City, county, schools in good shape
“Everything is awesome. “Everything is cool when you're part of a team. “Everything is awesome. “When you're living out a dream.”
With apologies to The Lego Movie and Tegan and Sara, that theme song could have doubled as the message of the day Thursday during the
annual State of the City, County and Schools meeting,
sponsored by the Wapakoneta Chamber of Commerce.
Speakers Interim Mayor Steve Henderson, Auglaize County Commissioner Dave
Bambauer and Wapakoneta City Schools Superintendent Aaron Rex shared projects, forecasts and anecdotes that highlighted the positive for
each of their respective area of responsibility.
Wapakoneta is a community that “moves forward in
difficult times,” Henderson
said…”it is one of the community’s strengths.”
He outlined the challenging transition that moved him from president of city council to interim mayor; he was
immediately charged with finding a new safety service
director. He found the “perfect fit” in Michael Brillhart. While Brillhart couldn’t start the job “yesterday,” he did hit the ground running, Henderson said, also praising the city’s department heads who do “a fantastic job managing” their own areas of expertise.
Henderson gave an overview of the upgrades and
renovations planned for the water reclamation facility — waste water treatment plant — noting those upgrades will allow growth in the most cost effective manner.
Growth is often accompanied by change; the city’s dog park was relocated when work
began in earnest at the plant. The new location, at the site of the city’s light department, allowed the park to be identical to the original Eagle Scout project designed and financed
by Travis Rohrbach seven years ago.
Henderson also cited the “tragedy into triumph” that
allowed the creation of a new parking lot and plaza at the
site of the former Steinburg/ Koneta hotel and apartment
building. The waterpark management agreement the city
inked with the Wapakoneta Family YMCA will ensure the
pool will remain open for a full season
Henderson said he’s been asked how the city maintains
such as active and vital downtown.
“I tell him passion, vision and hardworking volunteers,”
he said, complimenting the many volunteers who have a
hand in ensure the city’s
success.
He pledged to continue to do his best for the citizens of Wapakoneta.
“Our community has so much to offer and we are
blessed with many great volunteers,” Henderson said. “I will continue to do my best for the community.”
Auglaize County is also looking pretty good.
“Auglaize County is really pretty secure, and pretty financially stable,” Bambauer
said, noting revenues have exceeded expenditures by more than $2 million each of the last
couple of years. And while inflation may affect the final
numbers for 2022, the county’s frugal fiscal policies should stand them in good stead.
Bambauer did say the county engineer has increased his fuel budget by 22 percent for the remainder of the year,
based an current gasoline prices.
He updated those present on the county’s decision to restrict the county’s unincorporated area to wind and solar development, saying that decision was based on discussions with township trustees and testimonies heard during a public hearing.
An on-going needs study at the county jail should result
in additional housing space for female inmates and an area to treat physical and mental health issues.
Bambauer predicted there will be continued growth in Auglaize County.
“We live in uncertain times.”
Rex said he recently heard that said, and agreed that
phrase has been proven true for area young people.
This year’s graduating class was sent home as sophomores, told to wear masks as juniors,
and while their senior year was somewhat normal, “they’ve shown up and worked
hard” to be 11 days from graduating and moving on.
Rex is also proud of his staff, from cafeteria workers, bus
drivers, and custodians to teachers and support and office staff.
“I told them at the beginning of the year we have ‘get to’ jobs,”
he said. “I get to come to work in Wapakoneta every day.”
And he appreciates all that the community has done for
students, from supporting fund raisers to attending
sporting events and everything in-between. Tax dollars and donations have allowed
equipment upgrades for classrooms, better lighting opportunities, improvements to athletic fields and score boards and the purchase of new buses and Chromebooks.
“We work every ear to have top-notch facilities for our students to learn in,” Rex said,
adding his staff are among those who go above and beyond to “do it for the kids.”
He told the story of the recent eighth-grade trip to Washington, D.C. that was besieged by challenges; challenges that could have cancelled the trip. Staffers developed a solution that allowed the students to get to the nation’s capital and home again safely.
“There are stories every day like this,” Rex said, “when people put their heads down and get it done.”
He called that trait a “certainty in uncertain times,” adding, “I’m privileged to serve this district.”
Also in attendance during Thursday’s event were Rep.
Susan Manchester (R-waynesfield), Rep. Craig Riedel (Rdefiance), city councilors John
Sheipline and Ross Kantner, county Commissioners John
Bergman and Doug Spencer, Wapakoneta Chief of Police Cal Schneider and Auglaize
County Sheriff Mike Vorhees.