PERRYSBURG – The fireworks show that the city puts on has fizzled out for neighbors.
At Tuesday’s council meeting, Don Kettinger brought to council’s attention ruts from people parking along Route 65 to watch the fireworks on July 3.
He said he brought it to the city’s attention in June, asking that past practice be followed for pylons and yellow tape to keep traffic off the lawns along Ohio 65, which his property on Rutledge Court backs up to.
There are “no parking” signs on the south side of Route 65, but they are ignored, he said, and he couldn’t believe the city was going to leave residents YOYO – you’re on your own.
Kettinger said homeowners across from Fort Meigs Historical Site have had to pick up garbage including dirty diapers after the fireworks show.
“We don’t need this behavior,” he said, and asked for assurance from the city that in future years every effort will be made to prevent the general public from parking along Route 65 during fireworks.
“This is just the one day out of the whole year the west end of Perrysburg needs your help,” Kettinger said.
Also at the meeting, council:
• Heard Timothy Schmidt, 412 W. Indiana Ave., asked for transparency from the zoning code inspector and what he does. He’d like to see a report of where and for what fines are issued.
• Heard Councilman Mark Weber, who is chairman of the finance and economic development committee, question the administration’s method for finding a new administrator. He said city leaders were not adhering to the recommended process.
The search firm hired by the city narrowed the applicant pool to eight and suggested four be interviewed, Weber said.
The mayor and the selection team chose only two candidates for in-person interviews, Weber said.
“It’s my belief … that hearing from at least four candidates in the first round would have been very helpful in ensuring the best would advance,” he said.
He said he didn’t fault the two finalists and he was aware it was the mayor’s job to oversee the process; however council had approved spending $28,000 in taxpayer money to hire professionals.
“I don’t believe council is out of line to question and make sure that money was wisely spent,” Weber said.
Mayor Tom Mackin said no offer had yet been made and he disagreed with a lot of what Weber said.
A third party was hired to make the search as objective as possible and “the most important part of this process is we have two viable candidates for the next administrator.”
The two people who were interviewed were the best candidates, Mackin said, adding that he did not conduct any of the interviews.
Councilman Cory Kuhlman pressed Mackin to explain who “we” was.
Mackin said he was speaking on behalf of the administration.
“There’s really not a ‘we,’ it’s a ‘you,’” he said.
Kuhlman added that the communication from the mayor’s is lacking, as he has sent numerous emails that never got a response.
“I can always do better,” Mackin said.
Council also:
• Purchased 4,000 tons of salt from Cargill Inc. at $57.99 per ton.
• Authorized a $50,014 refund to Saba Home Builders for overestimated sewer infrastructure costs.
