Tiffin mayor talks first term

TIFFIN — Tiffin Mayor Lee Wilkinson shared a number of updates on behalf of the city at the Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce's Legislative Breakfast Wednesday. Wilkinson began by giving a number of thank yous to those in attendance, namely the Chamber of Commerce, as well as state Rep. Gary Click, R-Vickery, and state Sen. Bill Reineke, R-Tiffin. First elected in January 2024, Wilkinson joked about how the time has flown by, and about what has changed since then. "So back in January of 2024, I had all of the various department heads give a five-year capital expense plan, and to my surprise this was something that hadn't been done in Tiffin before," said Wilkinson. He recognized that the city engineer and Public Works department have a 15-year plan, something he says is required for the long-term control planning these departments are responsible for. "By utilizing a five-year plan, it not only makes it easier for budgeting, but it makes it easier to operate within the guidelines of that budget," said Wilkinson. Wilkinson also spoke on the city's recently adopted Minimum Carryover Balance Policy, saying this is another tool that helps the city operate within its predetermined budget. "Also, since January, the city of Tiffin has received over $10 million in grant funding," Wilkinson said. This grant funding is spread out throughout various parts of the city, with Wilkinson citing Police, Fire, Parks and Recreation, Roads, Sewers, and the Water Department as departments that utilize the grants. Wilkinson also spoke about the newly discovered HRT (High Rate Treatment) Sewage Technology, which the city hopes to implement in 2025-26 following EPA approval.. "The HRT facility will save the City of Tiffin $20 million over the original estimated cost of the long term control plan," Wilkinson said.