Much to the angst of several residents, the Perrysburg Township trustees agreed with the recommendation of the Wood County Planning Commission and township zoning commission, approving a zoning change request for a 40-acre parcel at Glenwood and Mandell roads.
Rod Bowe of Rudolph Libbe Properties, spoke on behalf of First Federal Bank of the Midwest, which requested the property be rezoned from A-1 agricultural to I-2 industrial, noting there is a potential buyer for the property.
Mr. Bowe believes the zoning aligns with similar properties to the north in Rossford and he acknowledged the property owner was approached about annexing to Rossford–which a previous nearby landowner did when a rezoning request was denied–but would like to remain in the township.
Mary Zakelj of Mandell Road expressed concern about the type of business that could locate in an industrial area. “It makes me very nervous,” she said, and questioned why it couldn’t be developed residentially instead.
Alysia Geiger, also of Mandell Road, urged the trustees to reconsider the commissions’ recommendations. “I never imagined industrial so close to school property,” she said, adding as a teacher she worries about the traffic driving down Mandell.
Ms. Geiger noted Mandell “is in horrible shape” with “no posted speed limit.” She believes it is currently too narrow for traffic, especially large vehicles to drive by each other.
The Mandell Road resident also believes the zoning will cause neighboring home prices to plummet. “Please think before your vote.”
Trustee Bob Mack said due to his firm’s association with the property sale, he would be abstaining from the discussion and subsequent vote.
Trustee Joe Schaller worries that the township faces a very real threat that if the trustees deny the request, the property owner could seek annexation to Rossford, pointing out that happened before.
Trustee Gary Britten agreed, “It probably is going to end up industrial anyway, but if it gets annexed to Rossford, we will have no say.”
Ms. Geiger interjected saying that amounts to “blackmail.”
Mr. Britten concurred, but reiterated his stance that at least if it is in the township, the trustees will have some control over its development.
Regarding the lack of speed limit signs, Mr. Britten admitted the speed is 55 mph, but is not posted as that speed “is not fit for the road.”
“Sometimes we are better off without speed signs,” Mr. Schaller acknowledged, noting, “People tend to judge by the condition of the road.”
Mr. Britten said the township could request that the Ohio Department of Transportation conduct a traffic study, but warned “ODOT virtually never lowers the speed.”
One resident commented that a 35 mph sign was posted between Bates and Lime City. The trustees said they would check into that since none should be posted along the township’s portion of the road.
Fire/EMS Department
During his report, Fire Chief Tom Brice requested and received approval for the purchase of six portable radios. The units are being purchased from Motorola Solutions for $24,037. The department is saving $9,600 by purchasing them prior to December 10, the chief said.
He also received approval to send four firefighters to a swift water rescue course in Southbend, Indiana, June 6 to 10, 2022, at a cost of $2,800.
“It’s a pretty intense course. You must pass a swim test to participate,” he explained, adding, “It’s pretty good training.”
Chief Brice noted that in the past they have tried to train on the Maumee River, but “it’s tough to get instructors at the time the water level is the highest on the Maumee.”
The chief also updated the trustees on hospital closures. “We are working through closures at hospitals. Patients may not go where they want,” he said, noting, “It’s interesting and challenging times for hospitals.”
When asked if the problem was COVID related, the chief replied, “Certainly COVID plays a part in that, but the bigger issue, to my understanding, is staffing–primarily a nursing staff shortage.”
The chief concluded his report with approval of an annual contract with Volunteer Firemen’s Insurance Service for $1,135 to cover accident and sickness of personnel and an overview of November statistics.
November was the busiest month ever for our department with over 200 runs,” he said.
Of the 201 calls for service, 180 were EMS and 21 fire. The department received no mutual aid last month but provided it on 11 occasions.
The largest number of EMS responses were at residences, 110, followed by nursing homes, 44; businesses, 14; roadways, 11; schools, seven; hotels, three, and at the station, one.
Of those requiring transport, 45 went to St. Luke’s Hospital. The remaining went to Mercy of Perrysburg, 24; St. Vincent’s, 13; Toledo Hospital, eight; St. Charles, seven; Bay Park, and University of Toledo Medical Center, two each, and Wood County, one.
Other Business
In other business, the trustees:
•Approved a five-year contract with PerryproTech to manage and monitor all computer network equipment at a one-time fee of $8,160 and monthly payments of $10,059. The contract runs from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2026.
•Renewed the annual recorder contract for police dispatch at a cost of $2,250. They also renewed the department’s annual 800 mhz radio contract with the City of Perrysburg for $5,000.
•Discussed whether to continue a policy on employee pay for COVID related absences. The current policy is set to expire on December 30. Fiscal Officer Hannah Nelson pointed out that the policy “is getting rather costly,” and noted that government funding to offset that cost is no longer available.
Mr. Britten suggested the administrator and fire chief formulate a policy that is “across the board fair for all.”
“We will take a crack at it,” Chief Brice said, but admits it is a challenge to develop a policy that is fair and encompasses vaccinated and unvaccinated personnel.
•Elected to continue holding meetings on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 4 p.m. in 2022.
•Authorized administrator Walt Celley to post signage at the Oakmead carwash, informing area residents that nuisance abatement proceedings are pending and providing a telephone number, 419-887-6914, to call for additional information.
•Discussed the purchase of targets for the Simmons Park archery range.
•Learned that leaf collection was 70 percent complete with the remainder of leaves expected to be collected within the next two weeks, weather permitting.
The next trustees meeting will be at 4 p.m., Wednesday, December 15, at the township meeting hall, 26609 Lime City Road, and is open to the public.