional design services for Sandusky River wall repairs (20‑26‑9). Council also passed ordinance 20‑26‑10 to accept easements from Heidelberg University for sanitary sewer and public‑use sidewalks in the Walker Street extension area. Council discussion framed the sewer measures as EPA‑related compliance work and emphasized long‑term cost savings from localized treatment infrastructure.
Economic development and budget actions: Council suspended readings and approved ordinance 20‑26‑16 to expand Community Reinvestment Area No.4 (CRA‑4) to incentivize a proposed senior housing project in the north end of town; law director and staff noted mapping, parcel lists and post‑passage publication/recording steps. Finance director Jill Lindhorst requested f26‑05 to amend the 2026 budget; council suspended readings and passed ordinance 20‑26‑17 to appropriate funds (finance staff described transfers/appropriations to the general fund, municipal court probation services, sewer/WPCC fund, parks and capital projects to cover insurance increases and grant receipts).
Employee holiday: Council passed ordinance 20‑26‑5 to add Juneteenth as a paid holiday for city employees; council members noted the change stemmed from recent union contract updates and supported extending the benefit citywide.
Voting and next steps: Most measures included emergency declarations or suspended reading rules because of time sensitivity for state filings or project timelines; recorded roll‑call tallies in the transcript show five votes in favor and zero opposed on the adopted items. City staff said next steps include preparing bid documents, recording plats and coordinating publication and grant application filings as required.
