Findlay property sales could sidestep public auction

FINDLAY — Findlay City Council's Finance Committee will meet at 4:30 p.m. today to discuss legislation that could allow the city to sell two properties without a public auction — a move that has sparked debate over transparency and the city's approach to managing public assets. The committee will review proposals to sell the former Hochstettler's Old Mill property at 428 W. Main Cross St. and the old Northside Fire Station at 401 N. Main St. through the Blanchard Valley Port Authority. The process enables the city to bypass traditional bidding and structure deals aimed at economic development. Under the plan, the Hochstettler property would be sold for $340,500 to expand neighboring Dietsch Brothers, 400 W. Main Cross St., a nearly 70-year-old downtown business. Mayor Christina Muryn has said the arrangement ensures the property's "best use" and preserves a key downtown community landmark. The city would also handle demolition of the existing structure, estimated at $10,000 to $12,000, as part of the purchase price. The city purchased the Hochstettler's Old Mill property in 2012 for $270,000 with plans to relocate the health department there, but the project was abandoned after renovation costs were estimated at nearly $500,000. Two dilapidated structures were demolished in 2018, leaving a 3,000-square-foot building on a 1.61-acre parcel near the Blanchard River. The site was once in a floodplain but was later cleared through a FEMA elevation certificate. A similar deal is proposed for the Northside Fire Station, which would be sold for $100,000 for development as a fire service museum by the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 381. Built in 1934, it served as a firehouse for decades before housing the city's traffic department. It was vacated in 2019 after a sanitary line failure and has since been used for storage. Recently, the building was assessed for historic value, revealing structural issues such as water infiltration and masonry deterioration. City officials say deed restrictions will require any future owner to maintain the building's integrity. The approach has raised concerns among some council members. Councilwoman Holly Frische, R-1, questioned bypassing public auction, saying, "We have an obligation to do an auction for government property, and I don't see a legitimate reason to bypass the process that the public is supposed to have." Council referred both sales to the Finance Committee for further discussion during its Nov. 5 meeting. Formerly known as the council's Appropriations Committee, the name was recently changed to Finance Committee after considerable debate over council's role in city investments. The Finance Committee is charged with stepping up council's oversight of investments, along with reviewing city spending plans. Committee members remain unchanged and include council members Jeff Wobser, R-at-large, chairman; Randy Greeno, R-at-large; Frische; Beth Warnecke, R-3; and Josh Palmer, R-7. Tuesday's committee meeting will also include a review of the city's third-quarter investment report, if available. The committee meeting will be held at the Findlay Municipal Building, 318 Dorney Plaza, and is open to the public. Council then meets at 6 p.m. today at the city building, when the building sales legislation is expected to receive a second reading. Council's rules require legislation to receive three separate public readings before a vote, unless the rule is waived by a supermajority vote of council. All council meetings are open to the public and are livestreamed on the city's YouTube channel: FindlayOhio.