Commissioners Have Concerns About County Parking Spots In Lot Affected By Potential Sale

5/14/19 – 11:15 A.M.

The Hancock County Commissioners have concerns about the potential sale of a city-owned parking lot behind the former Argyle building in downtown Findlay. Commissioner Brian Robertson says there are 37 spaces designated for county use…

Audio:

Director of Court Services Kimberly Switzer told the commissioners that between 700 and 800 people come through her office every month. Robertson says that alone requires a good deal of parking.

Commissioner Tim Bechtol says paperwork drawn up for the proposed sale of the lot to the Blanchard Valley Port Authority only lists one space for county parking. That’s well short of the 37 listed in a 2013 agreement between the county and the city.

Bechtol says they are communicating that to Findlay officials…

Audio:

Robertson says the county and city reached an agreement about the use of the 37 spaces five years ago. Robertson adds under the initial agreement the county agreed to sell the buildings next to the Dorney Plaza, and then use that money to buy the parking lot in question. Robertson says the city didn’t end up selling the lot to the county.

Bechtol adds he doesn’t believe that the county’s interest in the lot works against potential development of the site.

Findlay City Council is meeting in council chambers tonight at 6 p.m. to discuss the potential sale of the lot to make way for a new development in the lot where the Argyle building once stood.