Council introduced ordinance to acquire 17 North Washington amid deed-acceptance review

Tiffin City Council reviewed committee discussion and introduced Ordinance 25-78, authorizing acquisition of real property at 17 North Washington Street.

City Administrator Nick Dutra summarized prior agreements with a private owner (identified in committee as Sidek/Sideact in meeting remarks) who purchased two downtown parcels with the intention of demolishing existing structures and, after environmental clearance, returning the properties to the city. Dutra said the parcel adjacent to Ralph’s and the 911 Memorial site had been in poor condition when purchased and the owner has worked for several years to obtain a “clean bill of health” on the parking lot.

At the Community Planning Committee meeting, members moved that the law director draft legislation for the mayor’s request regarding deed acceptance of 17 North Washington Street; that motion carried 3-0. At council the ordinance was introduced for first reading; no final council vote on acquisition occurred at the meeting.

Dutra said the city does not have to take ownership of both properties immediately; the city is looking to remove the properties from the city’s tax-exempt books and to accept them when environmental reports allow. Council did not set an acquisition effective date at the meeting and did not authorize any purchase price or contingency terms in the ordinance introduction.

The law director and planning committee framed the action as the next step in accepting parcels only after environmental issues are resolved; the committee action directs the law director to prepare formal legislation for council consideration.