City Commission - Regular Meeting

Welcome to the January 12, 2026 meeting of the Sunduski City Commission. An invocation will be offered by Commissioner Coun offered by the Pledge of Allegiance. Dear Lord, we come to you today humbly giving you thanks for everything that you continue to do in our lives, for waking us up this morning. Give us the strength and give us the wisdom. Provide the guidance for us to do the very best we can for the citizens in Sanduski to fight through any adversity. Fight through adversity with dignity. Fight through adversity with integrity. Fight through obstacles by saying to one another that we care for our entire community. Lord, we continue to give you honor, the glory for giving us the strength. We just pray that you continue to give us all we need to do what's right in your name and in your will. Amen.

Amen. Amen. I allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Miss Myers, will you please call the role? Yes, [clears throat] Mr. manager Mr. Coons here. Mr. Crrael here. Mr. Poe here. Mr. Tucker here. Miss Fargo here. Mr. Wington here. Miss Wilson here. We will now accept nominations for president of uh the city commission.

Mr. Or Mr. Wington. I'd like to nominate Kate Vargo for president city commission. I'll second that nomination. Any other nominations? Miss Myers, will you please call the role on the nomination of for Kate Vargo for president of city commission? Mr. Coons, no. Mr. Crabel, yes. Miss Mr. Poe, yes. Mr. Tucker, yes. Miss Fargo, yes. Mr. Wington, yes. Miss Wilson,

yes. I declare vote for uh Kate Vargo as a newly elected uh president of city commission for 2026 and 2027. You can uh take over the meeting. [applause] [applause] Let me get out of the way. Oh, you got the mic now. [laughter] Tom, change the name. What's your name? What's that? Name plate.

Okay. Thank you very much. And it's really exciting to see so many people here tonight. I'm humbled by the faith of my fellow commissioners and what you've you placed that in me. I have deep respect for every member of this commission and I value the different perspectives that we all bring to the table. Growing up in Sunduski makes this opportunity especially meaningful for me and I look forward to focusing on the goal we all share which is continuing the progress for the city of Sunduski. Okay. We'll now accept nominations for the vice president of the city commission. President.

Madame Chair, Mr. Katz, I would like to nominate Commissioner Levo Wilson for vice president. Do we have any more nominations? Madam President, I would like to nominate Greg Pujo for president. We have two nominations for vice president. Miss Myers, will you call the role for Miss um Commissioner Wilson? Excuse me. I have a nomination. Oh, I'm so sorry. That's okay. I have a I'd like to nominate Richard Counz for vice president. Do we have a second? Haven't had seconds on either. Okay. So, we have three.

Okay. So, we'll do um Commissioner Wilson first and Miss Myers, will you call the role? Mr. Yes. Mr. Crrael? No. Mr. Pujo? No. Mr. Tucker? Yes. Miss Fargo? No. Mr. Wington, no. Mr. Miss Wilson, yes.

Miss Myers, will you call the role for Commissioner Pujo? Mr. Coun, no. Mr. Crarabel, yes. Mr. Pujo, yes. Mr. Tucker, yes. Miss Fargo, yes. Mr. Wington, yes. Miss Wilson, no. Miss Myers, will you call the role for Commissioner? You have a you have a winner at this point. We do have a winner with five votes for Greg Pujo as the vice president of the 2627 commission. Thank you. [applause]

[clears throat] Okay. So, moving on to our regular meeting agenda for tonight. Uh, we'll do the approval of the minutes for the December 22nd regular meeting. Do I have a motion for approval of the December 22nd, 2025 meeting minutes? Madam Chair, yes, Mr. Chairman or Madame Chair, I'd move that we accept the minutes of the December 12th meeting as presented. Second.

Second. We have a a motion and a second. So, those minutes are accepted. Tonight, the first um tonight we have our first public hearing. It is the 2026 budget appropriations um public hearing for the budget appropriations by Michelle Reer, our finance director. So, I will give the floor to you, Michelle. Thank you.

All right. Good evening. Congratulations, Miss Fargo. So, we are here tonight for the presentation of the public hearing of the 2026 budget. I'm happy to entertain questions if anybody has them as we go. Feel free to interrupt me if there's any questions on any slides as we go through them. This is just an overview of the timeline of the 2026 budget. So, the first draft was released by November 1st of 2025. The finance committee met and heard this budget on December 5th of 2025. They recommend it recommended it for passage to the city city commission. The temporary 2026 budget was uh presented to this commission on December 22nd and that is was approved and we are currently operating on a temporary budget for 2026. This is the first public hearing of the budget for 2026. It is anticipated to bring it back for second reading on January 26th and it could be passed at that meeting. This budget includes wage increases. The general wage increases for administration. Police and ASME employees was 3%. The fire personnel were at 5% and that was due to collective bargaining agreements. Revenue figures will always be conservative and this does not include everything in the capital plan. There will be a 5-year capital plan that will come back to you and we hope to have that back to you in next month in February. Starting out with revenue in the general fund and I don't know why these are so small. Um I think it's because it's a PDF and not the actual uh PowerPoint presentation. Uh the far right column is the estimate for 2026. The estimate is 33,718,110. Uh you can see going all the way back to 2014 is the first year on that slide. The revenue that we had in 2014 was only $16.3 million. So we've come a long way in 12 years where we've doubled the

revenue that the city receives on an annual basis. [clears throat] This this slide shows the breakdown of the um general fund revenue. The green piece of this pie is our income tax revenue. We expect $13.7 million in income tax revenue in the general fund in 2026. That is 41% of the income tax revenue. The blue piece of the pie here is the admissions tax. That's another almost $9.5 million in admissions tax revenue. That's another 28%. So those two uh revenue streams bring in almost 70% of the total general fund revenue for the year. Moving around to that yellow piece slice of the pie there, that's the departmental revenue. That's another $3.5 million. That is the revenue that's brought in by the departments whether it's the police department, the fire department, municipal court. Those departmental revenues um are shown there and they equate to that $3.5 million figure. The dark green is the property taxes. So property tax revenue in 2026 is estimated to be $2.1 million. That's about 6% of what we bring in in the general fund annually. Lodging tax is another $2.1 million. again about 6% of what we bring into the general fund annually. Um the other smaller pieces of the pie are local government funds, our interest earnings, um parking tax, and any kind of miscellaneous revenue. So all the revenue streams total 33,718,110 is what we're anticipating in revenue in 2026. This slide starts going into the expenditures. So, every fund is listed on here. Um, and this shows the budget figures for 2023, 2024, the year-to- date expenses,

and that was as of close of November. December, we're pretty much to the point we've closed out the year, but we're not finalized yet. Final reports are not generated. The next column is the initial 2025 budget, and then the blue column on the far right is the 2026 proposed budget. As I stated, the general fund is on here. The general fund budget for 2026 is $33,7,413. So again, the revenue and the expenditures were always going to live within our means. Uh the revenue is anticip anticipated to be about $10,000 more than what we're anticipated to spend in 2026. the revenue or I'm sorry the expenditures in the general fund um just for reference about 55% of that is for salaries and wages which is lower than a lot of other communities. So about 55% of the general fund expenditures goes to our employees. The other funds that are on here that may be notable um differences from year to year um the next line underneath the general fund is our street fund. that street fund uh is seeing a large increase in 2026 and that's because of the Cleveland road safety project. So that project was awarded and it will be happening in 2026. So it is budgeted accordingly to um expense out that project. Um the state grants which is which is fund number 239 um that varies as we get additional grant monies in you know that number will fluctuate. In 2025, we had a lot of the welcome home Ohio purchases and those will continue into 2026 and we also had the landing expenditures that were uh run through the state grant account. Fund 241 is our federal grants. Again, this is just grants. So depending on what we get in federal dollars in grant

funds uh will dictate what that number will finally be at the end of the year. But in 2025, we had the raise grant. A lot of those expenditures are running through there and they'll continue to run through there. The raised grant project, as a reminder, is the pathway project that goes from Cedar Point Causeway all the way out to the landing. The capital projects funds, fund 431, that is where a lot of our big projects are going to run through. In 2025, you'll see that we had expenditures of uh over 30 million. the latest expenditure that we had at the end of the year, we did purchase city hall. So that was a $ three and half million dollar expense uh that came out of the 2025 budget. As stated before, when we go through the capital plan next year, it'll give you more details on everything that's going to be running through that fund in 2026. Fund 437 is our Cleveland Road public improve improvement tiff. You'll see that that expenditure for 2026 is uh over $14 million and that is for the landing project. So, the landing project was awarded and will be moving forward in 2026. Um, water and sewer funds are funds numbers 612 and 613. Um, water fund is pretty consistent to what it was in 2025. However, the sewer fund um we're down to 11.8 million budgeted in 2026 and that's because the of the high rate treatment project is winding down finally and that was over a $30 million project that we had ongoing for a couple years.

[clears throat]

So all total uh the 2026 budget with all funds we're looking at spending $121,830,000. This slide shows the expenditures for uh the general fund and it lists by department. So the general fund does take care of a lot of our everyday general expenditures, police department, fire department, municipal court, all of those functions run through the general fund. On this slide, you'll see what the budget was in 2025, what the proposed budget is for 2026, and then the percentage of the budget um that each department um takes of the general fund. Police department and fire department are both about 19% of the budget. Um and then we have the all the way at the bottom, the administrative support is 32% of the general fund. Administrative support is the transfers and the items that are transferred from the general fund over to typically it's the capital projects fund but we do have a slide that shows where all the transfers from the general fund will be going in 2026. This is the slide that shows the transfers. Um the very first um group is the transit and it's hard to see but the first dark blue is the amount that was transferred to the transit fund from the general fund in 2024. The gray is the amount transferred in 2025 and then the brighter blue is what was transferred in 2026. So the transit fund in 2024 they saw a general fund subsid sub subsidy of $750,000. In 2026, that number has come down drastically. The budget number is $400,000. So, the transit has done a lot of um efficiency projects and kind of tightened up um their expenses expenses. The next group is park and wreck. Their subsidy for 2026 will be $250,000.

Previously, they were at $275,000. So, that came down a little bit. the public art transfer, they by ordinance get 1% of the admissions tax. So it's usually right around $100,000 once the admissions tax is settled from the prior year is what the public art fund will get in the following year. Programming, they get 10% of the lodging tax. Um it'll be about $220,000 that they'll receive in 2026. um based off of what we received in lodging tax from 2025. The housing grants and economic development grants are the next two categories. Um they both remain the same. So housing grants is remaining at 40 or $400,000 and economic development grants and loans are 50 I'm sorry $500,000. Um issue eight projects um are another $1.5 million and that's remained the same. admissions tax and parking tax funded projects. It remains at $4.5 million. Then next to our fire pension and police pension, um that's dictated by wages. The fire pension, we have to pay 24% of every wage on fire p or fire employees. And then police pension, it's 19.5% that we paid for the police officers. So those numbers are dictated by the wages. They remain the same over the last three years. The final category that we transfer from the general fund to another fund is the payroll stabilization fund. So the payroll stabilization um that fund is it was $175,000 in 2024. It moved to $150,000 in 2025 and in 2026 we budgeted $200,000. So we kind of look at what we have going on in payroll stabilization as far as who's going to possibly retire. We know that we have 29 employees with at least 25 years of service. So, they're getting possibly to the end of their term with

the city. So, we have to budget accordingly so we can pay out payouts when people uh leave employment with the city. We also have 30 employees that are over the age of 60. Whether or not they retire in the next 10 years, two years, we're not really sure, but that's kind of our benchmark that we start looking and making sure we have budgeted accordingly. So on the far right corner you'll see uh the total transfers that we did in 2024 was just over $10 million. 2025 we were about $9.8 million and then in 2026 we've uh cut that down to $9.77 mill million. Here's the list of employees by department. Um it starts out in 2022. Um you have 2022 23 24 and 25. And then what is budgeted for 2026? The total employee count for 2026, we have budgeted 256 full-time employees. The ones in blue are the change over the prior year. Um, Big Island Waterworks, which is our water plant, uh, they requested an additional employee for some succession plan training purposes. Um, the city manager was at four full-time employees. They're down to three full-time employees in 2026. And then also the courts, uh, they're at 11 full-time people that they requested for 2026. And that number is what they same employee count that they had in 22 and 203. Here's the historical general fund cash balances and the expenditures for the year. The far right column um, is the 2026 figures. The budget number again for expenditures in just the general fund is $33,77,000. We always target 15 to 20% reserves. So whatever our expenditures are for the year, we want a minimum of 15%, but we would like to see closer to 20% of those

expenditures in reserves for the year. So with that in mind, we anticipate to have about a $6.7 million cash balance at the end of 2026. And that is all I have. I'm happy to entertain anybody's questions. Madam Chair. Yes, Commissioner. I'd like to I'd like to ask a question about the uh 701, the health insurance fund. Is there any way we can project like next year, maybe even 2020? Do we have any rough ideas or is it just a crapshoot each year going forward?

It's very difficult. I don't think any of us can tell you individually how much you're going to spend on health insurance for just one person. And we have over 640 lives that we cover for health insurance. So, health insurance is one of those things that is a rising cost. Uh, we do have a broker that we work with very closely. We're always looking at containment ideas for health insurance. We did hit about $5.3 million of expenditures in health insurance in 2025. Okay. It's the biggest. And then a follow-up question is on back to the payroll stabilization fund uh 247. Uh, you're saying like 20 employees and we got what 15 over age 60. is are we going to have enough socked away weigh?

The cash balance in the payroll stabilization fund at the end of 2025 was $950,000, right? So, we're in good shape. That payroll stabilization fund also covers when we have an additional 27th pay in a year. So, typically we have 26 pays in a year and then for the year that we have 27 pays, which does not happen again until 2032, that's what that fund is for. And we are in I I believe we're in good shape at this point. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome.

Any other questions, commissioners? Anyone from the audience that would like to come forward right now and speak questions for Miss Reader on this on the um budget tonight? It's public hearing, so you're welcome to come up. It's three minutes. You would just state your name and your address. All right. If no other further questions, this public hearing is closed. Uh, next on the commission agenda tonight is audience participation. And this is anyone with comments on tonight's agenda. You're going to step to the podium again, state your name and your address, and you will share with us share with us your questions on tonight's agenda. Appreciate this. If you can't answer the question tonight, that's fine. And this has to do with our resources, water, sewer, electrical grid.

And we know there's a large data center. Dr. Cooper, could you It's okay. I know who you are, but just for the record, could we get your name and your address, please?

I am Marca Cooper. I'm a physician here in town, retired now. Thank goodness. [laughter] On the Harborside Drive right here in Sanduski, Ohio. Thank you. So, my concern is, you know, the environment. This is a wonderful town. I love this place. Hike it and all. So the data center I was reading in different um journals they can really tax your electrical grid. They use billions of gallons of water and the water is to cool everything. Does that affect us in Sanduski? Was that a different group I should talk to?

So Dr. Dr. Cooper, unfortunately, um the questions right now are for the agenda that we're going over right now. But that's a really good question and you can save that for the audience participation at the end of the meeting. I thought this was sorry my my mistake. Right. And although we don't have the data center here in city suski city proper so um I'm not sure it would definitely be our question but you can come back at the end if you want to wait. Okay. It just really has to do with the electrical grid, increasing our electricity bill, water and sewer. That's all. Okay. Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes.

Um I can provide her a response uh either um if she wants to wait till the meeting's over or uh um she can contact my office tomorrow and I'll provide an answer to her. People interested in that and I appreciate this. Thank you. Absolutely.

Thank you. [snorts] Greetings everyone. Tom Lamar at 20648th Street. Uh welcome to the new commission members. Um I've been told by friends and uh family to take it easy on you first meeting. [laughter] I'll do that. Um finally the city's going to take possession of the Beckling building. And I've been questioning the previous administration for the past two and a half years when that deal was initially struck. when are we getting possession of the building? So now I'm going to ask you as the new commission members to not get in a big rush and give that building away to just the first Tom, Dick, and Harry that comes into town and says they got a great idea and a bunch of money and then they end up not having any money like we have down at the Battery Park. And that project's been sitting for three plus years waiting on the promised ones to get something done and they finally put up a fence. So that's what you get for 3 years. I don't want to see that happen with the Beckling building. Thank you very much. Oh, and one other point on the Beckling building. We knew that it was coming. Um why is there not something in the budget for 26 to either close up the building or put a couple of windows in? Just curious. Thank you. Any other comments on tonight's agenda? Okay. Next in our meeting tonight, um let's see. Commissioners, you have several communications from the staff recommending legislation. Can I have a motion to accept these communications?

So moved. Second. [clears throat] Thank you. There's been a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? Hearing no objection, that motion is approved. Does any commissioner tonight wish to move any of the consent agenda items to the regular agenda? Miss Myers, will you present the consent agenda?

Yes, Madame President. Item A, approval of change order and one and final for Thomas Streetway alignment project with Smith Paving. Item B, approval of change order number two and final for 2025 sewer lining project with United Survey. Item C, acceptance of real property donation the Beckling Building. [clears throat] Having heard these ordinances and resolutions, what is your pleasure? Madam President, Mr. Kel,

I would move approval of all three of these either ordinances or resolutions uh and that they uh are in accordance with section 14 of the city charter. Second. Thank you. Um is there any discussion? Miss Myers, will you call the role? Mr. Coons? Yes. Mr. Crabel? Yes. Mr. PJO? Yes. Mr. Tucker? Yes. Miss Fargo? Yes. Mr. Wington? Yes. Miss Wilson. Yes. Miss Myers, will you call the role on the ordinances and the resolution? Mr. Coons? Yes. Mr. Crrael? Yes. Mr. Bjo? Yes. Mr. Tucker? Yes. Miss Fargo? Yes. Mr. Wington? Yes. Miss Wilson?

Yes. Okay, that is passed. Miss Myers, will you present the first item on the regular agenda tonight? It is requested an ordinance be passed making general appropriations for the fiscal year 2026. This is the first reading. First reading. Having heard this ordinance, commissioners, what is your pleasure? Uh, Madame President, I move that we approve item number one as presented. Second. Is there any discussion?

Miss Myers, will you call the role on the motion? Mr. Coons, yes. Mr. Crarabel, yes. Mr. Pujo, yes. Mr. Tucker, yes. Miss Fargo, yes. Mr. Wington, [clears throat] Miss Wilson, yes. Miss Myers, will you call the role on the ordinance? Mr. Coons, yes. Mr. Crabel, yes. Mr. Pujo, yes. Mr. Tucker, yes. Miss Fargo, yes. Mr. Wington, Miss Wilson, yes.

I declare this ordinance passed. Miss Myers, will you um will you present item two on the agenda tonight? It is requested an ordinance be passed authorizing and directing the city manager to approve the first and final change order for work performed by Spear Brothers Incorporated of Sunduski, Ohio for the West Monroe Street Resurfacing Project in the amount of $20,958.36 and declaring this ordinance shall take immediate effect in accordance with section 14 of the city charter. Commissioners, after hearing this ordinance, what is your pleasure, Mr. Madam President?

Yes. I move approval of the ordinance under item number two uh in full accordance with a section 14 of the city charter. Second. Is there any discussion? Mers, will you call the role on the motion? Mr. Coons? Yes. Mr. Crabel? Yes. Mr. Po? Yes. Mr. Tucker? Yes. Miss Fargo? Yes. Mr. Wington? Mr. Wilson? Yes. And now on the ordinance. Mr. Coons? Yes. Mr. Crab? Yes. Mr. PJO? Yes. Mr. Tucker? Yes. Miss Fargo. Yes. Mr. Wington. Miss Wilson. Yes. I declare this ordinance passed. Miss Myers. Will you present item number three on the agenda?

It is requested an ordinance be passed authorizing and directing the city manager to enter into a contract with Buckeye Excavating and Construction Incorporated of Norwok, Ohio for the West Monroe Street Rehabilitation Project and declaring this ordinance shall take immediate effect in accordance with section 14 of the city charter. Commissioners, having heard this ordinance, what is your pleasure? Madam Chair. Yes, Mr. Wington. I move for the adoption of this ordinance under suspension of rules in full accordance with section 14 of the city charter. Second. Thank you. Is there any discussion? Commissioners, Miss Myers, will you call the role on the motion? Mr. Coons? Yes. Mr. Crrael? Yes. Mr. Pujo? Yes. Mr. Tucker? Yes. Miss Fargo? Yes. Mr. Wington? Yes. Miss Wilson?

Yes. Miss Myers, will you call the role on the ordinance? Mr. Coons? Yes. Yes. Mr. Crrael. Yes. Mr. Bjo, yes. Mr. Tucker, yes. Miss Fargo, yes. Mr. Wington, yes. Miss Wilson, yes. And then, Miss uh Miss Myers, will you present item number four on the agenda for this evening? It is requested an ordinance be passed authorizing and directing the city manager to enter into a contract with Ed Berdu and Company of Sunduski, Ohio for the 2025 demolition project number two and declaring this ordinance shall take immediate effect in accordance with section 14 of the city charter. Commissioners, having heard this ordinance, what is your pleasure? Madam Chair, yes. Move for approval of this ordinance under item four in full accordance with section 14 of the city charter.

Second. Is there any discussion? Miss Myers, will you call the role in the motion? Mr. Yes. Mr. Crabel? Yes. Mr. Bjo? Yes. Mr. Tucker? Yes. Miss Fargo? Yes. Mr. Wington? Yes. Miss Wilson? Yes. That ordinance is passed. Miss Myers, will you present the last item on our agenda tonight? Item five. Oh, think I'm sorry. Audience. Sorry. No. Get my sea legs. Yeah. Mr. Coons, yes. Mr. Crabel, yes. Mr. Po, yes. Mr. Tucker, yes. Miss Fargo, yes. Mr. Wington, Miss Wilson, yes.

That has passed. Would you please present item number five? Item number five, ordinance one. It is requested an ordinance be passed amending part one, administrative code, title 3, legislation. Chapter 113, city commission and title 5 officers and departments. Chapter 127, city manager of the codified ordinances of the city of Sunduski in a manner and way specifically set forth here and below in declaring this ordinance shall take immediate effect in accordance with section 14 of the city charter. Commissioners, having heard this, what is your pleasure, Madam President? Yes, Mr. Craigle.

I would move approval of this ordinance on under item number five in full accordance with section 14 of city charter. Second. Thank you, Mr. Coun. Is there any discussion? Miss Myers, will you call the role on this ordinance? Miss Mr. Coons? Yes. Mr. Crrael? Yes. Mr. Bjo? Yes. Mr. Tucker? Yes. Miss Fargo? Yes. Mr. Wington? Miss Wilson? Yes. And will you call the role in the ordinance? Mr. Coons? Yes. Mr. Crrael? Yes. Mr. PJO? Yes. Mr. Tucker? Yes. Miss Fargo? Yes. Mr. Wington? Yes. Miss Wilson. Yes.

I declare this ordinance is passed. And then on the second ordinance, it is requested an ordinance be passed amending part one administrative code title 5 officers and departments chapter 141 professional design services selection. Section 141.07 07 exemptions of the codified ordinances of the city of Sunduski in the manner and ways specifically set forth here and below and declaring this ordinance shall take immediate effect in accordance with section 14 of the city charter. Commissioners, having heard this ordinance, what is your pleasure, Madam Chair? Yes, Mr. Kson. Move for approval of ordinance number two under item five in full accordance with section 14 of the city charter. Thank you.

Second. Is there any discussion? Miss Myers, will you call the role on motion? Mr. Yes. Mr. Crabel? Yes. Mr. Vijou? Yes. Mr. Tucker? Yes. Miss Fargo? Yes. Mr. Wington? Yes. Miss Wilson? Yes. And now on the ordinance. Mr. yes. Mr. Crrael, yes. Mr. PJO, yes. Mr. Tucker, yes. Miss Fargo, yes. Mr. Wington, yes. Miss Wilson, yes. That ordinance is passed. And now we are on to John Orzac, our city manager, with his report for this evening. Thank you.

Good evening, commissioners, audience, and staff. Uh number of donations. Um Park would like to thank serving our seniors for donating hygiene products for the kids out of school program. Uh they also would like to thank Mrs. Alexander for donating items to be used as giveaways for the kids out of school program. Uh Darlene White for and Ogo for donating cupcakes for the New Year's celebration at winter break camp and Bard's Chick-fil-A Pizza House East Lee's Famous Recipe and United Way for providing lunch during winter break camp. Get a motion to accept those donations. Move. Second.

Those motions are accepted and seconded and they are approved. Thank you very much for those donations. Um, general reminder for property owners of vacant dwellings. If your dwelling is expected to remain vacant and unoccupied during the winter months, we highly recommend that you contact the city to turn off your water. This will help prevent your water lines from freezing and breaking, which could lead to costly repairs. Customer accounting can be reached at 419-627-5893. Columbus AB um will receive an honor award from the American Council of Engineering Companies on February 19th. This is the same award the city received for the Jackson Street Pier and Shoreline Drive project. Leaf collection program is complete for any residents with additional uh leaves. The drop off area near the Marquet Drive entrance to the city complex will remain open 7 days a week until the end of January. Leaves must be bagged in paper bags. Curbside Christmas tree collection started today and will occur in each zone throughout the week. Residents may also drop off their trees at the Shelby Street Boat Launch Overflow parking lot, Quantis parking lot through the end of the day, Friday, January 16th. Please refer to the city's website or call 419-627-5829 for further information. And the community development block grant program 2026 public service applications will be available online and by request starting January 26th, uh, 2026. Applications are due by February 23rd, 2026. A pre-screen form is required. For more information, contact Nicole Growy, U Community Development at 419-627-5730. Um, Madam Chair, that would conclude my report, but if you don't mind, I would like to address the data center um question. Um, although it's out of norm, I think it's something that's been

talked about in the community and um, so everybody's aware. So for Dr. Cooper and others that are interested, um my understanding, so the projects in Perkins Township and I've been in contact with those um Perkins Township officials as well as um First Energy because the energy grid is um uh a big question mark for the data centers. So the uh data center itself as far as water consumption is concerned um they have a self-contained uh water system uh cooling system that's uh that they're utilizing at the facility. It'll take up to a million gallons of water to uh fill that up when they initially open up. But then um they'll only require water that is um circulated and uh evaporated in this system. Our understanding from the report that we received from uh Perkins Township is that the uh consumption of water is about 90% less than what uh KBI in in that facility was using in the past. So um we're not really concerned about the water. Um initially there's a million gallons. Um our plant um produces uh 3 millions or so a day more than u we use in our peak. So, uh, whenever that place opens up, we should, um, be fine with the water. Um, obviously it goes through the county, uh, to them. But as far as, uh, where it's coming from, our water plant can handle that.

[snorts]

Um the biggest concern and uh question or comments that I hear um via social media channels is that the uh electric grid [snorts] the as everyone knows there's a substation electric uh substation there that's primarily for that uh facility. It's been in existence um for some time now. they had to work through uh configurations and plans and and were aware of how much uh energy was going to be used. So they have been working with first energy uh for a number of years that uh required uh you um approval and and that the uh first phase of the building um and that project is done. There's a couple more phases that are coming, but they're uh starting the electric grid infrastructure that uh has required an expansion of what they're utilizing out there in their electric grid. So that expansion will cover their facility.

[snorts]

Um as far as rates are concerned and people concerned that uh Sunduski residents or Perkins or anybody in Erie County is going to be impacted, the rates are controlled by PUCO um public utility commission something or other. Um so that um excuse me is done through a uh an assessment and um is impacted for a number of different states in the in our region. Um it's not Ohio specific. There's I think there's five or seven different states that um are regions uh under PUCO. So if there's a rate increase for infra in infrastructure needs and whatever that first energy and electric grid needs, it's um dispersed through all of the customers through all of those states. They don't just specifically say Sunduski Ohio is using more electric. We need to um charge them more. Um the other uh concern that I that I've heard about is the uh potential noise from the generators and all of that. Um, I don't know uh the answer to that. Um, if anybody has uh specific concerns or questions, they can contact Gary Bole out in Perkins Township and he'll be able to provide those answers. But that's kind of in a nutshell um the data center. And happy to take any questions that you have.

Any other comments, M Mr. Crael? Commissioner Crael. I I'll just ask I add one more thing to your comments and it's because I I asked some questions myself. um the amount of power I mean one of the reasons that they're located here is because Davis Bessie is here. Okay. Uh and Davis Bessie has the capacity to simply as it were spin up and produce more electricity. Um and uh I don't know that that's going to necessarily uh increase our rates. It will increase their income uh but I don't know that it would necessarily increase our rates. We'll see.

Thank you. Are there any comments or questions on other topics for our city manager? Okay, moving on to old business. Does any commissioner have any old business tonight to discuss? How about does any commissioner have any new business to discuss tonight? Madam President, Mr. Cra,

if I might, um, this is not for action tonight or or necessarily in in the immediate future, but I think one of the things that would be, um, helpful, I know it would be helpful to me, uh, we just went through a cycle uh, in the last couple years in which we kind of built out a new strategic plan for the city. and uh there's spreadsheets that you know talk about it and and kind of rank projects and and all of that. I think it would be uh a useful exercise for us to be able to take a look at that, refresh ourselves on it as as a commission, but also for the public to, you know, kind of see where we're headed uh as a community. Um and uh toward that end, the only thing I would ask is that if uh any commissioners don't have the strategic plan, um I'm sure that our city manager could forward a PDF or several PDFs of it to us. Um so that's

they I we did find out everyone got it in their um orientation, so everyone has it. But it'll be great to work together on it. I didn't know that. So no, that I just found that out to you, Jeff. Thank you. Um Madam Chair. Yes, sir.

Uh, couple things and maybe maybe we talked about this, but I can't recall whether or not it was set in stone and maybe Colleen can help us with this. Um, and it's it's regarding the welcome home grant, which is one of the bright spots that Sanduski City has going. Um, and I wondered whether or not we would be applying for more money for that welcome home grant, and if so, when would that deadline be for that, or has that passed? I believe the deadline is this month and it is we have not submitted an application. We still have quite a bit of uh dollars to use in our current grant right now which was a $3.5 million grant.

Okay. Thank you. So I'm really curious about whether or not we will be doing that as a commission because that is something that uh has really been beneficial for the residents here. Um I had a another question related to um our boards and commissions because we have talked about this in in the past for those volunteer commissions, boards, committees. Um I wanted us to be able to look at when there are term limits for those seats, whether or not we are adhering to that and making sure that when those term limits are up that we open it up for other citizens to serve on those boards and committees. So I didn't know if there's somebody that can answer that question. Are we really paying close attention to term limits when they're up? If anybody can answer that for me, you know, if if it says that people who are appointed serve for two years or three, there were a few of those that I saw, but I was wondering if that's something somebody's in charge of checking and making sure that we um adhere to that. So, so Commissioner Coons, are you asking if there's um let's say I'm on the board of the BCA committee and I'm on there for the first three years or whatever the the term term was. Are you asking if there's then after nine years you can no longer be on it or is that what you're asking?

Right. Right. When there's two or three years, you know, sometimes, you know, I noticed that there were people asked if they would remain and continue to serve. whether that's the best way of doing business. Just asking those individuals whether they would like to continue or whether it's best to say, "Hey, that term is up. We'll take we're taking new applications for for the position as opposed to saying somebody's there. They had initially a two-year term and they say, "Oh, of course I'll stay." And they're there for 15 years or they're there for 10 years or 5 years. Um that's something that's that's important um from my perspective. I don't know about the rest of you, but it's important from my perspective.

No, I understand that. What is our current the current process right now once the uh do we do we just call up you know John Smith and say hey you've been on the board of zoning appeals for the last three years your term is ending would you like to remain is that our current process yeah the law department does not do that but yet that's my understanding of how uh we do keep track of everybody's term and when it is uh uh up uh they would either have to be reappointed or someone appointed in their place and that would be up to the commission. Okay, gotcha. Thank you, Mr. Crarville. Commissioner Crable.

Uh, yes. I Jeff is fine. Um, I wanted to respond to Richard's um I'm sorry, commission. Oh, no, you're good.

Um, his his first inquiry. Um, and maybe Colleen, you can clarify this. Um when when a a house is put on a piece of property and uh the title is conveyed to the new owner, we pay I don't know what the number is 245 250 something. I don't know what the exact number is, but in that range and then the house being financed, we receive a portion of that back. So it's not just the 3 million that we that we received, but we re are re constantly able to recycle that money two times, three times, whatever. You are correct.

Okay. Just want to make sure that we're even if we're not applying for this next cycle, we will still have funds to be able to continue the program. So we will uh we are our application stated that we would build 14 homes. That was what we estimated what that we could uh do with the 3.5. We will go far beyond that and we're looking at about 30 homes. That's amazing. Good news. That's good. Yes, Commissioner. I'd

like to go back to the uh uh leaison and commissioners and uh their terms and that I look at it entirely different over the years. This I'm starting my 19th year and I've been through cycles where we've uh had two or three people short, had to cancel meetings. And then the other thing I look at is if you're on these boards and commissions, they're learning a lot. And that's important too. If we keep rotating people in and out, uh I don't know what the results is going to be like. I I think that's one we got to take a careful snapshot of uh going forward. And you got to remember these folks are volunteers, you know, coming down here. a lot of time if they read their material, show up to the meetings. Uh I know times I've been less on in different uh departments and that a lot of them have brought some uh good points and I think uh we might lose that you know as far as experience goes. So that's just something you know a little side note to look at maybe

and I do think as a commission we're committed to making sure we get the best process for this going forward. Mr. Commissioner So, um I think that's our commitment to talk to each other about what we think would work best going forward. So, um if there isn't any other new business, I do have a few items. Yes,

I [clears throat] do have something. Um and I'm not sure if this is the place to put this, but um I've been asked by a few of the city employees if we could um assist them in um pushing forward a place for them to park in the parking garage. Um, I know that I spoke to Mr. Orzac as well and he said that a letter did go out to the county commissioners, but we haven't gotten a response. So, I was hoping as a body that we could get behind this and make sure that um the city employees are able to park in the parking garage.

Thank you. Thank you. [snorts] So, going I have about three items of new business for us tonight. Um, the first one is I need a motion to set a public hearing for February 23rd, 2026 for a zone map amendment application for 223-225 Meg Street. I need a motion for that.

So move in and a second. Thank you very much and that that public hearing will be set. Um, secondly, I'll need a motion in a second, but I want to talk just a little bit about the the boards and committees going forward. We do have a few new members joining some of our um boards as volunteers um to help us move along in our city business and and first of all, thank you so much to all of them um for putting their applications and being chosen tonight. Um Steve Pali and Westpool will be appointed to the board of zoning and appeals. Diane Corso to the landmark commission and Charlie Murray and Barbara and please I hope I'm saying your last name correctly to Oakland Cemetery Board. Um, and then finally, our own Tom Tucker to the Tax Incentive Review Council. Could I get a motion for those appointments?

So, second in a second. Thank you very much. Welcome to the tax incentive. Right. All right. Um, I'll call the role on that. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Coons. Yes. Mr. Crabel, yes. Mr. PJO, yes. Mr. Tucker? Yes. Miss Fargo? Yes. Mr. Wington? Yes. Miss Wilson? Yes.

Thank you. and and so those appointments are passed. And then finally, I just wanted to um I talked to everyone on the commission about an opportunity for a new appointment, a liaison um um outside of what's already on our docket for committees and liaison. And and um I've talked to Jeff Crabel about this at length and um everyone agreed on the commission that it'd be nice to have a liaison for our local and county and state partners. So, while we all have the ability to talk to everyone,

but when we're working on efforts with those different partners, it'd be nice to have a streamline approach to be able to have one person that might be able to be a direct contact to bring back information so everyone is getting um the same information and creating a better communication and relationship process for all of our partners that we work in outside of our own city government. So tonight I I'm going to um also appoint um Jeff CrarAL to that liaison position for our county state county and state partners. So thank you Jeff for volunteering to do that. Thank you.

Okay, now we're up to audience participation time and this is a time where you come forward and you can ask any items relating to city business any any comments or questions and you state your name and address and please limit your comments to five minutes. I thought I live at 203 Westwater Street. Um, the Oakland Cemetery Board is a surprise to me. I applied for the tree commission a long time ago, so I need to find out more about that. But

we will get to that. My issue tonight is I love Sunduski and there's so much good about it. I moved back here five years ago from a big city and I really like being here, but there's been a lot of uh you know conversation about the pathway and I see the uh construction down on Cleveland Road and it is great. A lot of people use it. bicyclists, walkers, and I'm a walker. And what I'm requesting is that when we have a snowfall, I don't care how little it is, that that pathway be cleared because that means people can't exercise. And if we want to promote health in the area, we need to have that clear. Okay. Thank you.

Thank you very much. That's it. Okay, one more. You don't [laughter] have to beg. Good evening everyone. Good evening.

I'm Barbara Clark and I'm with the Sanduski NAACP. I'm here representing our community and especially the underserved community tonight. And I want to thank everyone that ran for city commission and that you was that the voters had spoken. And what we're looking at right now, I don't know how you guys came up with making the uh vice president, I'm going to say the youngest person on the board. [laughter] The youngest person on the board. But then again, we were also looking, I guess, at um more the voters have spoken is what I'm saying. And I was thinking that this this commission would look at the numbers from the voters, even though we know Mrs. Vargo, you've been here. We kind of expected you to be here, but we was also hoping that the board would pick the highest voter to be the second PL person in charge, and we did not get that. I would ask you, and thank you for doing what you're doing. I would ask going forward, not only this commission, but all other commissions to think about what the voters are asking for as well. Even though you have the right most likely, I'm not sure how this go. Even though you have the right to choose whoever you want for this board by votes, the voters still look to see you to think about them as well. Thank you. And good year 2026 and 2027. It's going to be hard. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Any last comments, questions?