PERRYSBURG — Transit in Perrysburg got a boost before council Tuesday night.
Council heard from “Perrysburg 4 Transit” committee co-chair Gil Lutz, who sang the praises of the
current service, and advocated for support of the transit levy on the November ballot.
“I’ve been a very heavy user of Ride Right and I can say unequivocally that it’s been 100 percent
satisfactory. It’s refreshing,” said Lutz, who is sight-impaired.
Ride Right, of St. Louis, Mo., began the Perrysburg Transit service last month after TARTA left the city.
Beginning with ADA-only paratransit service, its offerings have moved to include a limited Call-A-Ride
service through Nov. 11. It would be continued — and substantially added to — with the passage of the
1.45-mill levy.
Derek O’Neil, who is also disabled, noted how accommodating Perrysburg Transit has been to his work
schedule.
Denny Barrett, Perrysburg, noted he’s “proud to be a Perrysburger” due to the service and the steps that
the city has taken in favor of transit.
Lutz noted that “there’s some misinformation out there” that, if the levy fails, the city would still
provide service.
“That’s absolutely not true. If this goes down in November, we will have no public transportation in
Perrysburg. And this needs to get out.”
Mayor Nelson Evans noted that Owens-Illinois, headquartered near Levis Commons, is decidedly interested
in having public transit remain in Perrysburg, as is the Hilton Garden Inn.
Lutz stated that his committee has set up a website, www.perrysburg4transit.com.
Council also approved a job creation grant for Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc., a subsidiary of
Owens-Illinois.
The company plans to build an 18,000 square-foot research and development center adjacent to a building
on O-I’s Levis Park campus.
The development is expected to create 45 new jobs over three years, with an estimated salary of $75,000
per job.
In other business, council:
• Approved the issuance of more than $5 million in notes for two construction projects in the city. More
than $4,085,000 in notes was approved for the construction of a new water tower on Fort Meigs Road, and
another at the site of the current Public Service Building. An additional $950,000 in notes was approved
to pay off the construction and renovation of the Way Public Library, which began in 1999. That project
initially cost $7.8 million.
The notes were issued in the anticipation of the issuance of bonds.
• Approved a nearly $227,880 agreement with Crestline Paving for work on a long-awaited multi-use path
along the riverfront. This first phase of the path would run from the existing path on the upstream side
of the Maumee-Perrysburg Bridge, under the bridge and along the river to Orleans Park near the downtown.
A $182,000 grant was obtained for the project.
It was noted before the meeting that the work on this portion of the path was expected to be finished by
the end of the season.
• Approved, by a 4-2 vote, a sidewalk lease for the Swig restaurant at 219 Louisiana Ave. to expand an
existing outdoor seating and cafe area. Council President Joe Lawless expressed concern about the layout
of the seating area, worrying that it would impede foot traffic. He and councilman Todd Grayson voted
against the measure. The failure to get five votes in favor meant that the measure did not pass as an
emergency measure and will go into effect in 30 days.
Councilman Tim McCarthy was absent from the meeting.