Business Meeting
Approve the April minutes: 1st Jamie, 2nd Mary Ann
Treasurer’s report:
- The current balance in our account is $678.53.
- We have paid for the Elks through the end of 2026, but we’ll need to book our 2027 dates soon.
- The picnic last month cost $502.31.
- Start paying your 2027 dues anytime. Just $35. Mail a check (PO Box 221, Findlay, OH 45839), bring cash/check to a meeting, or use PayPal.
- Upcoming expenses:
- Booking the Elks for 2027 – $100 each time ($800 total)
- OAA annual dues in January – $400
- Website hosting and domains due in March and April
Membership report:
- We have 63 paid members for 2026.
- We have 103 members on our list, meaning they paid in 2024, 2025, and/or 2026.
Old Business:
None.
New Business:
Officer elections next month. We’re looking for a new president for 2027. Jim Staschiak will remain VP, and Katie Erickson will remain secretary/treasurer. Let Jim know if you have anyone to nominate. Jim cannot be the president because of his job and what the mayor is planning.
While memberships are up, attendance at our meetings has been down. What would you like to see for topics? How can we stay relevant and add value to our members?
- Share tips and tricks for a few minutes each meeting
- Send out a survey to our members for topic suggestions
- Hope House – new programs since we had them here in 2024
- Off the Streets – new ministry out of Ottawa
Jim has offered to host our unofficial annual Christmas party on December 8 at 826 N Main St.
2027 meeting location ideas: Goose Hall, over by Ashley Furniture/Timberstone
If you have other ideas for a meeting location, please let any of the officers know.
The Cunninghams have a former tenant whose grandparents are selling rental properties. They have 3 apartments on the main street of Malinta (northwest of Deshler) that they’re looking to sell.
OAA report from Tom Miller:
- OAA employs a lobbyist to educate the state Congresspeople regarding their bills. The representatives are very open to learning.
- Thin Blue Line – many HOAs ban that, so they’re trying to make sure flags such as that are allowed.
- There are lots of property tax reduction bills. A bill was passed that required auditors to recalculate bills, which is why they were late this past summer. The equations are very in-depth, so they really can’t do a lot.
- Limit sex offenders from loitering within 1000 feet of a victim’s residence.
- HB 135: Prohibit rental discrimination based on lawful income. That would require us to not consider income as a deciding factor. This is moving slowly and will likely get voted down.
- Tenants being evicted would have a right to legal counsel, paid for by the taxpayer.
- HB 295: Expedite removal of squatters. It has had its first hearing. We already have some protection against squatters, but this would make removal quicker.
- HB 368: Require eviction record sealing after 3 years.
- HB 422: Increase the property tax threshold.
- SB 79: Regulate pricing algorithms. It would be illegal to use AI to set your rental rates.
- There’s a bill out there to limit the liens that municipalities can place on properties due to unpaid municipal utilities.
- Tip: Ask for $200 extra from the tenant on top of the security deposit in case of unpaid utility bills. That is legal per attorney Phil Rooney.
- According to the water department, that same person does not have to pay any outstanding bill before they get new service in their name.
- We should take this to City Council. If we can get two at-large members to sponsor this, they can bring it up as legislation.
- The Findlay water department said they couldn’t increase their deposit amount because it has to go through PUCO.
- Jim will work on getting council members to our November meeting to address this.
- Jamie Cunningham will get a copy of Deshler’s ordinance regarding utility bills that are fairer to landlords.
What other issues should we bring up?
- The mayor has stated that she will proactively enforce the “neat” ordinance. The criminal violation is on the owner of the property, not the tenant.
- If you try to report a violation by a tenant, you’re not reporting yourself as a criminal.
- The mayor has said that there is an officer who drives up and down alleys to check for violations.
- The state is getting ready to pass a drone law. They are actively flying drones over properties in the community.
- This administration is getting more aggressive against property owners.
- There’s a section in the 2020 housing study out of Dayton that recommends enforcement against single-family homes be ramped up significantly to encourage landlords to sell properties so they can build more apartment complexes.
Include in the topic survey: If you had the opportunity, what would you share with or ask of a council person about your rental property business?
Motion to adjourn the business meeting: 1st Joe, 2nd Mary Ann
Sheriff Cortez was supposed to be our featured speaker, but he was very ill and not able to join us. We will have him join us at a future meeting.
