Findlay firehouse sale revived as auction

FINDLAY — Findlay's administration has revived a plan to sell the former Northside Fire Station, but this time the property will be offered through a sealed-bid auction open to the public. The move comes a year after council rejected a proposal after members objected to the administration negotiating directly with the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 381, Findlay's firefighters' union, and said the property should be opened to competitive bids instead. Under the new approach, the union can still pursue the property, but only by submitting a sealed bid alongside any other interested buyer. The union had planned to turn the building into a fire service museum and community space, using the former station to display historic equipment and preserve the department's history. Union leaders said last year the project would give the public a place to learn about the city's fire service and provide room for educational programs. During council's regular meeting on Wednesday, Service-Safety Director Rob Martin said the shift to a public auction came after last year's feedback, but emphasized that the union "is absolutely eligible to bid." In a letter to council dated April 23, Martin said the city plans to sell the former Northside Fire Station and the adjoining parking strip together. The letter also outlines the administration's intent to include preservation requirements. Built in 1934, the fire station was vacated in 2019 after a sanitary line failure and has since been used for storage. A recent assessment revealed structural issues, including water infiltration and masonry deterioration. He said the administration wants a buyer willing to preserve the structure's historic character. The ordinance council is considering only gives the authorization to advertise for bids and sell the two parcels. It does not include the deed-restriction language, the minimum bid, the appraisal or the preservation requirements discussed at the meeting. On Wednesday, Auditor Jim Staschiak asked the administration to release the key terms of the sale before council votes, including the minimum bid, the draft deed-restriction language and the full appraisal report. He said neither he nor the law director has seen the restrictions and urged the city to make all of the documents public so council knows exactly what conditions will govern the sale. Staschiak also said that Ohio law requires him to attend the bid opening if the ordinance passes. Martin said the restrictions are drafted and include provisions preventing demolition of the building and giving the city the first right of refusal if the property is later sold. He said he worked with the Hancock Historical Museum to shape the preservation language and has a minimum-bid amount in mind, though it has not been disclosed. Last year's proposal to sell the building for $100,000 to IAFF Local 381 failed by a 5-4 vote of council, one vote short of the six needed for passage. Council members Holly Frische, R-1; Jim Niemeyer, R-5; Jeff Wobser and Randy Greeno, both R-at-large, opposed the sale, and Councilman Brian Bauman, R-5, was absent. At the time, Staschiak raised concerns about transparency and ethics, noting that council had not seen the contract, the reverter clause, or documentation supporting the valuation.