LAW ENFORCEMENT UPDATE Police Chief John Trejo left addresses the Swanton Village Council at its last meeting updating members on recent hires to the department
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
A measure expanding the boundaries of the village’s designated outdoor refreshment area (DORA) drew the ire of one downtown business owner during the Swanton Village Council’s last meeting.
Deacon Dzierzawski, president of Epiphany Community Services located just north of the railroad tracks on North Main Street, shared a wide variety of concerns.
Dzierzawski raised his voice several times, demanding to know why such an expansion was even being pursued, that no one had asked for it.
Village Administrator Shannon Shulters said the plan from the inception of the DORA two years ago was always to expand it, and that the current effort to expand it started when the village was approached by downtown business owners and the Swanton Chamber of Commerce to do so.
According to the ordinance, the proposed DORA boundary would run along North Main Street from 123 N. Main Street south to the railroad tracks, east along Zeiter Way to Lincoln Avenue, north to the alley behind 105 Lincoln Avenue, west to its junction with the main alley, north to the parking lot adjacent to 128 N. Main Street, west to North Main Street.
Dzierzawski continued to push for answers until Council President Derek Kania stated his comments, which were given during the public comment portion at the end of the meeting, were getting into back and forth with the council members in a way that was inappropriate outside of a duly announced public hearing.
Prior to the public comment period, the council voted 4-1 to pass the ordinance on second reading, with Council Member Dianne Westhoven casting the sole dissenting vote. A third reading will be held at the next council meeting.
NEW FIRE TRUCK
Fire Chief Cuyler Kepling, who was authorized by the council in March to purchase a brand new fire engine for $1.45 million, reported a promising change of circumstances.
According to Kepling, they found a stock truck that they’ll be able to purchase at a cost savings of between $90,000 and $185,000, and will receive the truck this October instead of in October of 2026.
Kepling also said having this particular vehicle, known as a quintuple combination pumper or “quint,” would help with the village’s ISO score, which is used to determine fire ratings and directly affects the cost of homeowners’ insurance.
“We’ll get credit for having a fire engine and partial credit for having a ladder truck because it does have the capability of having that 75-foot stick on it,” Kepling said. “So, it allows you to earn dual credit, where if we went the fire engine route we wouldn’t get that dual credit, so it wouldn’t have helped our ISO score as much.”
Kepling also reported the new deputy fire chief position had been posted and would be closing shortly.
OTHER BUSINESS
Council members gave final approval on first reading to a resolution supporting the Ohio Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial – the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence – and establishing a local committee for “America 250.” The Swanton Historical Society will be spearheading the village’s involvement.
The council authorized Police Chief John Trejo to hire Michael Welch – who will be leaving the department in Elmore – as a full-time officer.
They also authorized him to hire former chief Adam Berg – who continues to be employed as a full-time officer in Archbold – as a part-time officer with the intention of working two or three days per month plus special events.
Trejo said the department still has one open position and three to four good applicants remaining in its hiring pool.
After a brief executive session on the matter, council members reconvened to authorize the creation of a part-time village janitor position, to work hours on an as-needed basis.
Council members approved changes to the village’s personnel manual on an emergency basis, making the decision final on first reading. The changes include new guidelines regarding a new timecard system that will soon be installed. They also included clarification on other related issues such as the acceptable use of sick time.
Council members authorized Shulters and Fiscal Officer Holden Benfield to apply for an increase to the village’s Water Supply Revolving Loan Account with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to help fund planning, design, and/or construction of the water treatment plant membrane softening improvement project. It was also passed on an emergency basis and effective immediately.
Council members approved new street lighting and leaf collection fee ordinances. The fees remained unchanged from prior levels.
Mayor Neil Toeppe and Council Member Mike Disbrow were absent. The next regular meeting of the Swanton Village Council will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28 at 219 Chestnut Street.
