By: Tim Kays
On the evening of January 19, members of the Bryan City Council received and regretfully approved the resignation of longtime officer, Captain Tony Plotts from the Bryan Police Department. Dated January 6, Plotts’ letter of resignation read,
This comes with a heavy heart as it was my goal to retire from the Bryan Police Department. With the events at the PD the last several months, I feel it is best that I turn in my resignation. My last day will be January 24, 2021.
Plotts was a much admired School Resource Officer, and was promoted to Captain in June of 2020. He was reclassified as a patrolman four months later.
In comments later, Councilor Mary Leatherman said, “I would like to wish Tony Plotts the best of luck. I know when I found out that he was resigning, I tried to talk him into staying more than once, and told him to please give it at least six months and see if he could change his mind.”
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t get him to change his mind. So with that, I do wish him the best of luck and future endeavors. He’s going to be sadly missed as an SRO, and as a patrolman.”
City Clerk Laura Rode said, “I’ve never seen anyone who could deliver news like Tony could with a smile on his face. It sometimes wasn’t the best of news, but he could make you feel like it was going to be okay regardless.”
“I think he was just perfect for the SRO position,” said Ms. Fisher, “…and I know that they’re going to really miss him in the schools, and wish him the best in whatever his future endeavors are.”
“When we decided to start to have the SROs ,” said Councilor Rick Hupe, “…it didn’t take long for a lot of feedback to come back on what a great SRO that Tony made.”
“He had a great rapport with the teachers and the students, and he was sorely missed when he decided to go for the Captain’s position, but I know that the teachers understood that he was trying to work his way up.”
“Unfortunately, that didn’t work out. He was only there for a few months, and they were hoping that maybe he would come back to the school as an SRO, and that didn’t work out either. We’re going to miss him being a veteran member of our police force, especially when we have such a young police force right now.”
Council also accepted the retirement request of City Arborist and Horticulturist John ‘Cort’ Goshia from the Parks and Recreation Department, effective November 30, 2021. In a letter dated January 11, Goshia wrote,
The time has come to notify you of my official retirement which will be effective November 30, 2021. I am looking forward to traveling, doing some fishing, catching up on some projects at home, and most of all spending time with my family, especially my granddaughters.
I’ve truly enjoyed the last 12 plus years as city arborist and horticulturist. I believe the City’s urban forestry and horticulture programs have moved to the next level during my tenure. Bryan is certainly a city we can be proud of.
It is my intention to stay on long enough to train my replacement and pass on some of my knowledge and experience. I will be happy to aid in this transition in any way I can be helpful.
Thanks again for the opportunity to utilize my skills for the Betterment of the City of Bryan.
Council adopted Ordinance 1-2021, an ordinance authorizing the issuance of Change Order #1 and Final for the 2020 Asphalt Program.
“We’re finally wrapping up last year’s project,” said City Engineer Brian Wieland. “We finally got their final invoice last week. We’re asking for an $11,636 deduct. I’m real happy with that considering it was almost a $600,000 project, and when you’re putting two inches of asphalt on to be that close – I mean we’re talking sub-millimeter accuracy – I’m pleased with it. I request you suspend the rules and go ahead and pass this so we can get the project wrapped up.”
Council also passed Ordinance 2-2021, amending and authorizing an agreement for the payment of the City of Bryan Income Tax Incentive for Dustin Schlachter and Tod Schlachter, members of Schlachter Investments LLC, and as owners and members of OBIC, S&S Directional Boring and Advanced Rehabilitation, LTD.
In 2020, Council had provided an income tax incentive to Schlachter Investments for their new business in Industrial Park One. Due to the COVID pandemic, they didn’t get started in Bryan until very late in the year.”
“The original income tax incentive was to start in tax year 2020, but because of the late start of business it really would not give them any benefit for that year. “What we’re asking for is an extension of one year on that tax incentive,” explained City Attorney Rhonda Fisher.
“Not that we’re extending it more than five years, but starting in tax year 2021, rather than in 2020.”
Council approved Ordinance 3-2021, authorizing membership in the Houston-Galveston Area Council Cooperative Purchasing Program (H-GAC) pursuant to Ohio Revised Code, and authorizing the Mayor to enter into an Interlocal Contract Cooperative Purchasing Agreement, thereby waiving the competitive bidding process as prescribed by Ohio Revised Code. A proposed use of the membership would be the targeted purchase of a leaf sweeper for the Street Department.
“This is an ability through the Ohio Revised Code for the city to purchase through an intergovernmental agreement,” Ms. Fisher explained. “We have done this before with Sourcewell.”
“It’s similar to what we do with the purchasing program through the State of Ohio. It allows us to waive the bidding process by purchasing items through the intergovernmental cooperative. This is just an opportunity to purchase through that program.”
Ordinance 4-2021, establishing the pay rate scale for seasonal workers in the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Bryan effective January 19, was also approved by Council.
“The reason that this has to be adjusted,” said Parks and Recreation Director Ben Dominique, “…is due to the change in wage. So therefore when they change the minimum wage, obviously we have to go back through and make changes to our pay scale for seasonal part time employees.”
Council approved a measure naming Mayor Carrie Schlade as delegate and Richard Long as alternate to represent the City of Bryan as a member of the Board of Directors of the Ohio Municipal Electric Association in 2021.
Resolution 6-2021, authorizing Fire Chief Bruce Siders to apply for grants for the City of Bryan Fire Department during 2021, was approved without dissent. Amongst the grants specifically mentioned but not limited to were the…
Assistance to Firefighters Grant; Staffing for Adequate Emergency Response Grant; Ohio EMS Training Grant; Ohio Fire Marshal Training Grant; Ohio Fire Marshal Equipment Grant; Ohio Department of Natural Resources Grants; Ohio Fire Marshal MARCS Radio Grant; Ohio Bureau of Workman’s Compensation Grant; Health and Wellness Grant from 555 Firefighter Fitness
In other actions, Council elected Councilors Hupe and Judy Yahraus, Police Chief Chris Chapa and Cliff Weigel as members of the Volunteer Peace Officers Dependents Fund for the City of Bryan for 2021.
Councilors Hupe and Yahraus, along with Chief Siders, Firefighter Gregory Grisier and Russ Davies to the Volunteer Firefighter’s Dependents Fund Board for the City of Bryan Fire Departmentfor 2021.
Tim can be reached at tim@thevillagereporter.com
