DISCUSSIONS … Williams County Port Authority board members, Dave Newcomer (left) and Ashley Epling (right), discuss property purchase updates at its meeting on Monday, December 8.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
The Williams County Port Authority met in regular session on Monday, December 8, in the conference room.
Board members in attendance were Tyler Sailer, Tyson Stuckey, Ashley Epling, Dave Newcomer, Rachel Walz, Bill Martin, Sean Rupp, Cheryl Andres, and Joe Kimbell. Dawn Fitzcharles was absent.
Following the approval of the November 15 meeting minutes, the board then discussed and approved a housing contract extension on a property located on 228 North Beech Street in Bryan.
Epling said the contract was set for December 15, but after board approval, the extension was then set for January 15, 2026.
Regarding the Beech Street property, Epling told board members she had recently met with the Bryan Board of Public Affairs requesting a fee waiver for water tap, meter base, and wiring permit. The waiver donation will enable the Port Authority to support the development of the property.
Andres updated the board regarding the potential sale of property on 408 Clear Fork Drive in Pioneer. She said that within half an hour, the buyer had already looked at the house and eventually set up an offer which was later accepted.
“It’s really great how the listing stuff populates right through Realtor.com, and people put it on their watch list,” said Rupp.
An update on the property located on 402 Empire Street in Montpelier was presented. It was pointed out that the house is back on the market.
The Empire Street house has already gone through two home inspections with no fault of the house itself.
“The first lender was the VA (Veterans Administration) loan that fell through, and the second one was PNC bank that also fell through, with both loans being pre-approved,” said Andres.
An update regarding a minor issue in the senior housing project in Bryan: the Isaac family ended up with a dead parcel and asked the Port Authority to purchase it for a very nominal amount.
The parcel, which covers between six and seven tenths of an acre within the project site, is being offered by the Isaac family for $1,000.
Newcomer suggested the Port Authority make the purchase and then donate the money to the Bryan Senior Center. Martin made a motion to approve the purchase, with Stuckey seconding it. It passed by a 9-0 vote.
Rupp spoke to Montpelier Village officials last week and said they’re on schedule for January 15, 2026, to vacate the right-of-way on the Wabash lots and change the zoning to R-3 for the Port Authority to build three triplexes. Construction will begin in the spring, and Rupp is waiting for pricing on the project to come back.
An executive session followed to consider the purchase of property (both real and personal, tangible or intangible) with no action taken.