Findlay council asked to OK capital spending

FINDLAY — Findlay City Council has been asked to spend $538,000 in a third round of capital improvement spending for 2026. Legislation authorizing the spending was introduced to council at its last regular meeting on July 21. The ordinance is set to receive a second reading at council's next regular meeting on Tuesday. Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Findlay Municipal Building, 318 Dorney Plaza. All council meetings are open to the public and are livestreamed on the city's YouTube channel: Findlay Ohio. The legislation appropriates funding for equipment purchases, street work, park improvements, building upgrades and waterline projects, moving money from the city's capital and water funds into a mix of work scheduled across several departments. The largest allocation in the round is $125,000 for work at the South Main Street and Lima Street intersection. The funding is needed to begin improvements at the intersection, which is listed in the capital plan as scheduled work tied to traffic flow and safety upgrades. The transfer allows the city to begin the project and move it into the construction phase once bids are advertised and contracts are awarded. Street work also includes two resurfacing allocations. The city is moving $60,000 into its annual resurfacing and curb program, which covers scheduled pavement and curb repairs across the city each year. Another $5,000 is being transferred for Blanchard Street resurfacing, a smaller allocation that supplements the city's broader resurfacing schedule. Together, the resurfacing transfers support the city's ongoing pavement maintenance plan outlined in the capital improvement schedule. Two parks and recreation projects are included in the round. The Kiddie Corral basketball court at Riverside Park, 231 McManness Ave., would receive $40,000 for court improvements listed in the capital plan, allowing the city to begin work on upgrades at the site. Parks maintenance will also receive $72,000 for a subcompact tractor used for grounds work and daily maintenance across city parks. The equipment purchase is included in the capital plan as part of the department's scheduled equipment replacement cycle. Third-round spending also includes two projects tied to police facilities and equipment. The police department will receive $60,000 for a 3D scanner used for evidence collection, a piece of equipment listed in the capital plan for improving documentation at crime scenes. The department's second-floor office renovation receives $36,000 for interior improvements, allowing the city to begin renovation work outlined in the capital plan. The city is also moving $42,000 for installation of an electric gate on South Cory Street. The gate project is listed in the capital plan as an access-control improvement, and the transfer allows the city to begin installation work once bids are advertised and contracts are awarded. Two waterline projects round out the spending. The small waterline replacement program would receive $75,000 for annual replacement of aging waterlines, part of the city's ongoing utility maintenance schedule. Morrical Waterline Phase II would receive $23,000 for the next stage of waterline work in that area, continuing the phased replacement outlined in the capital plan. Findlay's complete capital plan is available for review on the city's website: findlayohio.gov.