(PHOTO BY BREANA RELIFORD / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
APPRECIATION PLAQUE … Council President Mary Leatherman (left) was awarded a gift of appreciation on behalf of the City of Bryan by Mayor Carrie Schlade.
By: Breana Reliford
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The Bryan City Council held their first meeting of 2025 on Monday, January 6th at 5:30 p.m. with the following members present: Mary Leatherman from Ward 1, Richard Hupe from Ward 2, John Betts from Ward 3, Stephen Alspaugh from Ward 4, Jim Kozumplik At Large, Mayor Carrie Schlade, Treasurer John Lehner, city employees from various departments, as well as a few members from the community.
The meeting was called to order by Leatherman with the Pledge of Allegiance to follow. First on the agenda was to hold the election for the 2025 President and Vice President of the council.
Members of the council could nominate one another to hold the position. Jim Kozumplik nominated Mary Leatherman to remain in the position as president for another year. All members were in favor and the vote passed.
Kozumplik also nominated Richard Hupe to take over the Vice-President seat. All members were in favor and the vote passed.
Leatherman was also awarded an appreciation plaque on behalf of the City of Bryan by Mayor Carrie Schlade to thank her for the hard work she has done throughout the year of 2024 for the city.
Once the positions were decided, the council moved on to approve the minutes from the previous meeting.
Next was a hearing of public concerns. Resident Steve Cox requested a two-week notice regarding the scheduled meeting of the Huntington Drive repair discussion.
The council has drafted an explanation letter about the meeting for the residents of Huntington Drive and are prepared to send out the letter within the window requested by Cox.
Cox also requested that the street sweeper remove some of the gravel on Huntington Drive before the snowplows come in.
Street Commissioner Tyson Engstrom replied that the road was swept three times prior to the sudden drop in temperature, and that with the frigid cold and the salt on the roads it will not be possible to sweep again until spring. The salt would cause internal and external corrosion to the sweeper making it non-functional.
Next, the special committees for 2025 were approved. Each committee is comprised of two members (with an exception of the Revolving Loan Fund and BIPAC committee, typically held by the council president). The committees approved for 2025 will be held by those as follows:
Budget Committee: Leatherman & Alspaugh (Alspaugh to replace Betts); Finance and Audit Committee: Kozumplik and Alspaugh; Wage Committee: Betts and Hupe; Tax Incentive Revenue Committee: Kozumplik and Alspaugh; Negotiation Team: Kozumplik and Hupe (Hupe to replace Leatherman); Revolving Loan Fund: Leatherman; BIPAC: Leatherman.
The council suspended the rules and approved Ordinance No. 1-2025, which authorizes the mayor to enter into a right of refusal with Schlater Investments LLC., for the purchase of certain property located in the Bryan Industrial Park.
Suspended and approved as well was Ordinance No. 2-2025, which dealt with the “Safe Routes to School” sidewalk building plan. This plan, previously approved in 2024, remains the same other than the substitution of one word due to a typo.
Resolution No. 1-2025, a resolution for the fire chief to accept a grant of $2,160 from the State of Ohio Fire Marshal, was also approved.
The council also approved the appointment of Mayor Schlade to the Maumee Valley Planning Organization as the representative for the City of Bryan.
The reappointment of Parks and Recreation Board Member, Paula Cline, was approved as well, allowing Cline to serve her second term for the years 2025-2027.
Lastly, Mayor Schlade announced that the Huntington Drive discussion meeting will take place on January 23, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Don North building in the council chambers, for any residents wishing to ask questions, have a discussion, and find out information regarding the street repairs in the Huntington Drive subdivision.
With no further items up for discussion, the council adjourned at 5:57 p.m.