PHOTOS BY JOHN FRYMAN/ THE VILLAGE REPORTER
STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS … Bryan Mayor Carrie Schlade (above) presented the State of The City of Bryan address at its council meeting on Monday, February 16.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
An increase in sewer rates is coming for residents, businesses, and industries in the City of Bryan. The change follows the third and final reading of an ordinance passed unanimously by Bryan City Council at its meeting on Monday, February 16.
The ordinance takes effect Thursday, February 20, and the rate schedule will continue through December 20, 2028. Annual increases will begin on February 20, then move to December 20 in each subsequent year: December 20, 2026; December 20, 2027; and December 20, 2028.
“We’ve been very forthcoming on what the rates look like for everyone,” said Bryan Mayor Carrie Schlade. “I’ve spoken to two of our largest industries about this, and they understood what’s going on and had no issues.”
Schlade added, “I think we’re not being naive because we’re all rate payers and none of us wanted our rates to go up. We also must understand that Wes Wygant (Wastewater Treatment Superintendent) and his team have done a really good job. The people that have come before you have done a really good job maintaining the system. We made sure to get every minute out of that plan before we go into repairs.
“Thankfully, through the last several projects, we timed it just right so we’re not spending dollars rehabbing things and are actually investing in that plan at the right time. Kudos to the wastewater management and employees for that.”
Currently, city residents pay $32.00 per month for sewer service. Beginning this year, the rate will rise to $34.96, then to $37.88 in 2027, and $40.84 in 2028. Commercial businesses currently paying $53.75 per month will see rates increase to $60.16 this year, $66.38 in 2027, and $72.79 in 2028.
City industries paying $703.75 per month will pay $804.81 in 2026, $906.88 in 2027, and $1,002.74 in 2028. Council members noted they had not received any negative feedback. The increases are necessary due to a projected shortfall in sewer fund revenue beginning next year, with an $800,000 deficit expected in 2027.
This shortfall is largely due to a $12 million rehabilitation of the city’s wastewater treatment plant, which began last year and is expected to finish by the end of this year. The original plant was built in 1938 and renovated in 1960.
Council also passed two resolutions accepting donations totaling $84,558.27 from the Bryan Area Foundation for the Nature Works Lincoln Park Pavilion project.
An additional $5,600 from various sponsors was donated to the Bryan Parks and Recreation Department for the Fountain City Amphitheater. Parks and Recreation Director Ben Dominique noted that $60,000 of the Lincoln Park Pavilion donation came from the Sally Metz family.
Council approved a tax exemption agreement with TDK Holdings, LLC, granting a 100 percent exemption for seven years for remodeling work on five modern apartments at 113-115 South Main Street.
Schlade was appointed as delegate and a Bryan Board of Public Affairs member as alternate to serve on the Board of Directors of the Ohio Municipal Electric Association for 2026. An ordinance providing annual appropriations for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, was also approved.
Bryan City Engineer Brian Wieland presented his 2025 engineering department annual report, outlining completed and upcoming projects, including:
•Asphalt Program (Helms & Sons Excavating, Inc. – $644,690.35)
•Pavement Marking Program (Griffin Pavement Striping, LLC – $128,637.65)
•Lincoln Park Sanitary Sewer Improvements (S & S Directional Boring, LTD – $512,342.00, to be completed spring 2026)
•Safe Routes to School Phase 2 Sidewalk (Smith Paving & Excavating, Inc. – $246,690.10)
•Street Improvements on Blakeslee Avenue (M&M Asphalt, LTD – $491,591.85)
•South Walnut Street Sanitary Sewer Improvement (Vernon Nagel, Inc. – $408,283.00, completion in 2026)
•Don North Municipal Building Re-Roof (Richland Co. & Associates, Inc. – $248,507.00)
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT REPORT … Bryan City Engineer Brian Wieland (above) gave his annual engineering department report to Bryan City Council at its meeting on Monday, February 16.
Reimbursable grants for 2025 include:
•ODOT Safe Routes to School Phase 2 ($246,590 cost, $230,188 reimbursed)
•OPWC South Myers Street project ($810,760 cost, $275,000 reimbursed)
Carryover projects with grants not yet complete:
•OPWC East Mulberry Street Waterline Project (50/50 grant up to $275,000 of $489,300.40 bid cost)
•OPWC South Walnut Street Sanitary Sewer Replacement (50/50 grant up to $175,000 of $408,283 bid cost)
Upcoming 2026 projects:
•Asphalt Program, including East Village improvements ($920,000 anticipated)
•100-200 block of West Trevitt and East Bement Streets ($290,000 anticipated)
•100 blocks of Rolland and Baker Streets ($540,000 anticipated)
•Pavement marking ($150,000 anticipated)
•ODOT North Main Street concrete replacement ($536,000 anticipated, $428,800 grant funding)
•CDBG Sanitary Sewer project (Cherry, Butler, Allen, and Wilson Streets – $851,000 anticipated, $470,000 grant)
•OPWC Sanitary Sewer project (alley between South Main and South Walnut Streets from Maple to High Streets – $350,000 anticipated, $175,000 max grant)
In 2025, there were 134 grass and weed complaints and 137 junk motor vehicle and trash/refuse complaints investigated. A total of 199 violations were issued, with 31 corrected. The zoning division issued 21 certificates and 125 permits, totaling $17,260.98 in fees.
Parks and Recreation Director Ben Dominique reported 150,403 people used city parks and recreation facilities for various activities.
There were 28,531 facility users for reunions, birthday parties, and community events in 2025. The East End and Moore Park Swimming Pools saw an increase in activity, with 17,772 visitors for season passes, public swimming, rentals, lessons, and meets.
The Moore Park Pool will host the Greater Northwest Ohio Aquatic Conference Meet on July 11-12, 2026. The Fountain City Amphitheater hosted 7,577 attendees for concerts and worship services. Last year, the department received $62,147.25 in donations from local businesses, organizations, and families, and the amphitheater received $85,900.00 in donations. The new Lincoln Park Pavilion is expected to become a major asset for the parks system.
Mayor Schlade presented the State of the City of Bryan address, highlighting the city’s 2025 successes, including recognition as one of Ohio’s Top Five Best Hometowns by Parade Magazine.
The City of Bryan currently employs 141 people, with municipal utilities employing the most (47), followed by police (27.5). The 2026 city budget is $32,200,000, with the BMU budget at $29,804,118, for a total of $61,804,118. The 2025 income tax collection includes:
•.3 percent for fire ($1,676,638)
•.5 percent for streets and sewers ($2,795,053)
•one percent income ($5,592,556)
for a total of $10,064,247.
Inside property tax, effective January 1, 2026, includes:
•general fund (2.5 mills)
•police and fire pension (0.3 mills)
for a total of 2.8 mills, with estimated tax revenue of $566,793.
The city received $1,138,122.63 in grant money, with major allocations to:
•engineering department ($1,073,800)
•parks and recreation department ($35,000)
•police department ($11,662.63)
•fire department ($17,660)
The Bryan Industrial Park Advisory Committee will include:
• Schlade
• Derek Schultz
• Marc Fishel
• John Betts
• Jeremy Suffel
• John Lehner
• Brian Wieland
• Erica Noggle
• Ashley Epling
• Cinthia Reed
Schlade also highlighted the Fountain Creek Senior Villas, a 50-unit complex in south Bryan, with a groundbreaking set for June.
She provided an update on the new Amtrak Station, projected to be finished by spring 2027. The fire department recently received a new fire and rescue truck, combining two units and saving at least $500,000.
Wastewater treatment upgrades, including the aeration tank, thickener tank, chemical building, and control building, are underway at a cost of $14 million.
The next council meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 2, at 5:30 p.m.