Rossford honors Officer Jody Johnson; judge outlines court programs during audience remarks

Rossford City Council recognized Officer Jody Johnson at its March 9 meeting as the city's officer of the year for 2025 and noted she plans to retire at the end of the school year.

Council members praised Johnson’s work in schools and in the community. "She's dealing with those teenagers eight hours a day for nine months a year," one councilmember said, expressing appreciation for Johnson’s behind-the-scenes work with students. The mayor invited Johnson forward for a photograph and council members offered personal congratulations.

During audience remarks, Judge Joel Kman (administrative judge of the common pleas/county court) addressed council to describe recent court initiatives. Kman said the court has partnered with Bowling Green State University and other local schools to place students in the courthouse to collect data and improve docket management; he described reduced processing and collection times, saying collections that once took more than a year now often close in about six months. He also described a transportation program that pays for rides (a contract with Black & White Taxi) so offenders can attend drug testing, training and other court-ordered appointments, removing a former barrier to compliance.

Kman said the court is also working on job-training partnerships and GED testing with local educational partners to help offenders obtain credentials needed for employment. He offered to answer council questions and thanked members for the invitation to speak.

The council adjourned after brief final remarks and the scheduled public comment.