PHOTO BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
HOUSING UPDATE … Discussing feedback from the Empire Street open house in Monday’s Williams County Port Authority meeting were, from left: board members, Dave Newcomer, Cheryl Andres, Ashley Epling, Sean Rupp, and Joe Kimble.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
The Williams County Port Authority discussed updates on its latest housing projects at Monday’s meeting held in the Port Authority conference room.
In attendance were board members, Bill Martin, Cheryl Andres, Sean Rupp, Joe Kimble, Tyson Stuckey, Dawn Fitzcharles, David Newcomer, Ashley Epling, and Rachel Walz.
Following the approval of meeting minutes from July 28 and the financial report through July 31, feedback from the recent open house on Empire Street in Montpelier was discussed.
“Most of the people who came (to the open house) because they were just excited to see it,” said Andres.
She mentioned there were 15 families or groups of people who had visited the open house, which lasted from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., the same day.
“Half of those were just there to look at the house,” noted Andres. “The other half was there to consider it. But there were things that maybe just didn’t quite need what they’re looking for.”
Fortunately, an offer has been made to purchase the Empire Street residence with the closing date in September.
“I will say the back deck was the topic of discussion,” pointed out Walz. “Off the master bedroom, people either loved it or they hated it.
“If they hated it, it was because of security reasons. As you got talking with the people, they were typically from a bigger city like Toledo, and they thought that was really dumb.”
Walz added that if the cost of a house stays under $200,000, she thought there could be a demand for more of this.
Because the Empire Street house was listed under Multiple Listing Services, Andres, who is also a licensed realtor, received five calls asking about the house.
“I showed it to someone not from the open house, but I had a private showing, and someone had also asked me, ‘What are you doing in Edgerton and Edon?’ so there is definitely interest in the house in that price range.”
Fitzcharles made a motion to authorize the property at 402 Empire Street, Montpelier, to be sold at $180,100, with Sean Rupp seconding the motion. The board then unanimously approved the sale.
The board was recognized with a certificate and commemorative flag that was presented by U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur, acknowledging the Port Authority’s work and ongoing commitment to community development and housing advancement in our region.
Fitzcharles added that the U.S. Flag given to the Port Authority was flown over the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., specifically in recognition of the milestone from the open house celebration at 402 Empire Street in Montpelier held on August 1, 2025.
Kaptur will eventually visit the Port Authority’s office to present the U.S. Flag at a later date. The board also heard updates on other Port Authority projects currently taking place in the county.
Among the builds is the senior housing project, which continues to progress on schedule. Applications for the Ohio Housing Financing Agency (OHFA) funding for the project are due on September 18.
Planning for the project following the application approval begins in February, with construction set to begin on June 1, 2026, with the completion date set by the end of 2027.
Other building projects currently going on include houses or duplexes in Bryan, Edgerton, Pioneer, and Stryker.
Also planned is a lot on Daniel Street in Edgerton. The Port Authority is waiting for an offer for the purchase of the lot, and then will sell it.
Board member Sean Rupp, who is in charge of the house building program, requested a transition request for Rachel Walz to take over his present duties with the board.
“Rachel (Walz) and I have been talking a little bit, and I would like to transition her into what I’m doing, not immediately but over the rest of the year and see if I can get her to take over the house building program,” said Rupp.
“She’s got more experience in that stuff than I do. I would like to get out of that part of it and move on to working on lots and some other things. I need to free up my end of it.” He added it’s not something to decide right now.
“I showed her what I’m doing and what my process is on how to make it better,” said Rupp. “We don’t need to decide it today; it’s going to be a board decision because I’m going to request it to become a paid position.
“It’s a lot of work; it’s a lot to ask out of anybody. Once she (Walz) understands what it is, we can figure out how we can do that.
“I think that to make the program last and keep running and everything, it’s got to compensate a little bit of something (to) the project manager doing it. By the end of the year, I think she’ll have an idea what it involves and figure out how to set it up right.”
The board went into executive session to consider the purchase of property (real or personal, tangible or intangible) with no action taken.
The next meeting will be held on Monday, September 8, at noon.