City council unanimously adopts two ordinances approving sale of 30% interest in Port Clinton County City Building

The Fort Walton Beach City Council unanimously adopted two ordinances on April 21, 2020, approving the sale of a 30% undivided interest in the property at 1856 East Perry Street, Port Clinton, Ohio, commonly known as the County City Building.

The clerk read Ordinance 15-26 into the record as “an ordinance authorizing the city of Port Clinton, a municipal corporation and political subdivision in the state of Ohio to sell its undivided 30% interest in the property located 1856 East Perry Street, Port Clinton, Ohio, commonly known as the County City Building, as the property is not needed for any municipal purposes and declaring an emergency.” After Councilmember Jerry Trolley moved to waive the three required readings and retain the emergency clause, the clerk recorded a roll-call vote of 6-0 in favor and the ordinance was adopted.

The clerk then read Ordinance 16-26, described in the meeting as “an ordinance confirming the sale of the city of Port Clinton's undivided 30% interest in the property located at 1856 East Perry Street, Port Clinton, Ohio, commonly known as the County City Building, and declaring an emergency.” Councilmember Trolley again moved to waive readings, retain the emergency clause and adopt; each step passed by a recorded vote of 6-0 and Ordinance 16-26 was declared adopted.

Why it matters: Both ordinances included emergency clauses, which the council retained to make the ordinances effective immediately upon adoption. The measures, as read into the record, state the city’s interest in the property is “not needed for any municipal purposes.” The actions taken at the meeting complete the council’s expressed procedural steps to authorize and confirm the sale as recorded in the ordinance texts.

What happened earlier in the meeting: The council convened at 6:00 p.m., called the roll and voted 6-0 to waive any irregularities in the calling and conduct of the special meeting. Shortly after, the council voted 6-0 to enter an executive session to discuss the sale of property. The public portion of the meeting resumed at 6:41 p.m., and the council proceeded with the ordinance readings and votes. No public comments or additional debate about the sale appear in the transcript.

Votes and procedure: Each formal motion related to Ordinances 15-26 and 16-26 — waiving readings, retaining emergency clauses and adopting the ordinances — passed unanimously on roll-call votes recorded as 6-0. The clerk recorded the names called during roll calls; those appearing in the transcript include Beth Gilman, Richard Morgan, Arman Darr, Kathy King, Pat Hollern and Jerry Trolley (members recorded present at various points during the meeting). A motion to adjourn carried and the council adjourned with no further business recorded.

Context and next steps: The ordinances, as read into the record, address the transfer of a municipal interest in a property located in Port Clinton, Ohio. The transcript records the council’s procedural approvals and the retention of emergency clauses; it does not record the purchaser, sale price, closing timeline or any follow-up administrative steps. The transcript also contains an inconsistency in municipal names: the meeting was convened as a Fort Walton Beach City Council special meeting, while both ordinances (as read) reference the city of Port Clinton, Ohio. The transcript does not resolve that discrepancy. No further meetings or next dates on the matter are listed in the transcript.