FINAL SESSION …Vaughn Bentz, after a combined 26 years of service on the Archbold Village Council, attended his final meeting as a council member on December 15. A special presentation honoring Bentz will be held at the Archbold Village Council meeting on January 5.
By: Amy Wendt
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
amy@thevillagereporter.com
On Monday, December 15, Archbold Village Council convened for its last regular meeting of 2025. Councilors Karla Ball, Chad Kern, Aaron Babcock, Kevin Eicher, Vaughn Bentz, and Gary Dominique were in attendance, with Mayor Brad Grime, Village Administrator Aaron Alt, and Clerk Cassie Storrer also on hand.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence, Council approved minutes from its December 1 regular meeting and the November 2025 financials.
The council also authorized payments totaling $843,629.94 for payroll and bills, which, according to Alt, included a significant expenditure to Bryan Excavating for a waterline project as well as various debt payments.
Mayor Grime turned his attention to Councilor Vaughn Bentz and shared that after 26 years of service, this was Bentz’s final meeting. A special presentation will be held for Bentz at the first council session of 2026.
Opening the floor to anyone wishing to address the council, Mayor Grime introduced Craig Riedel of Defiance, a Republican candidate for the Ohio State Senate representing District 1 in the primary election scheduled for May 5, 2026.
Riedel previously served as state representative for the 82nd District in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2017 to 2022.
Riedel thanked the mayor and council for the opportunity to speak and said he would be willing to answer any questions.
Mayor Grime said that he did not have any questions; however, he noted the city’s ongoing need for additional funding and emphasized the importance of prioritizing those needs.
“I think it’s important because, you know, the small communities are getting kind of squeezed out a little bit,” the mayor added.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by smaller communities, Riedel cited the importance of the biennial capital budget process.
He added that, while he did not intend to give a political speech, one of his top priorities would be the complete elimination of the income tax and shift to a consumption tax.
He also feels that it’s critical for Ohio’s future that the state become “energy dominant.”
Moving down the agenda to legislation, the council approved Resolution 2025-54, authorizing the 2026 annual renewal of the agreement with the Countywide Emergency Management Agency, and Resolution 2025-55, adopting the 2025 Fulton County Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Administrator Alt explained that this is done annually, with a payment of $2,935.40 going to the EMA board. He noted that every county has an EMA board, which develops a five-year Hazard Mitigation Plan.
This plan ensures that communities are eligible for grant funding and assistance in the event of a natural disaster.
Council approved Resolution 2025-56, Transferring Funds from the General Fund to the Paramedic Fund and the Police Fund.
Alt explained the move was necessary to cover shortfalls. This annual transfer is needed because property tax revenue comes into the general fund and is then moved to the police and EMS funds. Previously, when the police fund was part of the general fund, these transfers weren’t necessary.
Also, in financial matters council adopted 2025 Budget Appropriations in Ordinance 2025-57. Speaking on the annual budget review process, Alt shared,
“You know, it’s not an easy process, as you all know that, and occasionally throughout the year, we have to make amendments to it (budget).
“Usually, you encumber more money in hopes of spending less, because if you don’t have enough in one line item; some items or lines, you might be high, some you might be low.
“So you just shoot a little bit higher in hopes that you don’t have to amend and that you always spend less.
“So this year, we have a total amount budgeted of $18,160,412.50. However, there’s a few “ins-and-outs” within this budget, so it’s really closer to about $16.5 million of what it takes to run the town.
“But, for an example, this year we had $18,914,000 budgeted. We had to make some amendments to that budget to increase a few line items and so forth.
“We had some donations come in. But year to date, as of the 12th, we were only at $14.4 million spent.”
He explained that grant funds also pass through the budget as both revenue and expenses and do not directly impact village finances, noting that at least $300,000 of the $18.6 million total reflects this pass-through funding rather than actual operating expenses.
“It’s a little deceiving, but I think it’s important to be transparent so that people understand how that all works.”
Alt also pointed out that there is a substantial amount of debt payment within the water, wastewater, and park funds, which he estimates totals nearly one million dollars annually.
In annual housekeeping items, the council approved the 2026 regular meeting schedule.
The council reviewed several Committee, Board, and Department reports, including 2026 Budget Review minutes for the Park and Finance Committees, Police and Fire call reports for November, the November Fleet Report, and the November Park Board minutes.
It was noted that the Street & Sidewalk Committee Budget Review highlighted the planned replacement of the chipper and the possible accelerated replacement of a snowplow and bucket truck.
Other upcoming projects include the installation of a waterline along State Route 2 and the village’s significant involvement in the construction of the subdivision on Lutz Road and the surrounding wetlands.
Alt also noted that, in addition to the new Casey’s convenience store, another business is planned for the field across from St. John’s Christian Church.
The increased traffic from these developments will necessitate the reconstruction of the intersection at S. Defiance Street and Barr Road.
Before adjourning, Councilor Babcock asked if there had been any public feedback regarding the permanent closing of the Fulton County Recycling Drop-Off location at 415 E. Holland Street. Alt responded that there had been a few Facebook messages from one individual.
“ARS charges every resident, which we’ve passed on to the residents, just over $4 (a month for recycling services), Alt explained.
“So, when you’re paying that, and then you look at the building over there. The amount of time we need to maintain it, the amount of money it’s going to take to get that building up into better shape, I fiscally feel it’s irresponsible.
“Some opinions have been that we only care about money. Well, we’re trying to be respectful of the tax dollars that come to us.”
Alt added that ARS will be introducing automated recycling in spring 2026, and residents will receive new rolling recycling carts to replace the current yellow bins.
With nothing further, the meeting was adjourned. The next Archbold Village Council meeting is set for Monday, January 5, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.