Letter to the Editor: Findlay City Council Regarding Ordinance 2026-59 and 2026-60

BY ROBERTA BALSER

I am contacting you one more time and asking that you vote NAY on the two above Ordinances. My understanding of what the responsibilities of those elect to represent the citizens of Findlay and Hancock County is to do no harm, but instead do what is best for the taxpaying citizens that elected them to office.  How many of you have had meetings with the citizens in your wards?  I know of only 2 out of the 10 on council.  By supporting the developer of Shady Grove, you will be doing harm to citizens in that area.  I would not want that on my conscience, do you?

Regarding those Ordinances you must take into consideration that Eastern Woods is adding 160+ new apartments and Covington Green are adding 48 to be leased in the fall of 2026 then adding an additional 70+ apartments in the near future. That’s an additional 396+ new apartments within a mile+ of the proposed Shady Grove apartment community to add up to 500 new apartments.  That alone would increase the population of that area. The increase in traffic, need for more police, demand for water, that is already stretched is only going to get worse.

Who do you think is going to occupy these apartments?  Findlay and Hancock County is not growing; it is losing population and its tax base.  No new industries are coming to the area that have high paying jobs that pay more than $25/hour.  Is it the desire of the city leadership to become a “bedroom” community? That would not increase the tax base, instead our infrastructure will be stretched.  Cooper has down-sized, Marathon does not have the same number of employees as in the past. Offering tax incentives to developers of apartments further decreases the tax base.

I moved here from Maumee in 2008, and immediately fell in love with this community, it was so friendly, welcoming and helpful to me starting my HR Consulting business.  The city has disappeared, so that now, all I am thinking about is moving out.  I really do not want to do that, but the future here looks dim.

Unfortunately, for the City of Findlay, 80% of newly elected council members were “groomed and nurtured” by the puppet masters of Findlay.  Translation, “bought and paid for” and will not do what is best for the citizens of Findlay.  I would love to proven wrong! Vote NAY of subject ordinances.

With fingers crossed … 
Sincerely, Roberta (Bobbi) Balser
Findlay, OH