PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
REDEVELOPMENT .. This aerial map shows one of the vacant properties (Magnuson Hotel) in Fulton County near the turnpike that will be considered for redevelopment.
By: Renea Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
renea@thevillagereporter.com
The Fulton County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance, open prayer and roll call.
Then the commissioners approved payment of bills, reviewed the Fulton County Dog Warden report for the period ending May 16, and approved minutes from their May 28 meeting.
The board approved a resolution adjusting appropriations for several departments. The changes included an increase of $8,168 for airport liability insurance renewal costs, a decrease of $10,000 in a Drug Court continuing education account and transfers within the Board of Elections budget to increase funding for office supplies.
Commissioners also approved a letter terminating the county’s pest control contract with Rose Pest Control for the Fulton County Heritage Center.
According to the letter, county officials determined the level of pest and rodent activity at the facility did not justify the continued expense of the service.
The termination will take effect when the current agreement expires on Dec. 30, 2026. The board also cancelled pest control services at the Eastern District Court in Swanton, effective immediately, noting the service had been provided without a formal contract.
In other business, commissioners approved the disposal of unneeded, obsolete or unfit property belonging to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. Several actions were also taken involving redevelopment projects in the county.
Commissioners also approved environmental review certifications and Revolving Loan Fund waiver applications tied to redevelopment efforts at two long-vacant properties in Fulton County.
One project involves the former Magnuson Hotel property at 8225 State Route 108 west of Wauseon. The second involves the former Swanton Elks Lodge building at 116 N. Main St. in Swanton.
Both properties are being evaluated through the Fulton County Land Bank as potential redevelopment sites.
According to documents approved by commissioners, each project will receive an $8,000 waiver from the county’s Community Development Block Grant Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund to fund a Voluntary Action Program Phase I environmental assessment.
The studies will be conducted by Tetra Tech and are intended to identify any environmental concerns that could affect future redevelopment of the properties. Commissioners approved Resolution 2026-371 authorizing Board President Joe Short to execute environmental certification documents for both projects.
Additional resolutions authorized the submission of the required waiver applications to the Ohio Department of Development, allowing the environmental review process to move forward.
County officials have identified both the former hotel and the former Elks Lodge as vacant properties with redevelopment potential.
Completion of the environmental assessments is expected to provide information needed to determine future reuse opportunities and help remove obstacles to redevelopment.
The board appointed a member to the ADAMhs Board and approved purchase orders and travel requests.
Commissioners also approved a resolution supporting Senate Bill 357, a proposal introduced by Sen. Theresa Gavarone that would update Ohio’s Violent Offender Database requirements under Sierah’s Law.
Sierah’s Law was created after the 2016 abduction and murder of Sierah Joughin in Fulton County. The law, passed in 2018, requires certain violent offenders to register with the state for 10 years.
Senate Bill 357 would expand the law by adding certain strangulation offenses to the list of registrable crimes. It would also make portions of the database easier for the public to access online and better connect the system with law enforcement data platforms.
The county’s support comes as the 10th anniversary of Joughin’s death approaches next month. Commissioners approved the resolution and sent it to Justice for Sierah, Inc.
They also signed a letter to the Ohio Senate Judiciary Committee stating that Joughin’s death revealed gaps in offender tracking and public awareness, and that the proposed changes would help strengthen protections for communities across Ohio.
Commissioners also continued the ditch hearing for Ditch 2154, petitioned for by Steve Schrock. Drainage Engineer Lincoln Frey said a mutual agreement between the affected landowners had been completed.
Schrock submitted a written request to withdraw the petition, and commissioners approved Resolution 2026-377 to set aside the former order and dismiss the petition.
With nothing further, the meeting was adjourned.
The commissioners met again on Thursday, June 4, 2026, and approved a series of funding, infrastructure and development-related measures.
Among the actions approved was an expedited Type II annexation petition submitted by the Village of Delta involving property owned by Haas.
Commissioners also authorized the board president to execute an environmental review certification form tied to the county’s 2026 Community Development Block Grant program.
The board approved draw requests for both the county’s CDBG grant program and the Lead Safe Ohio grant program, allowing funding reimbursements to move forward.
Commissioners also approved an oversight data-sharing and confidentiality agreement between Local Workforce Area 7 and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
Commissioners entered into Contract 2026-54 with Griffin Striping LLC for the county’s 2026 Pavement Marking Program on behalf of the Fulton County Engineer. The project includes roadway striping work throughout the county and participating local jurisdictions.
The board approved appropriations and fund transfers, including moving $20,000 from the county contingency account to the General Fund transfer-out account and transferring the same amount into the County Road 10 Maintenance Fund.
An additional $3,000 was transferred from airport storage rent revenue to the General Fund.
Commissioners also reviewed monthly financial reports, the Treasurer to Auditor Balancing Report, an amended certificate of estimated resources and compliance reports before approving purchase orders and travel requests.
With nothing further, the meeting was adjourned. The next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 9 a.m.
