Findlay City Council passed a resolution authorizing Mayor Lydia Mihalik’s office to seek a grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to pay for equipment that would allow the city to test its water for cyanotoxins, found in algae blooms.  The city has to outsource its testing for the toxins now.  The equipment costs $16,617 with some ongoing chemical costs for using the equipment

At its Tuesday night meeting, Fostoria City Council adopted the 2016 budget.  Projections point to the next fiscal year to ending with a cash balance of just $16,119.  For 2016, City Auditor Steve Garner estimates general fund revenue will be down more than $2.5 million from what it was in 2007 and more than $91,000 from this year’s estimate of nearly $6.2 million.  According to the 2016 budget report, the estimated revenue for next year is just under $6.1 million, down close to 1.5 percent compared to this year.
 

Fostoria Economic Development Corporation President Renee Smith presented members of Fostoria City Council with the results of a survey sent to 50 area companies early last month with the goal of obtaining key information on the state of Fostoria’s job market.  Of the 27 companies that responded, there were a total of 298 new hires within the last 12 months.  Additionally, 59 percent of the responding businesses are reportedly looking at some form of expansion within the next 12-18 months, whether it be employment, equipment or infrastructure.
 

Bowling Green City Council unanimously approved moving forward with its complete streets initiative.  The concept entails making sure the city's streets are accessible to all users - pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers.  Mayor Dick Edwards who previously expressed reservations about moving forward with the project at this time gave his full approval.  Edwards recommended establishing a study group to set parameters for the planned full study of the initiative.

WSOS is hoping to expand transportation options in Wood County with a network of volunteer drivers.  A coalition comprised of representatives of several Bowling Green and Wood County agencies met to review models of communities in Ohio and the US who currently have transportation programs in place.  WSOS Mobility Manager Todd Robinson said that the first phase is to target dialysis patients in Wood County who need rides to appointments and grow from there.