Fostoria announces $1.6 million ODOT grant

FOSTORIA — Mayor Eric Keckler announced a $1.6 million grant given to the city by the Ohio Department of Transportation at a city council meeting Tuesday. A Fostoria safety study that was requested a little over two years ago has been completed and focuses on the intersection of South and Main streets, Keckler said. "ODOT responded and talked to us quite a bit about if there were any other needs," he said. "Their presentation came with the studies of all the things we asked about." Keckler then proposed the ideas created by ODOT based on recommendations for the city after the study, such as a "road diet" for County Line Street. "One of the things that ODOT had looked at were the crashes on County Line, and how severe some of the crashes have been lately," Keckler said. "Their thoughts were to have County Line become a two-lane north and south road with a center turn lane, where they potentially would remove some traffic lights." Keckler also said there is a possibility of adding parking and/or bike lanes. According to a release from Keckler's office, ODOT recommends reconfiguring the left turning lanes throughout downtown near South and Main streets, removing an existing traffic signal on Tiffin and Main streets, installing an all-way stop and reducing intersection approaches from two lanes to one on North and Main streets. Keckler said council will talk with ODOT's consultants over the next few months, and council will decide what improvements they want to officially propose. "I intend to have someone from ODOT and their consultants here at some point to give a presentation to the City Council," Keckler said, emphasizing that a presentation would help the council and citizens of Fostoria gain more information regarding potential road projects. He said construction will not occur right away, and there will be more information to come later on. Keckler also said during his report at the meeting the second farmers' market of the year, themed "Let's Go Gardening," will take place downtown on Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Additionally, he announced at 10 a.m. Monday, May 30 a Memorial Day service will take place at Fountain Cemetery, led by Fostoria American Legion Post 73. Finally, Keckler discussed the graduation of six people in the Fostoria Getting Ahead program at the Fostoria Learning Center. The program equips individuals with skills to get out of the cycle of poverty and how to manage money, he said. In other news, Director of Public Service and Safety Josh Clark presented an ordinance that would establish a new position for the city: Office of Sewer and Water Manager. The ordinance was suspended of its three reading rule and approved right away by council. The council then authorized Clark to enter into an agreement of mutual assistance between the Seneca County commissioners, Seneca County Sheriff's office, the city of Tiffin, Tiffin Police Department, Fostoria Fire Department, Fostoria Police Division and the city of Fostoria. Also passed was an ordinance to authorize all actions necessary to accept Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council 2022 energized community grants. Finally, Councilperson Edward Logsdon announced there will be a meeting to discuss the expansion of the Sunny Farms Landfill at 6 p.m. June 8. Logsdon said the expansion means dumping around 12,000 tons a day as opposed to the current 7,500. The meeting will occur at Camden Falls Reception and Conference Center, 2460 SR 231, Tiffin. The council then entered into an executive session at 6:52 p.m. to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion or compensation of a public employee or official and, taking no further action, adjourned the meeting upon their return.