TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2001
Tiffin council fills 3rd ward seat
By Erik Burriss
Staff Writer
The City Council's average age dropped a little when it welcomed its newest member at a special meeting Monday night.
The council unanimously approved the selection of Birchwood Drive resident Lori Ritzler to represent Tiffin's 3rd Ward.
"She will be a good representative," 2nd Ward Councilman Paul Elchert said. "She'll be bringing some fresh ideas."
The 31-year-old Ritzler is the third person to hold the seat in a little more than a year. Todd Edmond, elected to the position in 1999, resigned in July. His replacement, Tom Distel, resigned at the beginning of January after being elected county commissioner.
"I'd like to bring some stability to the representation to the 3rd Ward," Ritzler said.
Since she is filling an unexpired term, Ritzler must run in the 2001 election to keep her seat past Dec. 31.
"She's going to have to get out and work," At-large Councilman Mark Hayes said.
In addition selecting a new member, the council also discussed the proposed downtown park during a Committee of the Whole meeting. The debate centered on how open the park should be.
The eastern arm of the L-shaped site now is a parking lot. On preliminary plans, that use is maintained, but the section along the river is split between open and wooded walkways.
At-large Councilman Pete Galipeau, 1st Ward Councilman Dale Depew and 4th Ward Councilman Jim Boroff favored the entire park being grassy, while At-large Councilwoman Wilma Klopp supported a more wooded area.
"I'm not sure what anyone can use the park for when part of it is a gazebo and part of it is woods," Galipeau said.
The city has other parks, like Nature Trails Park, for people who want a sylvan experience, Depew said.
Boroff's main concern was that the parking lot be retained, since that is the reason the city originally purchased the property.
"The most important point is to keep what is working for downtown businesses," Boroff said.
On the other hand, Klopp said, since the park is small and located next to the river, it would be difficult to engage in the kinds of active recreation requiring a more open park.
"Unless you own a golden retriever, I wouldn't throw a Frisbee because it's going to end up in the river," she said.