Council clears way for charging station installation

Representatives of the Seneca County Opportunity Center weren't able to make their usual March visit to Fostoria City Council due to the coronavirus pandemic, but Mayor Eric Keckler's chance to honor the organization and its work did not go by the wayside.During Tuesday night's council meeting via Zoom teleconferencing, Keckler read a proclamation of Fostoria recognizing March as Development Disabilities Awareness Month.The honorary month is also observed nationally.Lewis Hurst, superintendent of the Opportunity Center, and Rodney Biggert, director of adult services for the center, spoke during the meeting, as did Sean Allison and Emily Kleinfelter, who have gained jobs through their training at the center."For me, it's always the celebration of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month," Keckler said in regard to a highlight of Tuesday night's meeting. "I'm just sorry we couldn't have folks from the opportunity center and Emily and, of course, Sean, who shows up every year, here in person because that's always kind of a big deal for us and a big deal for them and we like to celebrate them and make them part of the family. I'm sorry we couldn't have Sean here tonight because I know he always gets a big kick out of being part of the meeting."We usually want to have them here to present (the proclamation) in person, but we'll get it out to them in the mail."The meeting itself was productive for council, which passed four measures. Three of them were in regard to a charging station for electric vehicles planned to be located in the Park 'N' Shop at the intersection of Center and Main streets. One resolution establishes the city's American Electric Power Grant Fund; two ordinances are related to the flow of money into the fund.The Level 3-DC Fast Charging Unit, ultimately, is being installed through a $100,000 grant from the American Electric Power EV Charging Incentive Program, which was sought for the city by the Seneca Regional Planning Commission."We're required to front the money as the project moves on, and then we're reimbursed by AEP at the end of it," Keckler said.Council also approved a resolution for the mayor to enter into a Water Pollution Control Loan Fund Agreement for an estimated $2.8 million in response to additional expenses incurred in the project for improvements to the wastewater treatment plant mandated by the federal Environmental Protection Agency in 2005.Council member Greg Cassidy asked the mayor if the additions to the project, now costing in the upwards of $16 million, would satisfy the EPA's requirements."I don't expect any more big surprises, but you know how that goes," Keckler said.Council also heard a second reading of an ordinance proposing a tax abatement for Good Shepherd Home to construct a 7,458 square-foot facility to include a medical clinic operated by the ProMedica Physician Group, as well as a joint venture between Good Shepherd Home and Ohio Living for an enhanced hospice and additional office space for Good Shepherd Home.Keckler also reported that Jerod Linding on Tuesday was sworn in as an officer with the Fostoria Police Division and that last Friday was last day for Karen Nesbit, who retired after 31 years of working for the city. He said Nesbit was a police dispatcher for the past nine years after previously working in Fostoria Municipal Court. Council approved committee appointments made by the mayor: Paul Allison, a reappointment through 2025 to the Board of Zoning Appeals; Richard Perrine, a reappointment through 2022 to the Fostoria Tree and Beautification Committee; Tera Matz to the Kaubisch Memorial Public Library Board, April 1 through December 2023 to fill an unexpired term to be vacated by Mary Fry. Upcoming meetings of council committees, both via Zoom, include the Law and Ordinance Committee at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, and the Finance Committee at 5:30 p.m., on March 16.