City Develop. Director Cindy Leis resigns

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Van Wert Mayor Don Farmer made the surprise announcement during Monday’s Van Wert City Council meeting that City Economic Director Cindy Leis will be resigning her position, effective the end of the month.

Leis, who was hired for the city position by the Ohio State University Extension approximately 2½ years ago, will be taking a position with the Allen County Economic Development Group as the project manager of a federal grant awarded to that organization.

Both the mayor and City Auditor Martha Balyeat had good things to say about Leis’ tenure as city economic director, and both also blamed the disagreements between the city and county over economic development for her leaving.

“It’s a sad day for the Van Wert City Economic Development Office,” the mayor said of Leis’ resignation.

Balyeat called Leis “the most professional, best organized” economic development director the city has had and blamed her leaving on “this whole mess with economic development between the city and the county.”

Leis’ resignation was not entirely unexpected, given mayoral candidate Jerry Mazur’s comments that he would like to see the city and county ED organizations combined, and his stated opinion that the city should end its ED program management contract with OSU Extension.

If that would happen, Leis’ position could possibly be eliminated.

Program Manager Caitlin Jones will continue to work in the city ED office and manage the city’s Revolving Loan Fund.

Mazur did request that Council approve a resolution of commendation recognizing Leis’ contributions to the city ED program.

Balyeat had good financial news for the city, noting that city may not have to dip into its reserve fund this year, as projected, due to increased revenues. Mayor Farmer noted that income tax receipts in August increased $94,494 over August 2014, with a total increase of $240,950 in income tax receipts over last year at this time.

Also Monday, City Council approved preparation of legislation that would switch parking on a portion of Burt Street between Main Street and the railroad tracks from the west side of the street to the east side. Councilman At-Large Jon Tomlinson voted against the measure, saying he feels it goes against Council’s stated policy of having parking consistent along an entire street. Calling the parking change “cherry picking” — meaning it is an exception to an established policy — Tomlinson said the change is due to a request from one property owner in the area and establishes, in his mind, an unneeded precedent.

Tomlinson, who serves as the city’s designee on the Van Wert County Regional Airport Authority, said that organization is currently looking for a new airport manager following the resignation of Tom Dunno from that position.

In the meantime, Airport Authority President Steve Bailey will be serving as interim airport manager.

Council also approved legislation authorizing a two-year purchase option agreement to sell two-tenths of an acre of land located at the intersection of Washington Street and Ervin Road to a company that seeks to develop the property.

Council also approved a then-and-now certificate related to Van Wert Municipal Court’s renovation of the former First Financial Bank building on East Main Street. Mazur said he would see more information from Judge Jill Leatherman on the court’s budget for the project.