LIME CITY – Perrysburg Township trustees invoked an open meeting exemption Friday that allows boards to
discuss economic development in closed session.
Ohio law now allows townships, cities and counties to negotiate tax incentives and discuss economic
development projects privately. The clause was included in the state budget bill last summer.
This was the second time trustees used the economic development exemption, the first coming Jan. 8. Also
on Friday the group discussed personnel wages in executive session, with no action following.
Township Administrator Walt Celley said the law could be used by governmental bodies negotiating a joint
economic development district, or to keep information confidential at a developer’s request – whenever
publicity could "adversely affect development."
Celley said he was unable to recall a time when a township project fell through because it was discussed
in a public meeting.
In other business, trustees agreed to donate $5,000 to the Perrysburg Area Historic Museum this year and
budget another $10,000 next year. Police Chief Mark Hetrick said he also made a donation to the museum
of an original township police uniform and equipment.
Also on Friday, trustees passed a resolution officially establishing a crime scene investigation unit
within the police department. Hetrick said he’s currently working to acquire equipment and will apply
for grant funding from the United States Department of Justice.
Hetrick also announced plans to perform minor renovations in the public safety building, including
removing a booking area and shifting around office space and a locker room. He said most of the work
will be performed in-house to keep costs low.
Trustee Bob Mack said he attended a Rossford Transportation Improvement District meeting, and the group
is looking for infrastructure projects to fund, and nothing has been submitted for the next grant cycle.
A possible township project would be installing another crosswalk at U.S. 20 and Thompson Road.
The board also:
• Heard from Barb Bruno that since July, the township has provided more than 10,000 pounds of electronic
waste for recycling through her company, Recycle IT.
• Canceled its April 2 meeting and will meet instead at 6 p.m. March 26.