SIDNEY — The Sidney City Council approved a rezoning request of a 177.83 acre tract of land from a B-2, community business district and an I-2 light industry district, into five separate and distinct districts during Monday’s teleconference meeting.

Council adopted the rezoning request of Choice One Engineering, on behalf of MSGA Development, for the rezoning of the property north of Russell Road and between Interstate 75 and St. Marys Avenue. The request was to increase the area zoned B-2, community business district, and to rezone the remaining area from I-2, general industrial, to R-3, multi-family residence district, and R-1, single family residence district. The property is currently wooded areas and crop farming, City Manager Mark Cundiff said.

The rezoning will result in two areas of the B-2 district: 59.971 acres adjacent to St. Marys Avenue, at the northern end of the property; and 12.907 acres adjacent to Russell Road, approximately centered on the Fourth Avenue right-of-way. A total of 104.9 acres will be zoned residential: 84.861 acres of R-1 district through the center of the property; and 20.044 acres of R-3 district zoning in two areas, one on the east side of the property adjacent to the industrial uses on Commerce Drive, and one on the west side of the property between the veterinary clinic and I-75.

Based upon the totality of the analysis, Cundiff said city staff recommended the rezoning request be approved. The location and type of zoning is appropriate for the property, provides needed development of housing, and is compliant with the goals and strategies of the comprehensive plan. Further review and solutions to provide fire and emergency medical services will be ongoing as the proposed development is brought to the city for subdivision and other development and permitting reviews, he said.

Council unanimously approved the request, with the exception of Council members Steven Klinger and Darryl Thurber, who were absent Monday. Both Klinger and Thurber’s absences were also excused by council at the end of the meeting.

A second ordinance was also adopted Monday to make supplemental appropriations for 2021.

In other business, council adopted two resolutions. The first resolution passed was to authorize Cundiff to enter into an agreement with SwimSafe Pool Management Inc. for the daily operations of the Sidney Water Park.

Parks and Recreation Director Duane Gaier said the city’s ability to offer full services to the public at the Sidney Water Park has been in decline for the last decade due to staffing shortages. This resolution authorizes Cundiff to execute an agreement with SwimSafe Pool Management to provide complete staffing for the water park for three consecutive years, beginning in 2021. Gaier noted the Sidney Water Park will be able to open, operate, host free swimming lessons and offer evening pool rentals every night of the week.

The operations covered in the agreement with SwimSafe include the following:

• Recruiting, hiring, screening and certification of water park employees to staff guard chairs, the front gate and a manager daily;

• Payroll;

• Daily operations;

• Pool rentals (evening, and training);

• Swim lessons;

•Facility cleaning and start up before opening;

• Ongoing training (in season);

• Daily facility cleaning, shower house/restrooms and facility grounds;

• Water chemistry;

• Filter backwash;

• Chemicals, excluding the chlorine tablets;

• Off boarding of water park staff;

• Cleaning and winterizing the water park.

The second resolution adopted was for reappointment of Randall J. Magoto, Sidney engineering manager, as the city of Sidney’s representative to the District 13 Public Works Integrating Committee. Magoto was first appointed to the committee in 2011.

The Ohio Public Works Commission was created to assist in financing local public infrastructure improvements under the state capital improvements program and the local transportation improvements program. There are 19 Public Works Districts in Ohio that are responsible for recommending projects to the Ohio Public Works Commission. Shelby County is part of District 13.