Fostoria City Council discusses airport

FOSTORIA — Benjamin Cooley, aviation project manager and consulting engineer for the Fostoria airport, discussed a piece of legislation at Fostoria City Council's Wednesday meeting regarding the Ohio Airport Improvement Program grant for Fiscal Year 2026. "The airport has recently broken ground on what is to be the new terminal — the funding has already been appropriated and it is underway," said Cooley. "There are some FAA and ODOT competitive grant funding that is available, and we need approval from the city to submit an application for those funds." He said while the funding is not guaranteed, it will not require the city to spend or match anything at this time. The potential funds from ODOT would be used to replace equipment that is nearly 25 years old, according to Cooley. "Federally, we are seeking some funds to do some pavement rehab work as well as some runway and taxiway lighting improvements," noted Cooley. According to the legislation, the city of Fostoria is eligible for funding for replacing Runway 9/27 PAPIs and REILs for a total amount of $396,000. Councilman Greg Cassidy noted that the lights have reportedly been an issue, and asked if the runway had satisfactory length. Mayor Donald Mennel responded by saying the runway is 5,000 feet, and that Seneca County is currently working to expand their runway to be the same length. When runways are at a length of 5,000 feet, they are capable of handling small jets, increasing potential traffic. "We are a satellite airport for the Bowling Green State University School of Aviation, they do touch and go landings here everyday — we should continue to improve upon it," said Mennel. The resolution was passed as an emergency, following the waiving of the three reading rule: Resolution No.: 2025-34: Authorizing the Director of Public Service and Safety, on behalf of the City of Fostoria, Ohio, to make an application to the Ohio Department of Transportation, Office of Aviation, for an Ohio Airport Improvement Program grant for the SFY 2026, and declaring an emergency to exist. Three other resolutions were passed at the meeting as well, some of which as an emergency. Resolution No.: 2025-31: A Resolution determining the disposition of interest earned by the City of Fostoria on various investments, specifically water and sewer accounts. Ordinance No. 2025-32: Adopting and Amending ordinance No. 2024-105 (Permanent 2025 Appropriations) by appropriating from unappropriated funds in the General Fund, and Parks and Rec Fund and transferring funds from the General Fund to the Parks and Rec Fund and declaring an emergency to exist. Ordinance No.: 2025-33: Entitled and Ordinance Authorizing an Advance to the Park and Recreation Fund with such Advance to be repaid before year end 2025 and declaring an emergency. In other news, Councilwoman Sue Lehmann proposed the idea of a quarterly newspaper to be distributed by the city as an effort to further improve communication between the public and council. The meeting concluded shortly after the council entered into an executive session to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion or compensation of a public employee or official. No business followed the executive session.