Capital improvement projects reach $13.1 million in Rossford

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ROSSFORD — Over the last three years, capital improvement projects in the city have exceeded $13.1 million and are projected to continue to grow.

On the request of Mayor Neil MacKinnon III, City Administrator Allyson Murray gave her most recent Rossford Business Association presentation to the council at Monday’s meeting.

“This is essentially a State of the City report,” Murray said.

March 9, 2020 was Murray’s first day with the city. A week later everything was shut down for COVID-19 restrictions, which she considers a good marker for the start of her tenure.

The majority of the capital improvements have been road and sidewalk related, with $7.1 million from 2020-21, followed by $6.71 million for 2022-23.

Already scheduled for 2023-24 is the Deimling Road and Lime City Road project at $5.2 million and the roundabout at Buck and Glenwood roads, for $2.2 million.

At the marina there has also been $752,000 in capital improvements in the period from 2020 to 2023.

Also included was a department-by-department summary of the city bureaucracy, with a brief description of the departments and staff listings.

The surprise for the evening was the consensus around the public hearing for the proposed designated outdoor refreshment area, with only two residents using the opportunity to speak.

The hearing is meant for addressing citizen concerns related to the proposed legislation that would allow the purchase and carrying of alcoholic beverages outside and between businesses that are within certain designated areas.

Bill Verbosky appealed to the council with the only problem brought up by a resident.

“I think the DORA is a good idea,” began Verbosky, with two questions that pertained to his bar, Billy V’s, which will be within the boundary of the DORA, should it pass.

He went on to ask if it was necessary to get an additional permit from liquor control for selling alcoholic beverages from the front of his establishment. He was asking because when he did need one when he expanded onto a back outdoor patio.

MacKinnon was unsure, but said that the city would find out the answer.

“The reason I ask is because it can sometimes take a long time dealing with liquor control, so I want to make sure I’m proactive with that,” Verbosky said.

He also asked if an unpaved section of his property, which would become part of the DORA right-of-way, could be paved by the city. The small section, approximately 6 feet in length, could be considered green space.

“I think you are right. I wouldn’t call that green space,” MacKinnon said.

MacKinnon suggested to Murray that filling that section with concrete could be included with the pending downtown improvements. She acknowledged that there was room in the budget for that.

The only other comment came from resident Karen Crawford, who suggested that the DORA businesses pay for additional security around the schools, in a similarly to the requirements in the passage of the Toledo DORA.

“I wasn’t surprised. I expected a few residents,” Councilman Chris Heban said. “(Bill Verbosky) had a few questions, but he’s been a big supporter. … He’s going to benefit greatly during Stroll the Streets, and so will the rest of the businesses.”

MacKinnon agreed with Heban.

“(DORAs) have been around for a couple of years now. I think most people are not only not afraid of it, but looking forward to it, because most people live regionally and they have been to Perrysburg, they’ve been to Maumee and downtown Toledo. It’s nothing to be afraid of and it makes for a great time. You can go from place to place,” MacKinnon said. “It’s really critical for the revitalization of our downtown, because we compete against surrounding municipalities. They have it and we don’t. I have all the confidence in our business owners, our citizens and our safety services. It will be a great time. I’m looking forward to it.”

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