COUNCIL MEMBERS SWORN IN … Swanton Mayor Neil Toeppe (left) swears in new council members Deacon Dzierzawski (center left), Patricia Pilliod (center), previous council member David Pilliod (center right), and reelected Councilman Noah Kreuz.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
The first meeting, including newly elected members of the Swanton Village Council, marked a major shift in tone and priorities.
While Deacon Dzierzawski, David Pilliod, and Patricia Pilliod, along with sitting Councilwoman Dianne Westhoven, were all involved in the effort, Councilman Dzierzawski led the charge.
Dzierzawski was initially reported to have been defeated by former Councilman Patrick Messenger, but when Lucas County finalized its votes, Dzierzawski had won overall by just two votes.
The shift began immediately after Dzierzawski was voted in as president pro tem of the council. He was nominated by Westhoven, with a second from Patricia Pilliod. David Pilliod was also nominated but withdrew his name before voting.
The next item was approval of the rules of council as presented by Mayor Neil Toeppe, which Dzierzawski, the Pilliods, and Westhoven all voted against.
David Pilliod was the first to offer an explanation, saying the council rules needed to be changed in several ways, including limiting members to one term as council president, which he called a “common sense change to the rules.”
Dzierzawski then moved that the council hold a special meeting on Wednesday, January 21, at 5:30 p.m. for the purpose of revising and rewriting the rules of council, with a second by Westhoven.
The only member to vote against holding the meeting was Councilman John Schmidt, who gave a loud “No.”
The shift continued when commissions and committees were discussed. Toeppe appointed Councilman Noah Kreuz to the Plan Commission, David Pilliod to the Tree Commission, Westhoven to the Fire Advisory Board, and Schmidt to the Swanton Economic Development Commission.
He said his nominations to the Community Reinvestment Housing Council, Records Commission, and Local Board of Tax Review would be coming over the next two months.
Toeppe also stated his plan to work with Patricia Pilliod to establish a park committee as well as to reformat the Downtown Facade Enhancement Committee to include grants for Main Street and Airport Highway, include the sidewalk grant program, and include a proposed matching park grant program, which he also plans to develop with Patricia Pilliod.
Later in the meeting, Toeppe also stated there has been a lack of clarity as to whether resolutions, like ordinances, require three readings rather than the current practice of only holding one reading.
Until the matter can be resolved, he said the council will hold three readings for all resolutions as well, unless they are passed as an emergency.
Throughout the meeting, Dzierzawski pushed back on the idea of passing items on an emergency basis at all, noting that past councils have passed on an emergency basis a large number of items that did not require it.
He voted against suspending the rules to do so on two items considered by the council during the meeting.
After the meeting, Dzierzawski said he and the Pilliods knew their intentions regarding the changes before they came to the meeting, that they had all run on.
He said they plan to reinstate “the old accountability structures that have been taken away the last four to six years.”
“We knew ahead of time what we were going to do, because we thought we developed rules during committee of the whole, but there is no committee of the whole anymore, because the committee of the whole got disbanded along with other committees,” he said.
He said they had planned ahead to vote against accepting the rules for council as proposed by Toeppe.
“Which actually is interesting because a mayor shouldn’t be proposing rules for council, rules for council should be developed by council,” he said.
Dzierzawski said their plans include bringing back the finance, safety, and public service committees, increasing transparency, limiting council members to one term as president, and creating more opportunities for public input.
He said the reason behind bringing committees back was to make sure issues weren’t brought up with only a single opportunity for limited discussion. Committees would review applicable ordinances and resolutions in public meetings and make a recommendation to the council, including whether or not emergency passage was warranted.
“So that when ordinances come up, we’re not having to have the discussions like we had tonight here and say, ‘Why is this an emergency?’ ‘Why is this not an emergency?’” Dzierzawski said.
OTHER BUSINESS
Council members approved on an emergency basis a resolution to separate a sewer rate increase between sewer and water rates equally.
The total increase, which was approved by the prior council, remains unchanged. The resolution also corrects a typo regarding dates.
Council members approved on an emergency basis an ordinance to award the Hallett resurfacing phase B project to Crestline Paving and Excavating Co. Inc. at a cost of $577,517.85.
Shulters reported that the south side of the railroad overpass has been added to the scope of the project, which is being funded by the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments.
Dzierzawski cast the sole dissenting vote to suspend the rules and pass as an emergency.
Council members approved on an emergency basis a resolution to authorize Shulters to sell surplus village property by internet auction throughout 2026.
Dzierzawski cast the sole dissenting vote to suspend the rules and pass as an emergency.
Council members approved on an emergency basis resolutions authorizing the submission of applications for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Program, the Ohio Fire Marshal Fire Equipment Grant Program, the FEMA Assistance for Firefighters Grant Program, the Walmart and Sam’s Club Local Community Grant, and a grant from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation.
Council members approved a salary increase for Public Service Operations Foreman Eric Vaughan to $58,710 after he obtained his Water Distribution Certificate II per an agreement with the village, with the raise retroactive to Dec. 31, 2025.
Council members approved a salary increase for Public Service Shop Foreman Zack Holdridge of $1,000 after he obtained his Water Distribution Certificate per an agreement with the village, with the raise retroactive to Dec. 21, 2025.
He is set to receive another $1,000 raise when he receives his Water Distribution Certificate II. Council members approved the promotion of Matthew Onweller from seasonal employment to part-time janitor at an hourly rate of $20.00 retroactive to Dec. 20, 2025.
Council members approved an appropriation to cover the bonus already approved by the council and paid out to Fiscal Officer Holden Benfield.
Council members approved a correction to the minutes from the Dec. 15, 2025, meeting, changing “resignation” to “retirement” in a reference to a departing village employee.
The council heard from a Fairfield Drive resident who complained about neighbors feeding and putting out housing for feral cats in the neighborhood.
The next regular meeting of the Swanton Village Council will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, January 26, at 219 Chestnut Street.