As Health 419 prepares to move into its new Waterville home at 1216 Michigan Ave., the health and wellness provider is getting some help from the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. And other businesses in Waterville can now apply for help funding building improvements as well.
During Waterville City Council’s Sept. 14 meeting, Dana Clark, who handles the Better Building Northwest Ohio Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program for the Port Authority, explained how local property owners can utilize fixed rate financing to make improvements that yield energy cost savings. Improvements could include roofing, siding, HVAC, solar, windows and other permanent changes that stay with the building.
Once reviewed by an independent energy auditor, and a thorough financial review to ensure viability, the project cost is then placed on the property’s taxes as an assessment.
The Fuhr Property Group, LLC, is the owner of 1216 Michigan and submitted a petition to finance $83,426.28 in building improvements over 14 years, said Waterville Administrator Jon Gochenour.
For the loan to be approved, the city needs to be part of the Northwest Ohio Advanced Energy Improvement District. But it doesn’t cost the city anything. Council approved three pieces of legislation related to the program, and now Waterville joins 40 other northwest Ohio participating communities.
“Waterville is in a position to help businesses,” Clark said.
The owner of Waterville Animal Group, 210 Farnsworth Rd., is also in the process of applying for PACE financing for roofing, windows, exterior doors and siding, and that application should be coming to council soon, Clark said.
“This is a great partnership,” said Mayor Tim Pedro.
During the meeting, council also:
-Authorized the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to construct a single-lane traffic roundabout at Noward and S.R. 64 in 2028. ODOT will cover the $2.3 million estimated cost and construction will take about 90 days. Gochenour said ODOT did a traffic study after 9 crashes – including six with serious injuries – occurred between 2020 and 2022. In total, 51 crashes occurred between 2017 and 2022, many of them serious. A portion of the roundabout is in the city, and another portion is in Waterville Township.
–Proclaimed Friday, Sept. 25 as Arbor Day in the city. The Tree Commission will host a tree planting ceremony with Waterville students across from the school that day.
-Heard Waterville Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Michelle Smith detail plans for the Saturday, Sept. 19 Roche de Boeuf Festival that was held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Waterville. There was a car show, parade, kids area, vendors, artisans and musicians, along with Waterville Historical Society activities and horse and trolley rides. Read more about the parade here.
-Heard that the city and Scout Troop 101 would be hosting a pre-Roche de Boeuf event on Friday, Sept. 18 with a Run de Boeuf, live music and food trucks in Parker Square.
-Heard that the work on widening Waterville Monclova Road between Pray and Michigan is almost finished. Two other projects are underway: repair and replacement of 5,200 feet of sidewalk; and turn lanes on S.R. 64 between Pray Boulevard and U.S. 24.
-Learned that preparations are underway to replace the waterline next to Waterville Primary School, which has had several breaks – including one on Sept. 15.
-Heard Gochenour say that he expects to have more information soon about the city’s investment in mandated improvements to the county’s sewer treatment plant. This could result in an estimated $93,000 a year increase in the city’s share of operating the plant, and may necessitate increasing sewer rates to residents.
-Learned that Police Chief Joe Valvano will share information on Flock cameras with council during the Sept. 28 meeting. The city has two Flock cameras posted in the city. Both were vandalized recently, and after one was replaced, it was cut down within 36 hours.
-Learned that the annual Christmas celebration will be held on Sunday, Dec. 5 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in downtown Waterville.
