Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
City administrator Joel Mazur got the March 24 council meeting started by addressing concern from citizens over trash on Navarre Ave. that has become a topic of conversation on Facebook.
Resident Dustin Alexander initially brought up the issue, asking if there’s anything that can be done about it. He said there are four or five dumpsters behind Auto Zone, Five Below and several other stores nearby that have no latches or locks of any kind on them.
“Any time we get a windy day, you can just see the trash just blowing out of those dumpsters,” Alexander said. “It looks like tumbleweeds coming across Coy Road. It all ends up in that (nearby) ditch. One of the guys in our building had to put on waders multiple times, get back down in the ditch and try to clean the stuff out of there. The next time we have a windy day, you can't even tell that anything was picked up. That stuff eventually flows downstream, ends up out in Maumee Bay and out into the lake. I've had some complaints from other businesses in the area.”
Mazur assured that the building inspection department is looking into the issue, which both he and Alexander agreed is likely part of a larger issue on Navarre.
“We do have an inspector that's been working on this, so we are looking into it and we're hoping to address those specific dumpsters and any other issues that might be upwind from where the prevailing winds are,” Mazur said. “I believe that the inspector that's been working on it has been working on it diligently, and it's more of a universal issue than it is more of an isolated issue with those specific dumpsters. I think there's more trash out there along the commercial corridor that contributes to it as well. So we are looking into it.”
Mazur also noted that, as a matter of enforcement, that something must be witnessed for it to be an issue.
“If the dumpsters are one contributing issue, we can address that, but it's kind of one at a time picking it apart because if it's somebody driving down the road throwing their trash out the window and nobody's observing it or catching it and policing it, then that contributes to the problem, but doesn't address the universal issue of why is there so much trash blowing into that one, and the prevailing winds kind of carry it down when you get a really windy day.
“But I would describe it as more of a universal issue than each individual isolated issue we can address. So that one specifically, we can address that one. But as for all of the trash, I think that's a more holistic issue that we need to take a look at.”
Motycka to retire
John Motycka, the superintendent of the wastewater treatment plan, submitted his plans to retire effective April 4, which the council agreed to. Oregon’s public service director Paul Roman recognized the work Motycka has done and said that the plant physically is in the best shape that it’s ever been.
“I think when he first started, John found deficiencies,” Roman said. “Through this last improvement, and everything else he’s done, he’s done a great job. I wish him the best.”
Purpura address virtual attendance
Oregon’s law director, Melissa Purpura, followed up on a question raised at a recent council meeting as to whether council members would be able to vote virtually when unable to be present.
“Under the Open Public Meetings Act, it does require public bodies to conduct meetings in person in order to count as a quorum or to vote,” she said. “Back in 2020, after the health emergency was declared for COVID-19, House Bill 197 was passed, which permitted members not to be physically present and they would be able to count as a quorum or to vote. That, however, expired July 1, 2021. Then on Jan. 14, 2025, House Bill 257 was passed. This takes effect April 8. This does allow virtual meetings of certain public bodies, such as like the planning commission. It however has special exceptions, which do not include elected officials. Therefore, council members will need to be present physically in order to count as a quorum and to vote.”
Birding week
Councilwoman Beth Ackerman noted that the Biggest Week in American Birding is quickly approaching and emphasized the appreciation of the revenue that it brings to our area and encouraged everyone on council and in the administration to attend some of the activities out at Maumee Bay State Park and other festivities if possible.
“I think it would mean a lot,” Ackerman said. “It would go a long way if more of our elected officials or administration came and were represented to show our appreciation for the attention and the revenue that the biggest week brings to our area.”
