(PHOTO BY AMY WENDT / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
DR. AARON DUNLAP … Local independent pharmacy owner explains to the council why opening a new pharmacy storefront in Archbold may not be financially viable without support from local employers or institutions.
By: Amy Wendt
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
amy@thevillagereporter.com
For many years, Archbold was home to one, and at times, two local pharmacies that served as an essential part of the community.
At the end of 2014, the Red Cross Pharmacy in the heart of downtown closed its doors. In 2021, Family Care Pharmacy on South Defiance Street also closed.
In 2024, the village’s last remaining pharmacy, Rite Aid, shut down, leaving residents with no choice but to travel out of town to fill their prescriptions.
Village Administrator Aaron Alt recently confirmed that Discount Drug Mart will not be moving forward with plans to open a pharmacy in Archbold, despite having purchased land on South Defiance Street in 2018.
At the April 7 council meeting, village officials welcomed Dr. Aaron Dunlap to shed some light on industry-wide challenges that pharmacies are facing in recent times.
Dunlap is the owner of Rings Pharmacy in Montpelier and Klinger Pharmacy in West Unity. Both of these independent pharmacies specialize in niche medication packaging, serve long-term health care facilities, offer immunizations and health clinics, and provide medication delivery to customers in surrounding communities.
Dunlap explained that many pharmacies struggle to remain profitable due in large part to pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reimbursement issues.
Small-town independent pharmacies are especially affected, as current PBM systems tend to favor large chain pharmacies and mail-order services.
The consolidation of services by major corporations such as CVS (Aetna), Optum (United Health Group), and Express Scripts (Cigna Corp.), who control both the PBM functions and other aspects of the supply chain, adds to the pressure on smaller, independent providers.
Although Klinger Pharmacy does serve some Archbold residents, Dunlap said that establishing a new physical storefront in Archbold may not be financially viable for an independent pharmacy unless there is backing from a large employer within the village or an institutional partnership with a facility such as Fairlawn Retirement Community.
Following the pharmacy discussion, the council continued with the agenda by approving minutes from the March 17 meeting, authorizing the payment of $614,061.93 in bills and payroll, and accepting the March 2025 Financials and Investment Report.
Circling back to the pickleball court legislation approved at the March 17 council meeting, a new motion was introduced to repeal and replace the original motion permitting the construction of only four pickleball courts at Ruihley Park (Resolution 2025-09).
The revised motion of April 7 allows for the addition of two more courts, bringing the total to six, upon receipt of $60,000 in donations to fund the extra construction.
The debated roundabout project slated for the State Route 2/Township Road 24 intersection is back on track with the council approving, following its second reading, Resolution 2025-12, which authorizes the administrator to enter into a contract with Tetra Tech Inc. for the preliminary development, final design, and construction plans for the project.
Council members Karla Ball, Chad Kern, Aaron Babcock, Kevin Eicher, and Von Bentz voted in favor of the legislation, while Councilor Dominique cast a dissenting vote.
The final decision came after the council met for a lengthy work session on March 25 to weigh the pros and cons of moving forward with the roundabout project.
Council then passed Resolution 2025-13 to establish a new special revenue fund for Police & EMS 0.3% income tax levy collections. The legislation also authorizes the creation of revenue and expense accounts for that fund.
“We do feel that it’s important to establish a new revenue fund where this money (will go)…this just clearly identifies where this money is going into, the fund per se, and how it’s being distributed out…,” Alt offered.
Council reviewed the Park Board minutes from its March 19 meeting. Parks and Recreation Director Jen Kidder was on hand and noted that to date, they have seen an increase in summer ball registrations.
The March 2025 Income Tax Report shows a 9.67% decrease for the month and a 5.39% decrease year-to-date. “I am not discouraged by this (decrease). It continues to remind us that we have to stay within budgets and monitor our expenses,” Alt added.
He also added that the village’s annual budget was calculated conservatively to account for possible downturns.
Other reports before the council for review included the March 2025 Police Calls for Service, Fire Department Calls for Service, and Street Department Fleet Service Reports.
The Archbold Village Council will reconvene for its next regular meeting on Monday, April 21, 2025, at 5:30 pm at the village’s municipal building.