Findlay upping enforcement of nuisance property rules

FINDLAY — Findlay officials say stronger enforcement of property maintenance standards and nuisance property regulations will be a priority in 2027 as the city continues looking for ways to improve neighborhood conditions and respond more effectively to resident complaints. The issue was discussed during a Sept. 23 meeting of Findlay City Council's Strategic Planning Committee, where city officials reviewed progress on strategic initiatives and outlined priorities for next year. Mayor Christina Muryn said the administration has increasingly focused on neighborhood issues, including problem properties that generate repeated complaints from residents. Part of that effort, she said, involves identifying recurring issues and determining whether existing city codes give the city enough authority to address them. "If we have issues that we continually get complaints about, but we don't have any solution because we don't have anything in our code that addresses them, then we probably need to update our code," Muryn said. Council members also spend considerable time discussing enforcement and follow-through on property maintenance issues. Committee members said residents often become frustrated when they do not know whether complaints have been received or what actions have been taken. Much of the discussion focused on creating a more transparent process for tracking concerns and communicating outcomes. "We've been talking about enforcement and planning and zoning and how do we follow back through to make sure that what we said actually has teeth to it and matters," said Councilwoman Heather Kensinger, R-at-large. Muryn said the city has historically relied heavily on complaints, with enforcement actions often beginning only after residents report a problem. She said the administration is trying to become more proactive. The city's zoning department is evaluating software that would allow staff to better monitor complaints, enforcement actions and follow-up activity. Currently, many records are maintained using spreadsheets or email correspondence. She said the city has already made progress through property maintenance code changes approved last year. Findlay is also bringing more cases before the courts than in the past, though that process can take longer while officials wait for legal rulings that may affect similar cases, Muryn said. The Strategic Planning Committee is chaired by Kensinger, and includes council members Nichole Coleman, R-1; Brad Wagner, R-at-large; BJ Preston, R-2; and Carol Smith, R-3, along with Muryn, who is a voting member. Matt Cordonnier, of the Hancock Regional Planning Commission, and Auditor Jim Staschiak serve as ex‑officio members. EDITOR'S NOTE: An earlier version of this story misattributed Kensinger's quote.