January 12, 2026 Minutes passed January 26, 2026
Council President Thad Eikenbary called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
President Eikenbary gave the invocation.
On call of the roll: Ringwald, Johnson, Block, Agler, Roberts, Moore, and Hurless were present.
Agler made a motion to approve tonight’s Consent Agenda and minutes from the December 22nd meeting. Moore seconded; all concurred.
SCHEDULED PUBLIC SPEAKERS
NONE
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
MAYOR: Mr. Markward nominated Noah Carter to The Board of Zoning Appeals and is looking for council approval. Ringwald made a motion to approve. Agler seconded; all concurred.
SAFETY SERVICE DIRECTOR: Mr. Fleming reminded council legislation on construction of the walking path on Fox Road must be passed by council tonight.
Another ordinance for sale of used and outdated equipment needs done each year to give Mr. Fleming permission will need requested to be prepared.
Lastly, Fleming announced Walnut construction was kicked off last week and will have a Summer 2029 completion.
AUDITOR: Mrs. Blackmore reported elected officials must file a financial disclosure statement before May 15, 2026. Elected officials must also complete a 3 hour Sunshine Law training before their term expires.
Blackmore reported a “negative” supplemental from the municipal fund that needs passed tonight to lower the budget in the Law LibraryFund.
Blackmore reviewed December Financials and some year end statements that were available.
LAW DIRECTOR: Mr. Hatcher reported a busy season for February and March jury trials.
Hatcher reported Blighted Properties are moving forward. Block inquired on a list to identify blighted properties. Moore and Hatcher discussed disclosing the updated list to all council members.
Hatcher stated there is legislation tonight that he is requesting be prepared to modify maximum terms in CRA Districts from 10 years to 15 years. Ordinances passed from last meeting focused specifically on the Airport CRA District. The legislation tonight would extend this modification to the other two CRA’s located in Van Wert instead of just Airport CRA.
COMMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS & PETITIONS:
Joe Jared, 233 Burt St., asked a question to Blackmore pertaining to the budget. Additionally, he requested a change to the nuisance ordinance to have allowance for gardens with weeds. Lastly, he addresses lead poisoning to ask if the city has any resources to let the citizens of the city know if there are any places within city plumbing that contain lead.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
FINANCE: Ringwald made a motion to introduce Ordinance Number: 26-01-002. Agler seconded; all concurred.
Ringwald made a motion to suspend statutory rules. Agler seconded; all concurred.
Ringwald made a motion to pass, on it’s first and final reading, Ordinance Number: 26-01-002; AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN CONTRACTS VAN WERT VICTIMS SERVICES, INC; AND DECLARING THE SAME AS AN EMERGENCY. Agler seconded; all concurred. Ordinance passed.
Ringwald made a motion to introduce Ordinance Number: 26-01-003. Agler seconded; all concurred.
Ringwald made a motion to suspend statutory rules. Agler seconded; all concurred.
Ringwald made a motion to pass, on it’s first and final reading, Ordinance Number: 26-01-003; AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN A CONTRACT WITH ATTORNEY SCOTT OR. GORDON FOR SERVICES AS ASSISTANT LAW DIRECTOR; AND DECLARING THE SAME AS AN EMERGENCY. Agler seconded; all concurred. Ordinance passed.
Ringwald made a motion to prepare an ordinance to make supplemental appropriations to fund 876 and declare the same as an emergency. Agler seconded; all concurred.
Ringwald made a motion to introduce Ordinance Number: 26-01-005. Agler seconded; all concurred.
Ringwald made a motion to suspend statutory rules. Agler seconded; all concurred.
Ringwald made a motion to pass, on it’s first and final reading, Ordinance Number: 26-01-005;AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS TO FUNDS 876 AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Agler seconded; all concurred. Ordinance passed.
Ringwald stated she will be out of the country for the next council meeting. She will inform other Finance Chairs of any information needed for a report.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: No report.
STREETS AND ALLEYS: Block made a motion to prepare, as an emergency, an ordinance to approve final legislation for the construction of new shared use path and sidewalk along fox road and on US 127. Roberts seconded; all concurred.
Block made a motion to introduce Ordinance Number: 26-01-001. Ringwald seconded; all concurred.
Block made a motion to suspend statutory rules. Ringwald seconded; all concurred.
Block made a motion to pass, on it’s First and Final Reading, Ordinance Number: 26-01-001; AN ORDINANCE ENACTED BY THE CITY OF VAN WERT, OHIO, HEREINAFTER TO APPROVE FINAL LEGISLATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW SHARED USE PATH AND SIDEWALK ALONG FOX ROAD AND ON US 127 (SOUTH WASHINGTON STREET) INCLUDING CURB RAMPS AND CROSSWALK LYING WITHIN THE CITY OF VAN WERT AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Ringwald seconded; all concurred. Ordinance passed.
A citizen addressed why there was no sidewalk on Franklin Rd./St. from Sycamore to Walmart with Mr. Block. Block is confirming his understanding that the city would wait for a developer to build on the land and require the developer to build the sidewalk. Fleming confirmed this information/ordinance can be obtained on our website.
Block inquired to see if all tax reimbursements have been completed. Markward stated most “typical” checks have been cut and cashed. There are a few deceased individuals and individuals who cannot be contacted that the Tax Department need to address with the help of Mr. Hatcher. Block inquired on why he suspected he would get a check but did not receive one. Blackmore confirmed for individuals who worked in Indiana, like Block, do not fall under individuals who will receive checks because Indiana does not have municipal income tax; theirs is a county tax. The ordinance being addressed is for individuals paying two municipal income taxes.
PROPERTIES AND EQUIPMENT: Agler made a motion for the law director to prepare a resolution authorizing the sale of municipally owned personal property which is not needed for public use or is obsolete/unfit for the year 2026 as an emergency. Moore seconded; all concurred.
Agler made a motion to introduce Resolution Number: 26-01-004. Moore seconded; all concurred.
PARKS AND RECREATION: No report.
HEALTH, SERVICE AND SAFETY: Moore made a motion to appoint Ryan McCracken to the Airport Authority Board of Trustees. Agler seconded; all concurred.
JUDICIARY AND ANNEXATION: Hurless made a motion to prepare an ordinance to amend the terms to the Van Wert Area CRA enacted by Ordinance Number: 04-02-012, as an emergency. Ringwald seconded; all concurred.
Hurless made a motion to introduce Ordinance Number: 26-01-006. Moore seconded; all concurred.
Hurless made a motion to suspend statutory rules. Moore seconded; Hurless, Moore, Ringwald, Johnson, Agler and Roberts voted yes. Block voted no.
Hurless made a motion to pass, on it’s First and Final Reading, Ordinance Number: 26-01-006; AN ORDINANCE PURSUANT TO 3735.67(D)(2)(a-c) OF THE OHIO REVISED CODE, AMENDING THE TERMS OF THE ALL OF THE VAN WERT AREA COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AREAS (CRA’S) THAT WERE ENACTED BY ORDINANCE 04-02-012 AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Agler seconded; all concurred. Ordinance passed.
Hurless made a motion to prepare an ordinance to amend the terms to the Van Wert Area CRA enacted by Ordinance Number: 12-06-037, as an emergency. Agler seconded; all concurred.
Hurless made a motion to introduce Ordinance Number: 26-01-007. Moore seconded; all concurred.
Hurless made a motion to suspend statutory rules. Moore seconded; Hurless, Moore, Ringwald, Johnson, Agler and Roberts voted yes. Block voted no.
Hurless made a motion to pass, on it’s First and Final Reading, Ordinance Number: 26-01-007; AN ORDINANCE PURSUANT TO 3735.67(D)(2)(a-c) OF THE OHIO REVISED CODE, AMENDING THE TERMS OF THE ALL OF THE VAN WERT AREA COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AREAS (CRA’S) THAT WERE ENACTED BY ORDINANCE 12-06-037 AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Hurless, Moore, Ringwald, Johnson, Agler and Roberts voted yes. Block voted no. Ordinance passed.
QUESTIONS/COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL and PUBLIC: Kirby Kelly, 221 N. Wall St. reminds council that if the Blighted Property list is remitted to council via email, it applies to the Sunshine Law, therefore would be obtainable by the public.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Agler made a motion to appoint Leslie Wilkin to the Brumback Library Board of Trustees. Ringwald seconded; all concurred.
Agler made a motion to appoint Thad Eikenbary to the Community Reinvestment Board. Ringwald seconded; all concurred.
Moore made a motion to appoint Julia McGrath to the Board of Tax Review. Agler seconded; all concurred.
Agler made a motion to appoint Greg Roberts to the Woodland Union Cemetery Board. Block seconded; Agler, Block, Ringwald, Johnson, Moore and Hurless voted yes. Roberts abstained.
Moore made a motion to appoint Eric Hurless to the Historic Main Street Van Wert. Agler seconded; Moore, Agler, Ringwald, Johnson, Block, and Roberts voted yes. Hurless abstained.
Ringwald made a motion to appoint Dewaine Johnson to the Revolving Loan Fund Board. Agler seconded; Ringwald, Agler, Block, Roberts, Moore, and Hurless voted yes. Johnson abstained.
NEW BUSINESS: NONE.
RESOLUTIONS & ORDINANCES:
Third and Final Reading for Resolution Number: 25-12-065; A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE DEDICATION OF JENNINGS CROSSING AND ACCEPTING THE INFRASTRUCTURE THEREUNDER. All concurred. Ordinance passed.
First Reading Advisory for Ordinance Number: 26-01-004. All concurred.
Agler made a motion to adjourn at 7:37 p.m. Johnson seconded; all concurred.
MINUTES PASSED AT JANUARY 26th MEETING.