The Sandusky City Commission voted Nov. 24 to purchase the City Hall property at 240 Columbus Avenue, adopting an ordinance that authorizes the city manager to execute a purchase-and-sale agreement with Sand City LLC. Commissioners said the city will pay in cash using funds saved over multiple years.

Commissioners praised staff for negotiating the deal and assembling a complex financing and condominium agreement that allowed the municipality to own the building outright. "Our finance director, Miss Reeder, has carefully squirrel[ed] away the money so that we have all the money that we need to make this purchase," one commissioner said during the discussion. The law department and city manager were credited for negotiating terms that the commission called "the best deal for our city."

The item drew detailed remarks about the legal and financial work behind the purchase. A commissioner summarized the transaction as "in a sense, we're burning the mortgage tonight," saying the city had been renting the facility but will now remove that annual lease burden. Commissioners noted the arrangement had been complicated by condominium ownership of the building and required detailed legal work to resolve shared‑ownership elements.

The ordinance was moved, seconded and approved by roll call. Commissioners expressed that paying cash avoids additional long‑term lease payments and will place the property on the city balance sheet. The motion passed and the ordinance was declared adopted.

The agreement and financing approach were presented as the culmination of a multi‑year effort by staff and past officials; commissioners said the transactions free up future budgets from previously projected lease payments. The commission did not specify closing dates or purchase price during the meeting; those details were not specified in the public discussion.

Next steps: the ordinance takes immediate effect in accordance with section 14 of the city charter and the city will proceed to finalize the purchase paperwork and closing.