On the agenda: Van Wert 8.10.26 — Data Center (Aug 10)

MINUTES OF THE VAN WERT CITY COUNCIL

August 10, 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.

Hurless made a motion to amend the agenda to correct a type-o on the title of Ordinance 26-07-
038 from "AN ORDINANCE CREATING A HANDICAP PARKING SPOT ON THE THIRD
PARKING SPOT SOUTH OF JACKSON STREET ON THE WEST SIDE OF NORTH
WASHINGTON STREET IN THE CITY OF VAN WERT. "to" AN ORDINANCE
CREATING A HANDICAP PARKING SPACE ON THE FIRST PARKING SPACE EAST OF
NORTH WASHINGTON STREET ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF WEST JACKSON STREET IN

THE CITY OF VAN WERT." to match the legislation that was prepared by the Law Director.
Agler seconded; all concurred.

Agler made a motion to approve tonight’s consent agenda and regular meeting minutes from July
27, 2026 meeting. Block seconded; all concurred.

Scheduled Public Speakers:

Dr. Paul Kalogerou, Medical Director of the Health Department and Kathy Will, Director of
Nursing of the Van Wert County Health Department was invited to the council meeting by
councilman Hall Block to speak on smoking and health related risks. Kalogerou spoke on "The
Cigarette and it's Role", Risks and Consequences of Secondhand Smoke (ncluding specifically
with children), Health Effects of Smoking, How to Stay Safe, and lastly, Privilege and
Opportunity Surrounding Public Health. Hurless asks for statistics related to distance outdoors to

experience secondhand smoke symptoms. Kalogereou was not prepared with these statistics but
offered to research further for Hurless.

Joe Jared, 233 Burt St., ensures council he personally distances himself from other members of
the public to smoke. He spoke on his views on reasons for illnesses that Dr. Kalogerou spoke to
and listed several other harmful chemicals that he compared/ argued were more harmful or just

as harmful as nicotine/ smoking.

Jody Huth, 668 N. Walnut St., requests comparison opinion from Dr. Kalogerou on car exhaust
versus cigarette smoke. Kalogerou's opinion nods to them being equally as harmful depending on
exposure.

Dave Roehm, 3145 SR 118 Willshire, speaks of his family history of being around smoke and
comparing his current health to his exposure; expresses fear of pollution from Data Center.

Faith Wallace, 1014 E. Crawford St., speaks to her smoking habits versus her current health

status and her admittance to firsthand exposure during pregnancy and secondhand exposure to
current family members.

Mark Lippi, asked if anyone on council was an active smoker. No one was recognized.

Administrative Reports:

Mayor: Markward reviewed/summarized the process of assembling the city budget as several
members of council will be through it for the first time. Markward mentioned that revenue in the
city has been up and several extra projects have been able to be budgeted in. This includes a
specific project of updating tennis courts to pickleball courts that are projected to be completed
next spring, weather pending.

Safety Service Director: Fleming updated that the bike path is complete other than grass
seeding and dirt work which will be completed weather pending this coming week.

THM project has been opened for bidding through September 17th and Fleming anticipates this
project will begin around October.

Warren Straley was introduced to council by Mr. Fleming to share a change in his subdivision
plans. Straley shared that where an original ordinance passed in which he requested 10-foot
setbacks; he is now requesting to be changed to 5-foot setbacks instead to allow for single family
option as well as his duplex option.

City Auditor: Blackmore reported July financials.

Additionally, Blackmore is requesting a supplemental appropriation ordinance be prepared to
move funds to PERS and additionally, money needs appropriated to prepare the city auditor's
office for a new trainee as her current deputy auditor accepted a new job.

The 2025 audit is in completion stages. Blackmore reported this should be available within the
next week or so.

Law Director: No report.

Johnson requested research on stop signs at certain intersections mentioned in a previous
meeting. Mr. Hatcher will follow up at a later meeting.

Comments, Communications, and Petitions:

Dave Roehm, stated a complaint on the LED Light at Living Truth Ministries is still not
tesolved.

Joe Jared, 233 Burt St., reiterated frustrations with smoking. He continues speaking on personal
research with lead poisoning and COVID vaccines.

Committee Reports:

Finance: Ringwald made a motion to prepare an ordinance to make supplemental appropriations
to fund 101, 301, 601 and 602 and declaring as an emergency. Agler seconded; all concurred.

Ringwald made a motion to introduce Ordinance Number: 26-08-042. 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: 26-08-
042; AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS TO FUND 101,
301, 601 AND 602 AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Agler seconded; all concurred.
Ordinance passed.

Ringwald made a motion to prepare an ordinance to amend ordinance 26-04-018 to amend
salaries and declaring as an emergency. Agler seconded; all concurred.

Ringwald made a motion to introduce Ordinance Number: 26-08-043. 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: 26-08-
043; AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 26-04-018 PROVIDING FOR THE
SALARIES AND COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT,
AUDITOR’S OFFICE, INCOME TAX AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE CITY OF VAN
WERT, ESTABLISHING JOB CLASSIFICATIONS, SALARY RANGES AND
LIMITATIONS, AUTHORIZING SPECIFIC NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, ALLOWANCES
IMMUNIZATION AGAINST COMMUNICABLE DISEASES, AND OTHER BENEFITS
AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Agler seconded; all concurred. Ordinance passed.

Economic Development: No report.

Streets and Alleys: Block summarizes new changes to a potential amendment to the tree
commission ordinance and asks if the Safety Service Director, Streets Director and Parks
Director all need to be listed as required members; he also summarized member structure. All
tree commission meetings are designed to be open to the public. All changes will be
determined/motioned if council does not repeal the current ordinance.

Second, Block thanked Public Speakers for presenting information on smoking to the public.
Block acknowledges the argument of civil liberties and presents that although he feels parks
should be "smoke free" entirely, he believes in consistency and if the smoking prohibition does
not pass, that marijuana should also be allowable. The Law Director interjects to inform council
and public that smoking marijuana on public sidewalks is actually against state law and could be
equivalently compared to an "open container" charge outside of the DORA District in the city
limits.

Properties and Equipment: No report.
Parks and Recreation: No report.
Health, Service, and Safety: No report.

Judiciary and Annexation: Hurless made a request for a Council of the Whole Meeting on
August 24 at 5:45 pm in council chambers to discuss the junk & rubbish ordinance amendments,
a potential private well prohibition ordinance and the solicitor ordinance amendments.

Hurless made a motion to prepare an ordinance to amend 26-02-010 granting a franchise to AEP
to update the lease term that was previously agreed upon to move the 50 year lease down to 10
years but was incorrect in the original signed legislation. Agler seconded; all concurred.

Hurless made a motion to introduce Ordinance Number: 26-08-044. Agler seconded; all
concurred.

Hurless made a motion to prepare an ordinance to allow Jennings Crossing Subdivision to
construct single family homes with five-foot side yards. Agler seconded; all concurred.

Hurless made a motion to introduce Ordinance Number: 26-08-045. Agler seconded; all
concurred.

Questions and Comments from Council and Public:

Brock Roehm, Willshire, OH is requesting feedback on a decommissioning ordinance proposal
made by a constituent and sent to Johnson. Johnson stated he plans to review this with the law
director and Council President and bring findings and suggestions to another council meeting.

Jody Huth, is in favor of taxpayer dollars going toward the tree ordinances and requests what
amount will be provided by the city to support the commission. Block stated council first must
not repeal the ordinance and then council would move on to amendments to the ordinance.
Additionally, he requests council/administration to look into including marijuana within the
DORA district. Huth addressed Hurless to clarify suggestions on grandfathering old wells/
drilling new wells.

Dave Roehm, Willshire, OH, reiterates his support to keeping a tree commission ordinance in
place.

Judy Wieging, SR 127, Van Wert, expresses concems on speeding in a 35-mph zone between the
reservoir and Washington/Hospital intersection along with Jake Break noises. Wieging states she
has a well and is not interested in annexing into the city to obtain city water.

Mark Davis, 402 S. Tyler, stated concerns on signage around Franklin Street near the overpass
and Vantage Career Center including crosswalk signs and speed limit signs. Davis also reiterates
interest in council reviewing city ordinances on signage around town due to inconsistencies.

Faith Wallace, 1014 E Crawford, is in favor of marijuana for medicinal use.

John Withers, Woodland Ave., stated the Woodland/Sibley stop sign near his residence is being
ran frequently; Withers is requesting a speed study/ increased law presence.

Joe Jared, asked if Eikenbary could summarize when public is able to speak during reports. Jared
is reiterating his request that the city take a soil sample from the area planning to be used for a
solar farm. Jared made comment on wishing there was conditional use for wells. He makes
additional comments on his health versus being an active smoker.

Kelly Ripley, 8847 German Road, shared discovery of an article that refers to energy usage on
the data center potentially being increased. Ripley is also requesting samples being taken from
the water currently to get a baseline/safeguard put in place before industrial business begin
construction.

Theresa Singer, Boroff Road, summarized her research on what an emergency ordinance is
meant for.

Unfinished Business:
No Updates.

New Business:

Noise Ordinance changes were requested to be prepared for next meeting by Block that have not
yet been presented; these were requested last meeting.

Resolutions and Ordinances:

Third and Final Reading for Ordinance Number: 26-07-036; AN ORDINANCE REPEALING
SECTION 98.11 OF THE CITY OF VAN WERT CODE OF ORDIANCANCES AND
DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Ringwald, Johnson, Block, Agler, Roberts, Moore and
Hurless voted no. Ordinance fails.

Hurless made a motion to amend Ordinance Number: 26-07-038 to locate the handicap parking
spot West of Washington Street in the first spot on the South Side of West Jackson Street.

Third and Final Reading for amended Ordinance Number: 26-07-038; AN ORDINANCE
CREATING A HANDICAP PARKING SPACE ON THE FIRST PARKING SPACE WEST OF
NORTH WASHINGTON STREET ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF WEST JACKSON STREET IN
THE CITY OF VAN WERT. All concurred. Ordinance passed.

Third and Final Reading for Ordinance Number: 26-07-040; AN ORDINANCE ENACTING
SECTION 94.03 OF THE CITY OF VAN WERT CODE OF ORDIANCANCES AND
DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Block voted yes. Ringwald, Johnson, Agler, Roberts, Moore
and Hurless voted no. Ordinance fails.

Second Reading Advisory for Ordinance Number: 26-07-039. All concurred.
First Reading Advisory for Ordinance Number: 26-08-044. All concurred. a

First Reading Advisory for Ordinance Number: 26-08-045. All concurred.

Agler made a motion to adjourn at 8:00 pm. Block seconded; all concurred.

Ssiptont rap Wd

Clerk of Council President of Council
Stephanie R. Phillips Thad R. Eikenbary

Approved on: August 24, 2026