Findlay councilman irked over colleague's actions

8/13/2004

FINDLAY - Some city council members are upset that Council President Robert Schuck represented a Findlay couple in negotiations with the city over a piece of property the city wanted to acquire.

Mr. Schuck, a lawyer, contends he did nothing wrong by representing Ted and Connie Bower. They agreed to sell a 72-square-foot parcel at the intersection of Tiffin Avenue and Blanchard Street, which the city needed for a street widening project.

The city initially offered $2,500 for the parcel, but the two sides agreed to an $8,000 sales price after the city threatened to file an eminent domain action. City Law Director Dave Hackenberg said council has no right to sanction Mr. Schuck even if the matter was a conflict of interest.

"I just don't think it was very smart on his part, but it's certainly not my station in life or anyone else's in the city to tell him he can't do this or that," Mr. Hackenberg said. "He's got to make that determination himself."