City to shut down departments April 8

FINDLAY — The city of Findlay is making plans to shut down city departments and operate with essential personnel only during the April 8 solar eclipse. Other city workers will be told to stay home. Legislation introduced to city council today would create a line item in the city's budget to facilitate an administrative decision to grant all city employees leave for the day. That doesn't mean no one will be at their posts. For critical personnel, it will be all hands on deck. Council meets in regular session at 6 p.m. today in 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. "In an attempt to be fair and equitable, a decision has been made to provide every employee eight hours of administrative leave regardless of their responsibilities or work schedule on April 8, 2024," said Rob Martin, service safety director. "Individuals who are directed to stay home that day will utilize the eight hours of administrative leave. Individuals who are required to work will be credited eight hours to use on a future date at their discretion." City employees would be able to combine the leave with accrued vacation time, comp time or other holiday/vacation time to match their schedules. The leave would need to be used by Dec. 7, the last paid day to be included in the 2024 pay period. Martin briefed council members on the plan in a letter dated Feb. 8. The letter is included in today's council packet. Findlay is located within the path of totality for the eclipse, roughly 20 miles from the epicenter. The partial eclipse will begin at 1:55 p.m. and reach total darkness at 3:10 p.m. on April 8. A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth and fully obscures our view of the sun. The last total solar eclipse visible in Ohio was in 1806 and the next is set to occur in 2099. "Due to this, Hancock County and the city of Findlay are anticipating a large influx of visitors to Findlay and the region for a number of days surrounding this event. City of Findlay leadership, along with Hancock County and state agencies, have been diligently preparing for this event for over two years and believe the city is in a strong position to handle what may come," Martin said. "While considering all the variables of managing such an event, the city recognizes the challenge of travel during these days to and from work, therefore, city departments who have non-essential roles in city functions pertaining to the eclipse will be closed on April 8, 2024." Martin did not identify which city departments will be closed. Findlay's emergency services, law enforcement and state troopers are expected to be out in full force around April 8, and Hancock County's emergency districts and the sheriff's office will be staffed around the clock as well, Martin has said in earlier safety briefings. Additional resources will be deployed to viewing stations set up around the county where people are expected to congregate at a larger volume, and Blanchard Valley Health System will be available throughout the area. Local cell towers could be overloaded with call activity that day, and cell phone service outages may occur. A website has been created to help inform residents and tourists of local resources, the location of viewing stations, and closings in the area. The site is being updated via a collaboration between Visit Findlay!, the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, the city of Findlay, Hancock County, Hancock Public Health and Ohio EMA. Visit the site at www.findlaysolareclipse2024.com