DOWNTOWN … Clinton Township Trustee Ivan Hite, left, listens as Wauseon Mayor Kathy Huner speaks during the March 5 Clinton Township Trustees meeting, where officials discussed the future of the old senior center building in downtown Wauseon.
By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
The Clinton Township Trustees in Fulton County met for their regular session on Thursday, March 5, 2026. The meeting opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance before trustees moved through routine business.
Trustees approved the minutes from the Feb. 19 meeting, approved the agenda, authorized payment of bills and accepted the fiscal officer’s reports.
From there, trustees returned to old business, including discussion on a recent ditch project. The meeting then turned to fire and EMS matters, with Wauseon Fire Chief Phil Kessler providing an update.
Chief Kessler said annual ladder testing was being wrapped up, including testing of hand ladders on unit 808. Work is also continuing on possible plans for unit 805, with drawings still being adjusted before being brought forward.
That update led into a much broader discussion about countywide EMS funding and the current levy structure.
Chief Kessler said another Zoom meeting is planned for next Friday regarding funding and districting, noting that discussions with City Law Director Tom McWatters suggested there may be a workable approach. However, more questions still need to be answered about how it would be applied.
He also said concerns remain over how the Ohio Revised Code is being interpreted, particularly as it relates to the countywide EMS levy and whether communities such as Wauseon and Archbold are effectively being double-taxed under the current system.
Trustees and officials discussed at length the strain the present funding formula is placing on communities with larger call volumes and full-time staffing needs. The conversation focused on the challenge of maintaining current service levels while local governments continue using general fund dollars to support fire and EMS operations.
Trustees and those in attendance, including Wauseon Mayor Kathy Huner, also discussed the county EMS levy renewal expected to appear on the May ballot. They addressed the need for future contract discussions and the importance of ensuring local entities have a stronger voice in how funding is distributed.
Officials also raised concern about the ambulance stationed at the Fulton County Airport and whether it could be lost under future changes. The issue drew additional comment because of how heavily the unit is used and its importance to emergency response times in that part of the county.
While no formal action was taken on the EMS issue, township officials said the matter remains a top concern for local fire and EMS agencies.
Next, Zoning Inspector Jason Fisher reported on a recent variance where a request to install an in-ground pool without a fence was approved. He also noted that another permit had been submitted for a home addition.
Fisher then updated trustees on continued work involving possible zoning language for data centers and solar development.
That led to a discussion on whether data centers should remain a conditional use rather than being prohibited outright. Trustees said they would like to see the matter handled carefully, with more work expected in the coming month.
Road Superintendent Eric Eyer followed with a report on township maintenance and equipment. Among the items discussed was the service truck, with Eyer presenting a quote of $2,821.98 for six new tires.
Trustees approved moving forward with the purchase. Eyer also reported that the township’s salt had finally been delivered, but because the shipment was late, the township is entitled to recover part of the cost through the state contract penalty provisions.
Trustees approved deducting more than $1,900 in penalties from the payment, as allowed under the state contract provisions for late delivery.
Later in the meeting, Mayor Huner was invited to continue discussion regarding the old senior center building. Huner said the city still wants to move forward with potentially purchasing and remodeling the building, but no decision can be made until city officials receive cost figures for the remodel.
She said those numbers are expected to be presented on March 18, which will give the city a better understanding of whether the project remains feasible.
Discussion then shifted to the possibility of Earl Mechanical leasing the building’s second floor. Trustee Kevin Demaline said the company has expressed interest in using the upstairs space for $1,000 per month on a month-to-month basis. Earl Mechanical would handle mechanical labor on the building, while replacement parts would remain the responsibility of the township.
Officials said the arrangement could help keep the building occupied and maintained while the city continues weighing whether to purchase it.
Even so, trustees expressed some hesitation about entering into the lease if the city later decides to move ahead with buying the building.
At the same time, township and city officials agreed they do not want the building to sit empty, and both sides maintained that city ownership of the property would serve the public interest if the project proves financially practical.
Huner also said she would like to hold a joint meeting with the township sometime in April once more information is available.
In other business, the cemetery report contained no major updates. Discussion later returned to the proposed Earl Mechanical lease, with trustees noting they may need to adjust language related to snow removal and address lock changes for the second floor if the lease moves ahead.
After completing the remainder of the evening’s paperwork and bill approvals, the meeting was adjourned.
Update: Clinton Township trustees approve road work and continue EMS funding discussion at March 19 meeting