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Port Clinton council reviews grant awards, City Hall financing and downtown tree canopy plan
Summary
Council accepted a $100,000 FHWA planning grant, discussed a $750,000+ urban forestry grant for downtown canopy, and reviewed a note rollover to finance renovation of the newly purchased Key Bank building; several ordinances were set for upcoming readings.
Port Clinton — At its June 9 meeting, Port Clinton City Council reviewed multiple grant and financing matters including a federal planning grant, a large urban forestry award, the city’s recent purchase of the Key Bank building and proposed note issuance to finance renovation of the new City Hall.
Auditor Gabe Below described Ordinance 19-26, which appropriates an additional $325,000 for fiscal 2026. That includes a $100,000 Federal Highway Administration Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program planning grant for a pedestrian/cycling connection study to the Sandusky Bay Pathway; cost shares of $15,000 from the Greater Sandusky Partnership and $10,000 from the Park District of Ottawa County have already been received. The auditor said federal funds are reimbursed and the city will be reimbursed at 100%.
Below also detailed a spend plan submitted to American Forests for the Urban and Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act grant award, noting more than $750,000 remains to allocate. The plan he presented allocates about $500,000 for downtown tree canopy in the historic central business district, roughly $140,000 for neighborhood tree plantings and parks, and the remainder for maintenance and urban forestry management contracts. Ordinance 21-26, which would authorize an RFP and contract for downtown streetscape tree canopy improvements fully funded by the grant, was assigned to the Safety, Service & Public Works Committee and scheduled for third reading on June 23.
Council took public questions about the city’s recently purchased Key Bank building at 201 Madison Street. Resident Bev Nietfeld asked whether taxpayer money was used to buy the property and whether the city had bought out Key Bank’s lease. Mayor Snider said the city purchased the building for $775,000, expects to move departments there next year, will not extend Key Bank’s lease (which runs to 2029), and that Ottawa County has agreed to buy the city’s share of the existing City Hall property for $975,000.
Ordinance 22-26, which provides for issuance and sale of notes in a maximum aggregate principal amount of $1,080,000 to finance costs related to renovating the acquired City Hall facility, was introduced and set for third reading on June 23. The auditor explained the city issued $1,000,000 in notes previously and Ord. 22-26 would roll remaining principal forward while financing renovation planning and allowing a call feature to pay off notes earlier if the KeyBank lease ends before its 2029 expiration.
Council accepted the May 2026 financial report and other correspondence by unanimous motion. Several items of routine business and community announcements were also noted, and council adjourned at 7:53 p.m.
Next steps: ordinances 18-26, 19-26, 21-26 and 22-26 are scheduled for further consideration on June 23; staff said grant implementation must advance swiftly to meet federal grant deadlines for the urban forestry award.
