By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
The Delta Village Council voted during its last meeting of the year to pass on second reading an updated slate of permitting fees while also cutting a pair of proposed fees.
Permits are required for a wide variety of activities, including residential, commercial, and industrial construction and demolition, signs, accessory buildings, planned unit developments, zoning district changes, variances, and appeals.
Council members chose to remove a pair of proposed permit fees for small animals and home occupations.
If they had not been eliminating, anyone owning a small animal, not including dogs and cats, would have to pay $40 for a permit application, and anyone wanting to operate businesses of particular types from their home would have to pay $100 for a permit application.
A final reading will be held at the next council meeting.
PROPOSED DELTA ZONING FEES
Current rate in parentheses
-Single Family Dwelling – $70 ($50)
-Accessory Buildings – $40 (25); Two-Family Dwelling – $100 ($75)
-Multi-Family Dwelling: Up to 3 units – $200 (contact zoning inspector); 4 to 6 units – $300 (contact zoning inspector); 7 to 10 units – $400 (contact zoning inspector); 11+ units – $50 per unit (contact zoning inspector); Commercial, Industrial, or Institutions: Up to 50,000 square feet – $350 ($250); 50,001 to 100,000 square feet – $500 ($350); 100,001+ square feet – $700 ($500)
-Signs: Wall, Ground, Marquee and Canopy – $40 ($25)
-Signs: Free Standing, Pole, and Projecting – $70 ($50)
-Fence, Deck, Porch, Driveway, and Pool – $40 ($25)
-Planned Unit Development – $350 ($250)
-Zoning District Change – $200 ($150)
-Variance or Conditional Use – $150 ($100)
-Appeal – $50 ($20)
-Demolition (Residential, Commercial, or Industrial) – Cost of construction permit (unchanged)
POWER BLACKOUTS/OUTAGES
Village Administrator Chris Frazer reported that First Energy is attempting to have its standards lowered to allow more blackouts and outages without being fined.
Frazer said the power aggregate of which Swanton is part – the Northwest Ohio Aggregation Coalition – is asking its participants to address their councils to decide if they want to make a statement or resolution supporting NOAC’s position that the standards should not be lowered.
Council members decided that, as they agree with the statements already being made by NOAC, they did not feel the need to make an official statement of any kind.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Immediately prior to the council meeting, the Finance Committee met to discuss, among other things, setting everything in order to put the replacement police levy and park levy in front of voters in the May 5, 2026, special election.
The committee voted to pass along the recommendation to the council, which was reported to them by committee chair and Councilman Sean Griewahn.
By getting the measures in the May election, the council will have a second chance in the November election if they fail the first time around. The two existing levies – along with a second park levy – generate a total of roughly $310,000 in revenue.
In order to get the levies on the ballot in May, council members will have to pass a pair of items at their January 5 and 20, 2026, meetings to get the county to certify the tax valuation and to confirm the ballot language, respectively, to meet a February 4, 2026 deadline.
OTHER BUSINESS
Council members passed on final reading a three-year extension to Police Chief Samuel Chappell. Council members passed on final reading an ordinance creating a separate pay structure and administrative plan for the Delta Police Department.
Council members passed on third reading and on an emergency basis an ordinance making permanent appropriations for current expenses and other expenditures of the village for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31.
Council members chose to keep tabled an ordinance to amend the boundaries of the village’s Community Revitalization Area related to the proposed Delta Acres residential project.
Council members approved on second reading a resolution to abandon a section of alley behind 107 and 109 Palmwood Street.
Council members approved on an emergency basis a resolution correcting a typo in the certificate of estimated resources for the year 2025.
Council members approved on an emergency basis an ordinance amending a prior ordinance, which made permanent appropriations for the year 2025.
Council members approved the nomination of Heidi Dick and Dave Braunreuther to the Park Board to replace departing members Daphne Demaline and Doug Eicher. The next meeting of the board will be 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at 401 Main Street in Delta.
Council members approved an agreement with Delta youth sports organizations related to their use of Delta’s playing fields.
Council members approved council meeting dates for 2026.
Law Director Kevin Heban reported that York Township leadership has signed the contract to purchase the Delta Community Fire Hall.
Council members started discussing the option in February, but it was previously discussed by the Safety Committee and had been floated as an option several years ago.
Finance Director Joanne Clapp reported the 2026 budget totaled just over $9.5 million. That marks a more than 20 percent increase over the 2025 budget of just under $7.5 million.
Council members began the meeting by adding to the agenda and entering into an executive session “to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee or official.” No action was taken as a result of the session.
The meeting was the last for council members Robert Shirer and Daphne Demaline, who chose not to run for reelection.
The next regular meeting of the Delta Village Council will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, at 401 Main Street in Delta.