WATERVILLE – Flock Safety cameras, ebikes, the Roche de Boeuf Interurban bridge and a zoning change to expand Farnsworth Industrial Park were among the topics discussed during the Sept. 28 Waterville City Council meeting. So was a memorandum of understanding with Metroparks Toledo to build an inclusive playground in Farnsworth Metropark.
Flock cameras
After learning that Toledo City Council requested an independent audit of its Flock Safety cameras to evaluate how data from the license plate readers is stored and shared, Whitehouse resident John Neff came to the meeting to urge that Waterville do the same.
“I am not anti-technology. I am not anti-police. And I am not anti-public safety,” Neff said. “Having seamless access to the movements of residents can be a powerful tool for law enforcement. But the ability to retroactively search where people have been, who they were near, and how often they travel certain routes – all without probable cause or a warrant – fundamentally changes the relationship between citizens and their government.”
He pointed out that the city doesn’t require third-party safety testing before deploying software that tracks citizens. Eventually, there will be one on every road, making it difficult to leave home without having movements being “recorded, analyzed and categorized,” Neff said.
“The intent behind municipal cameras might be different, but the everyday effect on residents is exactly the same,” he said. “Waterville should feel welcoming. Right now, it feels watched. It feels monitored, and it feels uncomfortably close to a system designed for containment rather than community.”
Council did not comment on Neff’s request, but Police Chief Joe Valvano, responding to previous comments about Flock cameras, submitted to council a Sept. 25 report on the department’s use of five cameras in the city – one of which was damaged and awaiting replacement.
In the report, Valvano said he’s aware of, and understands, the concerns that community members have about Flock Safety cameras, but that some of the information shared online has resulted in misunderstandings of the purpose, capabilities and use by Waterville Police Department.
“The system is intended as an investigative and public safety tool, not as a means of routinely monitoring law-abiding residents,” Valvano stressed.
Flock Safety cameras are not continuous video surveillance systems, nor do they identify people inside the vehicle or the speed it is traveling, he said. The cameras capture still images of vehicles as they pass these five locations, recording the vehicle’s license plate number, make, model, color and other characteristics such as bumper stickers or damage. These are details that can be seen by anyone standing on a public street; a Flock camera simply provides a limited still photograph, Valvano said.
Later, Valvano said he’s had just a few questions from the public, although he acknowledged that he sees comments online. He encouraged anyone with questions to contact him at 419-878-8184 and to view a portal at transparency.flocksafety.com.
E-Bikes
After hearing residents complain about riders on e-bikes speeding, running stop signs and even riding through Kroger one night this summer, council members are asking Valvano what can be done to address the issue.
Officers have spent the summer stopping young riders and educating them on the rules of the road for ebikes, Valvano said.
“We don’t want to be heavy-handed. We’re trying to make contact in a polite way,” Valvano said.
But with continued complaints about ebike users not obeying traffic laws, he’s set up a meeting next week with police chiefs from Whitehouse, Holland and Ottawa Hills, as well as prosecutors to discuss ideas – including the possibility of civil citations – to get a handle on an issue that is also being discussed at the state level. He’s hoping to have options to present to council within the next few months, with a goal of having something in place when more riders are back on the road, shared use paths and sidewalks again in the spring.
Roche de Boeuf Interurban Bridge
Since July, Kokosing has been carefully removing dirt and pieces of the 118-year-old Roche de Boeuf Interurban Bridge, with the goal of keeping the arches intact for a future bike and pedestrian bridge to be suspended over the top, connecting Waterville to Wood County.
A Sept. 18 Rock de Boeuf concert raised more than $3,000 for the Save the Bridge Association (STBA) to help the city in paying for historic bridge engineer Bill Vermes and hiring professional grant writers, said STBA member Rex Childers.
Vermes recently conducted tests on four of the most vulnerable looking arches and determined that they average 6,000 psi (pounds per square inch) – much higher than expected. Kokosing operators will be working on removing more of the side walls in precision work once the causeway, which was underwater last week, has areas filled in.
STBA is now preparing for another fundraiser on Nov. 14. More details will be coming soon, Childers said.
Farnsworth Business Park
Waterville City Council formally approved the annexation of 50 acres of land into the city from Waterville Township, with all members but Wayne Wagner voting yes. The land, owned by the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, is on the south side of Neapolis-Waterville Road and adjacent to 100 acres of Port-owned land in Farnsworth Business Park.
“This is an opportunity that only comes along in decades,” said Administrator Jon Gochenour, explaining that the land will be where the city grows financially. As business and industry locate in the park, that further reduces the burden on residential taxpayers to cover city services, he said.
Gochenour said that 74 percent of the city’s tax base comes from nonresidential sources, including manufacturers in the business park. The township has a tax-sharing agreement with the city and, in 2025, received $132,372 from the city.
“As this property develops, it will only increase property sharing to the township,” Gochenour said.
The Port also requested a zoning change for 8451 and 8551 Neapolis-Waterville Rd. from Agricultural to Light Industrial District (M-1). This was referred to the Planning Commission for review on Monday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m.
During the meeting, council also:
-Heard resident Terri Massucci ask about the pedestrian crossing sign on Waterville Monclova at Pray Boulevard, as it only has a flashing light on one side. Gochenour said the existing light meets ODOT standards, but he will look into options for upgrading the light.
-Listened to Waterville United Methodist Church member Laurie Schofield outline plans for a Saturday, Oct. 10 Community Fall Festival, which will be held at 7115 Waterville Monclova Rd. and the fire station from noon to 4 p.m. The free event will include food trucks, crafts, games, music, a trunk-or-treat and bounce houses, as well as first responders from Waterville, Waterville Township and Ohio Highway Patrol. Weather permitting, helicopters from Mercy and ProMedica will land in the lawn, and Perrysburg Police will bring their K9 unit for demonstrations.
-Shared that the citywide bulk pickup is Saturday, Oct. 10 beginning at 7 a.m.
-Heard that the Christmas celebration is planned for Saturday, Dec. 5 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in downtown Waterville.
-Learned that Waterville will host the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the fire department, 751 Waterville Monclova Rd., in order to provide a drive-thru for residents to dispose of prescription and over-the-counter medications.
-Heard that police officer Wyatt Saylor was chosen to represent northwest Ohio on the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police Community Relations and Engagement Committee.
-Heard that a group of educators is interested in installing a bench in Waterville to honor the late David Hillborn, who served as principal of Waterville Primary School from 1972-1996.
-Set a Fallen Timbers Cemetery District joint meeting for Monday, Oct. 12 at 6 p.m. in council chambers to appoint a new member from Whitehouse.
-Authorized Gochenour to work with Proudfoot Associates on engineering services for the Waterville Historical Society parking lot project. An $85,000 grant will help pay for paving the lot, which will have 35 parking stalls, screening and landscaping, Gochenour said. Work will begin in the spring.
-Thanked Robert Grogan Jr., who retired on Sept. 25 after 30 years of serving as a volunteer firefighter, ending his career as deputy chief.
