PHOTO BY JOHN FRYMAN/ THE VILLAGE REPORTER
ORDINANCE AMENDED … Bryan City Council member Stephen Alspaugh (left) and council president John Betts discuss an ordinance regarding modifications of issuing permits to solicitors, canvassers and peddlers in the city during its council meeting on Monday, April 6, 2026.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
After a recent hailstorm struck Bryan on Thursday, March 16, Bryan City Council identified the need to modernize local permit laws pertaining to solicitors, canvassers and peddlers at its regular meeting on Monday, April 6.
Mayor Carrie Schlade told council members she had revisited the permit and said there were some things on the current permit from 2015 that were not really feasible.
“One of the requests was fingerprints from the applicant and at least two reliable property owners within the county who would serve by the applicants of good business character and respectability,” said Schlade.
She also read a statement from a reputable physician within the municipality dated not more than ten days of the application. This will certify the applicant to be free of contagious, infectious or communicable disease.
“What we were really worried about is that we had legitimate insured contractors here,” said the mayor, who worked with city attorney Marc Fishel on the ordinance.
“He (Fishel) has revisited this application to make it work both for us and the residents protection and for the solicitors because honestly the only thing about local doctors is locally when we see someone from out of town within ten days and give them a good bill of health.”
Among the new changes the ordinance will now address include the following:
-Name and description of the applicant.
-Permanent home address of the applicant.
-A brief description of the nature of business.
-Tax identification number issued by the Internal Revenue Service and the Ohio Department of Taxation.
-The length of time for which the right to do business is desired.
-A valid driver’s license with a picture of the applicant or a state picture identification issued by the state where the applicant resides.
-Adequate proof of business and workers’ compensation insurance.
-A statement as to whether the applicant has been convicted of any crime, misdemeanor or violation of any municipal ordinance, the nature of the offense, and the punishment or penalty assessed therefor. A local background check and fingerprinting will also be done.
Schlade mentioned she had a contractor from Westerville come to town and spend a couple of nights in a hotel last weekend despite waiting for city hall to open to issue him a solicitor’s permit.
He had started on a Saturday, and police had to tell him he couldn’t do any work without a permit.
“Is there anything about repeated visits because it’s not necessarily talking about the hail damage folks, but it seems like there are some businesses that don’t like it, and you told them no,” said council member Stephen Alspaugh.
“They come back again and again, and it’s just like no means no when I told it to you or told the next guy who shows up or whatever.”
Schlade said she would suspect those folks don’t actually have a solicitor’s permit and would ask them. “They’re supposed to carry that (solicitor’s permit) on their person,” noted the mayor.
“If you want to ask if they can give me a copy of your solicitor’s permit and if they say their boss has it, you can say well if you can get your boss or I’ll call the police department.
“I’ve done that from my front porch before. Usually, they leave the neighborhood quick.”
Prior to council’s approval on the codified ordinance, Schlade wanted to make sure the residents are safe and that people going door to door selling goods are permitted to do so.
“I had an elderly lady who lived alone and said it was hard for her to get up from her chair with her walker and get to the front door,” said the mayor. “It turned out the gentleman who was doing it didn’t have a permit. We were able to track him down.”
LINCOLN PARK ICON PAVILION
Council, upon the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Department, assistant director Bruce Wheeler authorized the purchase of the Lincoln Park Icon Pavilion.
The Icon Pavilion, which costs $83,135, includes engineered drawings and an anchor bolt kit from Play Core Wisconsin Inc., doing business as Game Time, under the contract of Omnia Partners, which is a cooperative purchase program for state and local government entities. Funding for the project will come from the capital fund.
Wheeler said it’s the same purchasing program the department used when it purchased playground equipment for the park several years ago.
He added that they are currently obtaining price quotes from local contractors to build the pavilion.
WATER SYSTEM GENERAL PLAN
Upon the recommendation of Bryan Municipal Utilities, which has identified the need to complete a comprehensive water system general plan to evaluate existing system conditions, analyze future water demands and identify recommended long-term infrastructure improvements, council approved executing a task order with Jones & Henry Engineers, Ltd., of Toledo to prepare a water system general plan at a cost of $97,000.
Council member Jim Kozumplik made the motion to approve, with council member Mary Leatherman seconding it.
The plan is necessary to comply with Ohio Environmental Protection Agency requirements and to allow the city to pursue funding through the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account program.
“We’re looking at long-term improvements to the water treatment plant and its facilities,” said Director of Utilities Derek Schultz.
“We’ve completed a water system improvement study, distribution system model and hydro study as well.
“The next step is the general plan. This is a requirement through the EPA. You must do this to receive state funding through the state revolving loan program. The general plan is where we look at the existing system conditions, treatment plant and distribution system, and well fields.
“It will also take a look at population and water demand projections. It will also analyze alternatives either by rehabbing the current facility or constructing a new one. It will look at treatment options as well.
“Then we’ll get a final report with all their recommendations, cost estimates, funding strategies, and anything regulatory we need to consider.”
FIVE-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH WESBANCO BANK
Council approved a resolution to enter into a designation agreement with WesBanco Bank as a depository for active, inactive and interim funds for the City of Bryan.
The five-year agreement takes effect May 6, 2026, through May 4, 2031.
POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PURCHASE BODY-WORN CAMERAS
Council approved a grant from the Ohio Criminal Justice Services for the purchase of body-worn cameras and equipment for the Bryan Police Department.
The grant received by the police department was $8,462.29 and was awarded on March 18, 2026.
Approval was made for a donation of $1,000 from the Bryan Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge No. 2233 to the police department. Council then thanked the Eagles for their generous donation.
BUILDING PERMIT ISSUED
Council issued a building permit to Saneholtz-McKarns, Inc., of Bryan for adding to its present building at 1310 W. High St.
The building, which currently operates as the Main Stop gas station and carryout store, will renovate its restroom and office area at a cost of $150,000, covering 464 square feet.
The next council meeting will be Monday, April 20, at 5:30 p.m.