By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
Swanton Fiscal Officer Holden Benfield updated Swanton Village Council members on challenges facing other municipalities throughout the state and beyond during his comments at the council’s last meeting.
According to Benfield, he learned at a recent meeting of the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments that many villages and cities “are struggling to keep up with their road infrastructure demands.”
“So, the fact that we’ve done as many road projects as we have recently is above average for the current state of the state,” he said.
Another challenge facing local governments, Benfield said, is the clawing back of federal grants already approved across the country.
He said Swanton doesn’t have very many federal grants, pointing out that the Water Resource Recovery Facility project was funded by a $3 million federal grant, but that it is nearly done.
“I don’t see that being an issue for us, but it is something that is putting strain on grant funding and is causing a lot of uncertainty as to already existing grants,” explained Benfield.
“It’s basically added another cognitive step between where normally before if you were approved for a grant you could feel like you actually got that grant and you can use it, to where now, if you are approved for a grant, [it] doesn’t necessarily mean you are still going to get those funds, and you have to plan for that as an emergency,” Benfield added.
Benfield also pointed out his discovery of a $25 million T-Mobile Hometown Grants program with an upper award limit of $50,000 per quarter that could be used toward parks and historical items.
He expected to submit an application for that program and is also looking into a more competitive AARP Community Challenge grant program, which could also be used for parks.
OTHER BUSINESS
The council approved on first reading an ordinance amending the existing Community Reinvestment Area property tax abatement program.
The council approved a joint agreement with Lucas County for the reconstruction and maintenance of the roadway portion of Hallett Avenue, specifically the bridge over the railroad tracks.
The council approved the retroactive adoption of a cybersecurity policy required under the recently passed state House Bill 96.
The council approved a central purchasing and credit card policy for village staff. The council accepted the retirement of full-time water treatment plant operator Gregor Heinrichs, effective November 1.
Police Chief John Trejo reported staff responded alongside the Fulton County Strategic Response Team to Williams County on October 6 to assist their SRT with the execution of a large-scale search warrant on a business in Bryan. During the search, officers located methamphetamine, marijuana, firearms, and stolen vehicles.
Trejo reported that Swanton officers assisted U.S. Marshals and the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office with the pursuit and apprehension of a felony suspect, eventually caught by an equestrian center on State Route 64 south of Swanton.
Trejo reported officers responded to 444 calls for service in September and a total of 3,764 so far this year.
Swanton Fire and Rescue Division Chief Cuyler Kepling reported his department responded to 84 EMS calls and 30 fire calls in September. He said 2024 was a record year and that this year is up about 8.5 percent from that year, with roughly 1,400 total calls for service expected this year.
Mayor Neil Toeppe delivered comments on continued economic development efforts in the village, such as the creation of the Economic Development Commission four years ago.
He highlighted the potential opportunities available to the village with the annexation of a 168-acre property into the village, which marked an 8.5 percent increase in the village’s land area.
Village Administrator Shannon Shulters reported a public hearing will be held at the next meeting of the Planning Commission – scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 5 – to discuss the rezoning from business to residential of a pair of properties on Munson Road.
Shulters reported a public hearing on regulations covering golf carts and other low-speed vehicles will be held following the regularly scheduled council meeting on Monday, November 10.
Shulters reported the recently repaired signal at the intersection of South Main Street and Garfield Street would likely need to be completely replaced.
Shulters reported brush pickup is ongoing and that leaf pickup will begin the week of the 27th.
The next regular meeting of the Swanton Village Council will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, October 27, at 219 Chestnut Street.