ARCHIVE PHOTO / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
APPROVING TERMINATION … The Wauseon City Council approved issuing a letter of termination to Wauseon Director of Public Service Keith Torbet (pictured).
By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
City council on Monday approved the authorization of issuing a letter of termination to Wauseon Director of Public Services Keith Torbet. The decision followed an executive session, and no public explanation was provided for the action.
If a resignation is not submitted beforehand, Torbet’s termination will take effect on November 21 at 4:30 p.m. His departure would conclude a long career with the city that began in 1984 when he joined the police department as an auxiliary officer.
He later became a full-time patrolman in 1987, rose to lieutenant in 1998, and was promoted to assistant chief in 2000.
Torbet was named police chief in 2003, serving in that role until his retirement in 2019. He has spent the past six years as director of public services.
The vote regarding Torbet was the second major action of the evening involving an executive session. Earlier in the meeting, the council entered executive session to discuss possible litigation.
After returning to open session, members voted to send a letter to Harold Stickley relating to that matter. Independent communication circulating prior to the meeting had referenced circumstances connected to Stickley’s earlier time on council, but no details were shared publicly.
Stickley resigned as council president in March. He ran for a council seat in the November 4 election and is expected to rejoin the council when the new term begins.
Later in the meeting, the council was informed that Clerk of Council Sarah Henricks had submitted her resignation effective December 1.
Members voted to accept the resignation and thanked her for her service. The Village Reporter was also informed that the two resignations were not linked.
Council also addressed several general business items. A recommendation from the finance committee was approved for the city to cover monthly utility costs for the former senior center building next to city hall.
The amount will be reduced by $500 each month to reflect the rent paid by the church that uses part of the facility.
Additionally, Steve Schneider updated the council on ongoing conversations with Triangular Processing, the nonprofit organization responsible for recycling operations in the Wauseon area.
Executive Director Kathy Shaw recently met with the finance committee to outline financial challenges and previous success in obtaining grants.
Schneider said committee members expressed interest in finding a way to help, noting that employees of the agency contribute an estimated $17,000 a year in city income tax. No formal recommendation has been made.