This week’s Toledo City Council meeting saw the possible end to an ongoing local situation. Angie Blocker, fresh off her Toledo Board of Adjustment meeting from the week prior, went before the council to again talk about the basement apartment in her newly purchased uptown Toledo building on High Street.

Blocker officially purchased the building at 103 West High St. from Gwendolyn Doland on Aug. 14. Blocker has her shop, Angie Blocker Designs, on the ground floor of the building, and planned for a family member to rent the basement apartment. After moving into the building, Blocker was sent a letter from the City of Toledo, saying that they had become aware of the people living in the basement, and that it was against a zoning ordinance. When she moved into the building, Blocker was not made aware of this ordinance, and the realtor’s listing of the building had stated that there was a finished apartment on the lower level.

The ordinance in question states that there shall be no residential living units allowed below the second floor. The previous owner of the building, Gwendolyn Doland, had the same issue in August of 2024, and received a similar letter, regarding people living in the basement apartment.

Blocker talked to the Toledo Council, wishing for a zoning variance to allow for the basement apartment to remain an apartment. She showed the council a map of the building she made, illustrating where the two exits, windows, smoke alarms, and fire extinguishers were located. The council discussed the history of the basement apartment and the possible pitfalls of allowing it to continue to be used as such. In the end, they decided that if the basement apartment could be brought up to code, then the apartment would be grandfathered in.

Delrae Hennessy was approved to be the new EMS assistant director.

Toledo Officer Andrew Bunce was approved for a $1 raise as he got his certification and graduated from the academy.

The council also heard an insurance policy review from Matt Zmolek and talked things over. They approved to renew after moving to a $25,000 deductible.

The FY25 annual financial report was approved.

The Public Works department reported that the sewer UV project is 85% installed. They have completed street patching around the middle school and have been mowing. They are back to regular times, and the pool has been officially closed up for the year. They plan on working on the Madison Street washout and getting back to street patching.

Katherine Ollendieck with Toledo Economic Development talked about all the things she has been up to as she has hit the ground running. She has been getting organized and getting paperwork done.

Toledo Police Chief Dan Quigley reported that between Aug. 11 and 24, they responded to 118 calls for service and affected 2 arrests. Officer Bunce has graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy and has started field training. The new Tahoe has arrived at Karl’s, and the build will start soon.

The clerk reported working on reports and getting ready for the auditor.