Past And Future Come Together As Waterville Celebrates City Status
BY KAREN BERGER and NANCY GAGNET MIRROR REPORTERS
The fanfare arrived on horseback and departed with the sound of a fighter jet – signifying Waterville’s transition from a village to a city on September 24.
“Those older folks who have worked so hard to bring the village to this day, raise your hands, and those young folks who will take the city forward give us a big ‘That’s us,’” Diana Waugh, chair of the Village to City or V2C committee, told the audience.
While Waterville officially became a city when the 2010 census verified that it has 5,523 residents, the busy Roche de Boeuf Festival seemed like an ideal time for a celebration, Waugh said.
Waterville Area Chamber of Commerce president Sam Ansara estimated that over 20,000 people came downtown for the event – the biggest turnout in years.
Those who followed the town crier or the messengers on horseback to the stage were able to hear young Caytlin Schultz and former mayor Paul Sellers read the proclamation declaring Waterville a city.
“At 92, Paul Sellers is our oldest living mayor – so he holds a place of honor,” Waugh said.
In the audience were several other former mayors, including Harlan Reichle, Roger Herringshaw, Chuck Peyton and Charles Duck Jr. Former mayor Dave Myerholtz sent congratulations from Italy.
Nearby, Waterville third-grade teacher Polly Miller led a group of her students to line the stage and represent the future.
“Younger folks will take the city forward,” Waugh said.
Children are urged to submit designs for a city of Waterville flag, with applications available at the city hall, the Waterville Branch Library and the chamber of commerce.
A time capsule, which will be planted at the entrance to the city in the spring, will also travel through town with a sign asking: “Do you have something you’d like to donate?”
Although the fog began to lift at noon, the low clouds made it difficult for a pilot from the Ohio Air National Guard 180th Fighter Wing to fly low enough to be seen – and still maintain a 1,000-foot minimum distance from the ground, said Col. Steve Nordhaus, who served as grand marshal of the parade.
Instead, guests listened for the roar of the jet to signify the village’s transition to a city.
“It was sad that the clouds didn’t cooperate,” Waugh said. “It was kind for 180th to choose us – they get so many requests. We’re honored.”
In addition to more than 20,000 people, the 38th annual Roche de Boeuf Festival brought in more than 160 vendors’ booths and an at-capacity car show with 150 vehicles, Ansara said.
“It was a lot of work but it was well worth it,” Ansara said. “Our committees did their best.”
The V2C committee included 14 core members from throughout the community, Waugh said. Caytlin was the first to sign up, along with her mother, Cindy. The two designed the V2C logo and stickers.

Whitehouse Approves Zoning Regulations For Internet Cafés
BY KAREN BERGER — MIRROR REPORTER
Internet sweepstakes terminal cafés cannot be excluded by law, but their locations can be controlled by zoning, Whitehouse Mayor Angie Kuhn told council during its September 20 meeting.
“I know we cannot by law exclude or discriminate any business, but we can determine where a business of this type can operate,” resident Rob Casaletta said during a public hearing prior to the council meeting.
After several meetings with the planning commission and two public hearings, council voted 6-0 to allow cafés in areas zoned C-3 commercial and M-1 light industrial, office and research. Then council voted 6-0 in an emergency vote to add Internet cafes to a list of businesses prohibited in the Waterville Street Overlay District.
The cafés are also prohibited within 500 feet of any park, playground, school, church or area designated for activities by minors.
Allowed in 11 states including Ohio, the cafés feature rows of computer-driven machines for online gaming and sweepstakes. Patrons play games for cash and prizes after paying for phone and Internet time. Several such businesses have opened in Toledo.
The commission received input from several residents during the two public hearings.
Michelle Roush and Claudia Spann said the cafés encourage other illegal activities and place a burden on the police department.
“I don’t want this type of business in Whitehouse,” Mark Beeman said, noting that it defines the feel of a neighborhood.
Casaletta asked how Whitehouse would regulate the age of those using the businesses, which are for those ages 21 and older.
He also asked council whether background checks would be done on potential owners, if council could review a business plan, how to determine acceptable hours of operation, whether taxes would be applied to the winnings and whether the village police had provided any comment on that type of business.
Council will discuss the cafés further during its October 4 meeting.
During the September 20 meeting, council also:
• Agreed to send back to committee the task of finding a company to provide green waste recycling for the village and residents.
During the September 6 meeting, council member Bill May explained that while proposals from Clean Wood Recycling, Future Lawn and Ohio Compost were submitted, public service committee members realized that alternative proposals with more detail could not be compared fairly.
May said the committee will look at starting the process over to have something in place by spring.
• Swore in Tiffany Bachman as tax commissioner and Richard Feltner as police officer.
• Agreed to extend the village’s Nona France (Blue Creek) Recreation Area lease agreement with the Metroparks of the Toledo Area through August 2055.
• Passed a resolution 6-0 to amend zoning text about the parking and storage of recreational vehicles. The new language further defines the area that an RV must be parked on to be a continuous full, hard surface pad that extends at least one foot beyond the perimeter of the vehicle.
• Heard that Dollar General is looking at a new location within Whitehouse and is expected to submit a new site plan soon. Dollar General had proposed a building at the intersection of Cemetery Road and SR 64, but the planning commission had several stipulations.
• Heard from public works director Steve Pilcher that downtown water mains are about 75 percent complete. Once bacteria tests are complete, the homes will be retapped and the street repaved. The entire project should be complete by the end of the year.
• Learned that Buckeye Cable does not think the Whitehouse market would be profitable at this time. Administrator Jordan Daugherty contacted the company after residents asked how to bring the service to the area.
• Learned that the biennial audit shows that the village has an unqualified opinion – a great rating, Daugherty said. A link to the audit will be posted on the village’s website.
• Passed a resolution of intent to expand a joint economic development district with Monclova Township, adding Trilogy Healthcare and Bauer Landscape. The municipalities will split a 1.5 percent income tax. A public hearing is set for November 15 at 6:30 p.m.
• Authorized the administrator to apply for grants for repaving Toledo Street.
• Approved Poggemeyer Design Group to act as a consultant to the village for a proposed roundabout at the corner of SR 64 and Finzel Road.
• Heard council member Frank Billings, who was seriously injured in an automobile accident in August, thank residents for their overwhelming support in the form of meals, cards, prayers and even mowing his grass.
• Approved with a vote of 5-1, with Billings dissenting, to pay for council members and the mayor to receive flu shots during the October 26 flu shot clinic.
• Heard that two business owners complimented police Lt. Bob Henry for his handling of thefts in their stores.
• Learned that the police now have access to the Northwest Ohio Regional Information System.
• Heard that AT&T recently removed telephone poles on Cemetery Road and that construction on the road should begin soon.

The next Whitehouse council meeting is Tuesday, October 4 at 7:00 p.m.