Now the 419 with Gretchen DeBacker, Matt Killum, and Kevin Mullen.

Welcome in to the 419 powered by WGTE presented by Whetro Wealth Management.

It's a Mayor Monday edition of the 419.

We're going to be taking a road trip to Oregon.

Ohio.

We'll be joined by the mayor of Oregon, as well as the director of rec sports in Oregon as well.

Somebody that I've had.

This will come as a surprise to you, knowing my, youth sports history.

Very positive interactions with go.

You get run a rare bird sports program.

Mayor Monday, I have heard, in the street, if you will, or whatever the most, the common vernacular is for that.

The people say the street, memory has been very popular.

And there's no reason not to continue that streak.

We've had a lot of great guests.

People are passionate about their hometowns.

So I'm excited, to meet this week's mayor.

I think it's, I mean, uniquely, it's a unique position that, like, I don't know that anybody gets into it for any reason other than wanting to help.

Right?

Like, it's I mean, it is a thankless job.

And in in, you know, in northwest Ohio, in smaller communities, it's not a full time job.

So it is a in addition to your current responsibilities here, also get yelled at at the grocery store.

Yes.

Right.

Right.

Yeah.

And so I think, you know, there's, there's an ability to that and I it's a great public service.

And so I think it's hearing the back story.

I, I've enjoyed hearing the why.

Yes.

And the how of how they got there.

Right off of what, what brought you to this, to this point.

So that's what I've kind of enjoyed it.

It's a chance to see, you know, what we want to do with the show is, is put a spotlight on the positive things happening in our community.

Right?

And there's no bigger cheerleader in any community than its mayor, usually.

Yep.

That's right.

That's when when done.

Well.

Yeah.

That's right.

And so I think that's what I've enjoyed is, you know, we're bringing these folks in to champion the great things that are happening, in there.

And that's there's nothing wrong with being a career politician.

But to your point, they're not usually career politicians.

So I can't remember who it was the head on, but I didn't have a slogan or anything.

I didn't know I had to get yard signs right.

I was like, wow, what on earth made you think of?

I just knew and talk to people in that, you know, people told me I thought I'd be good.

Yeah, yeah.

That's right.

And then I lost, but I bet.

Yeah.

Yeah, sure.

Well, and that's what I mean.

Friends of mine that have, run for office.

I mean, I think almost every single one of them lost their first election.

Yeah, because we've lost a lot of stuff.

I lost my election.

Yeah.

Do you want to talk about that excruciating pain?

I don't know that it went over it.

When did you.

What?

Did you run for it?

I ran for judge in 2013.

Team?

I'm sure I voted for you.

You probably did.

I wasn't here.

Yeah, but I would not have voted for you.

Well, I lost by two votes.

So thanks a lot.

That's right.

That's right.

Oh my goodness.

We talk about mayors kind of in addition to their current responsibilities.

I know, you know, we talked about for us, this is also, you know, this show for us is in addition to our current responsibilities, right, that we've got, which was time wise, wise, wise decision.

Yeah, absolutely.

So it's for me, it has changed my sleep schedule.

Okay.

Has that done the same for you guys?

Yeah.

It gets to be about 7 p.m.

at night.

And I was I'm like, well, yeah, I guess I'd better be heading up to bed.

I'm burning the midnight oil, which is moved up from 815.

Yeah, sure.

That's right.

Yeah, but it does cause you to be, you know, more organized.

Get things, try to get things, be more efficient during the day to get things done.

Because we're, we're using this time, to do the show now.

Yeah.

The number of times that I'd be up until, you know, 12, 1230 working on a project like that, that just can't happen.

And I'm usually at the gym.

Oh, yeah, that makes sense.

So I can see it.

Yeah, absolutely.

Now I just can't go.

Well, you're not show prepping that morning or night.

So we know that we know that much.

Oh, so now I can't go for another decade.

All right.

I don't know if sleep schedule will be on the topic of conversation for today, but we will be joined on the other side of this break, by Steve Salander, the mayor of the city of Oregon.

That and more coming up on the Mayor Monday edition of the 419.

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Each morning, the local thread only on HGTV.

Welcome back into the 419, a mayor Monday edition of the 419, and we're joined by the mayor of the City of Oregon, the new mayor of the City of Oregon, Steve Salander.

Steve, thank you so much for being here.

Yes.

Thank you.

Since December 1st, essentially several one.

Yes.

You are our newest mayor.

There you go.

Oh, yeah.

The station.

Yeah.

All right, I think graduations.

Thank you.

Do I get a little badge or anything?

Well, we think of it as a medium sized badge, but, yeah.

Okay.

All right.

Yeah, yeah.

What?

I guess, you know, was there ever a point that, you know, growing up that you thought I want to be the mayor someday?

Never in a million years.

Yeah, not at all.

Where I thought I'd be, I was more I was I was interested in music and band, and I wanted to be a band director, so I'm.

I'm the farthest thing from it possible right now.

There's, like, a mayor could be equated to your directing the city, I suppose so, yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Where I grew up in Elmore, Ohio.

Okay.

So, small town just kind of south of here.

Sure.

Your folks, music that we inclined or farmers or know.

What were they into?

My my dad was, a dentist, and my mom was a social worker.

So I suppose the social worker in me is a part of that, perhaps.

Yeah, as well.

But, I mean, my dad played, played, piano and that.

So.

Yeah.

I get that may be where some of my music came from.

What instrument?

Did you play?

I play trumpet.

You still play?

I would love to.

And I've gone back and tried to.

I still have my trumpet, but, you know, the muscles just aren't there anymore, but.

Sure, but, with.

I'm playing it during, city meetings.

The lay people off, I think I should.

I guess they would right away very quickly.

Right.

Get everyone's attention for that.

Yeah.

It just made me do a little taps.

Yeah, whatever you does.

That's right.

Anytime something gets voted down.

Yeah, yeah.

And your voice.

Yeah.

So as opposed to voting, that is your way of doing that.

That's it.

You're not.

Yeah.

That's how I feel about it.

You guys need more entertainment in your, in your council meetings.

Out in out in Oregon.

Well, I don't know, but we've got Padraic is a council president.

He's got a pretty good sense of humor.

So, he and I will work on that.

Yeah, but you were on council for a couple of years if I have this right?

Yes.

And what was the sort of leap that made you want to run for that?

Was there not.

Ha moment or decision or something that happened made you want to plug in?

Well, back in 2019, I really got involved with the when Lucas County was was working towards to consolidation.

911 dispatch.

As a former firefighter, I was a volunteer firefighter also for ten years.

So you've always been civic oriented.

This isn't your first trip to the plate here.

It's right as far as that goes.

You know, I'm.

Yeah, I've always been real community oriented.

Good for you.

And serving in there.

So, but that was when I got involved into it.

And I just, you know, I thought that the things I was, was seeing the government just wasn't connected with the people the way it should be.

And I thought, well, there's only one way to change, and that's to get involved and get in it.

Yeah.

Good for you.

Yeah.

And the, the natural resting position, I think, for most folks in the community is just to, you know, complain, complain about it with your thumbs on Facebook.

Yeah.

Right.

Right.

Again, don't you wish you did that.

Yeah.

Well, it's so much easier just to post in the comment section for sure.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah I mean that's that's not a, that's not a normal leap.

Yeah.

Statement to go, hey I don't like what's happening.

I want to be a part of the solution.

Right.

It's a there's so many people that just I don't like what's happening period.

Yeah.

It was it's funny that you say being part of the solution because, shortly after that, we started a community service group, that we call Be the Solution.

Okay.

That was kind of where that came from as well.

So, yes, you know, I think a good friend of ours, the common phrase is deeds.

Deeds, not words.

Yeah.

So.

Sure.

You know, that's that's where we're we're called to do so when you sat down at the kitchen table, though, and finally decided, do you have did you have a, like a literal kitchen cabinet that you bounced off of, or were you just driving and said, I'm going to do this?

What was the moment to say, this is how I'm going to plug in and city council and there, you know, it just really like I say, back in 2019 and when I first ran is a write in because I kind of get into things a little late to get on the ballot.

But, you know, my girlfriend and I were very active in that, and, and she was like, heck yeah, she get away from me.

She was like, I want you to.

Yeah, I need you out of the house.

Right.

You can work security at night at the mall, right?

Yes.

Yeah.

No, but and sort of but, yeah, but yeah, you know, she and I like I said, we're, we're, we're a team and all this sounds like, you know, and, and more than just life itself and, and so.

Yeah, I mean, she and I were just like, we she does not want to be in the spotlight.

She likes to be on the other side of the camera, if you will.

And, so you know, not that I enjoy being at front, but I'm willing to do it.

So, So, yeah, she and I just decided, hey, we got to get going and get involved in this, you know what I mean?

It's we love our city and we love our, you know, our region, and we want to make it as good as we can.

What brought you to the city of Oregon from your hometown?

My girlfriend actually.

Yeah.

She's to blame.

She's to blame?

Yeah.

That's right.

Yeah.

You can blame what's right on that camera.

Yeah.

Sorry.

Yeah, sure.

But, Yeah.

But, yeah, I was, you know, I had lived out no more Woodville than that.

And, so it had some life changes and, met her and and she said, you know, if we're going to we're going to do this.

I mean, you're going to need to move closer to where I'm at right now.

This is the way it worked out.

Her, actually have Verizon.

Sure.

So that's where love happened.

I know I T-Mobile, that's where divorce happened.

That is.

Yeah, that's why I stay.

Where are you both working there.

Yeah.

Yeah, we're just happened to be customers there or what was she.

She happened to be a customer.

Yeah, she walked in and then I helped her.

I want to thank Motorola for, for this relationship.

Yeah.

You're right.

Yeah.

If you're listening.

Motorola.

Right.

And our show.

Sure.

Yeah, yeah I do.

It's, you know, phones and stuff.

Yeah.

No, I don't know.

I don't think I'm a politician.

Cut that out.

Okay?

Yeah, but we do.

You make it.

Yeah, definitely.

I don't want to bring up, a really sore subject here and put you on the spot, but it is Oregon or Oregon.

Have you brought yourself to be done?

Okay, it is Oregon.

Oregon was here before Oregon.

So.

Yeah, go for this.

Although they did it the wrong way I love it.

Yes, you heard it here first.

We break a lot of news on the show, as you can imagine.

Yes.

There you go.

You were you were here first in those backwater hippies out there.

Have it wrong.

Your words.

Mr.. That's a yes.

Now it's with Oregonians.

That is the correct.

That's right.

As as it as to the pronunciation, I mean, do hear local saying it incorrectly.

Locals do not.

You can tell when you're not alone.

When you say Oregon, make a mistake.

Make them say the name, right.

Yes.

That's right.

Yes.

That's right.

Get out.

That's right.

I love it.

When I got to Stanford, I had, this last football season.

We added that.

UT added doing like the starting lineups for football.

Yeah.

And so I've never read off the hometown of football players before.

Okay.

Because like basketball starting lineups, you know I there's ten there's.

Yeah that's right.

Yeah.

Football a little more challenging.

Yeah.

But we would do you know why it's more challenging Gretchen.

Because there's more players.

Yeah.

Diego.

Me more.

No it's okay.

It's not that show.

Well, for 12 more.

Yeah.

That's it.

Yeah.

And so, Right.

Okay.

She's actually not wrong.

Yeah.

So we would do offensive defense just for Toledo, and I, like, back to back.

Had to say, Oregon.

And the first time it came out, it came out as Oregon.

Oh.

And I was like, in my head, I was like, that is not what I meant to say.

Yeah.

Because, like, I'm just in this mode where I see the word and I say it.

Sure.

Yeah.

And it's like, nope.

Oregon.

Yeah.

That's basically that's how reading goes.

Kevin.

Yeah, that's great.

Yeah.

So I'm do with this.

Mr.

Mayor, you you mentioned that you were a firefighter.

Do you remember sort of the earliest time in your life that you were interested in public service or volunteering?

And what was that?

I would say, the earliest recollection I would have were actually one wanting to be in the military.

Okay.

This is my dad was, was in the Air Force and, you know, and so I that's was that was my plan initially was, was military, life changes, things didn't happen.

So I, you know, I ended up being too old to be in the military.

And I thought, well, I can be a firefighter.

And actually, I had my application fill out to to join Woodville Township, and then 911 happened.

And so I went home from work, and I picked up that adaptation and took it right down to the fire station and submitted it so and so.

Woodville is where you served as a firefighter?

Yes.

Ward.

What township?

Yeah.

And how long did you do that?

About ten years.

About ten years.

It was the most rewarding time.

Well, one of the most rewarding times in my life, truly, and I believe, shaped your kind of position and some of your, you know, passion around the nine, 11 or that.

Yes.

And I'm on one consolidation as well.

Yes.

Yes, absolutely.

Yeah.

You know, I just, obviously the dispatch is extremely important and angels on our shoulders, you know, on the other side of the phone there, on one of what may be one of our worst days.

So there's so many things to that people take for granted.

And that's not a criticism of them because they're they're born at a time where those things just existed.

Right.

And that hasn't always been the case.

And there's an overwhelming amount of decision making and complexity to having those services, be available to people.

And they're no longer services.

Right?

This is a desperately needed.

I mean, there's a call, going out at this very second is we're talking about it, right?

Oh, yeah.

So when you when you plugged in talking a little bit about the leadership in that path, I know that, nine and one dispatch might not be an interesting subject matter for the show, but it isn't.

It is interesting how somebody who knows it plugs in and helps shape, how decisions are made.

Can you talk a little bit about your your involvement in that?

So really the leadership in the shaping in that, I, we worked and we put together a really good, collaboration of different people throughout the, throughout the county in that, whether it be we had other former firefighters, current firefighters, police officers, other dispatchers, that I, you know, I was able to develop relationships with mayors from other cities at that time as a citizen.

And I still maintain many of those relationships here still today.

And they definitely shaped my path along the way because I learned so much from them.

And they're trusted advisors, even again to this day, that I still reach out to and still talk to.

Can we talk?

Can we talk a little bit before Gretchen, a dumb question.

Let me ask you your favorite fire related movie or show.

Oh.

Oh.

There was one rescue me.

Yes.

One of my.

Yes.

Yeah, that's a great one.

All right.

Yes.

Yeah.

All right.

Gretchen, please proceed so everyone can take.

That was the best question I've had all day.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's why my last five minutes early.

Yeah.

You don't.

Yeah.

Yeah.

No.

Okay.

Solely down from your brother.

All right.

You've been the mayor for about 65 days.

Yeah.

Tell us about where you are.

Have you moved into your office?

Do you are the nameplates change?

Like what?

What have you been doing?

How has your schedule changed so far?

Yes, I in the office, we've actually brought back the putting the mayor in the original mayor's office, where he wasn't in before, but, but so we are in there, and we had a change in our law director, so we had that change.

We have, we're working towards a change right now in our city administrator.

So we got a lot on our plate right now.

But how?

It really changed my day, though.

I mean, I spend, you know, when I'm not working at my 9 to 5, you know, or even on lunch, I'm doing mayoral things.

So I think that's, I mean, we talked about in the very first segment, I mean, that's a that's a unique thing for Oregon that you're not a full time mayor.

I mean, you have a full time job outside of this.

And then, oh, by the way, in your free time, can you run this entire city?

Right.

Yeah.

How do you I mean, how do you balance that?

Is that, you know, as you look at this, is that the right model for Oregon?

I think it works because, you know, the city where a city administrator, charter city.

So, that's kind of the one who needs to be there full time.

Sure.

So, I mean, with technology that we have now, you know, and being able to, you know, I'm savvy in that as well.

So it makes it nice because thanks to Motorola.

Yes, thanks to Motorola, actually.

Yes.

That's right.

Yeah.

Very well done.

Yes, yes.

But you know, with being able to do virtual meetings or I have a laptop that I can take and plug in to do things when I need to on lunch and things like that.

So it, you know, it makes it work.

And I stop over to head to the city building almost every evening after work and sure, spend some time there and do what I need to do there, sign the papers.

And it's it might sound like a, toss off point, but talk to me a little about, the mayor's office and why, geographically, you're having a hub.

They have a bit of a story to tell, which I will not boring one with him and my in my day job, but moving that office into its original location, there has to be meeting there.

Can you talk to me a bit about that decision?

Yes, yes.

So, when through the for the last few years and different campaigns and such, I really got a really close relationship and a good friendship with former Mayor Marge Brown and her husband Lenny, which she just recently passed just before the election.

So, Yeah, it was it was.

We really wanted her to be there for it.

Yeah.

When she still was just not in the way we had originally imagined.

But, so that she had was the last one to be in the actual mayor's office.

And so it was important to, you know, from supporters that I, that I talked to, that the mayor was in the mayor's office so that that was kind of the symbolic part of it.

Sure.

You know, then the administration building there adjacent to.

To where?

The courthouse.

Yes.

Correct.

Yes.

And I mean, somebody is there.

The light is on metaphorically and literally sometimes.

Right.

That's the symbolism of things, again, not dissimilar to our comment about people.

Just take that for granted.

Sometimes you forget that people want or need to see that presence, right?

Like your stuff is in the office, like that is where you govern.

Yeah, I get it.

You give us my first nonprofit job.

When I took over as the CEO of this organization, I had said, we're a small organization, the biggest office in our office was the CEO's office, and we didn't have a a conference room with a door you can close.

I was like, that would make for a great, like, small conference room.

We got, you know, meetings with three, 4 or 5 people would be perfect for that.

Sure.

And I had, an advisor of mine that said, you you can make that change one year in, but day one, you have to go into that office because people have to know you're the CEO and it can't be you can't stay in your current office.

You have to make that, that, that geography.

Means something which you don't know.

Mr.

Mayor is Kevin self-employed.

So that conversation you just where we told us between he and his wife.

That's okay.

That's exactly right.

Still got the right.

I am I'm interested in certainly I want to talk about kind of your visions and goals for the city.

I'm also interested in talking about, you know, how you truly serve as a mayor for everybody.

Especially kind of coming through a campaign of, like, hey, I'm I'm the opposite of what you got, right?

And I'm looking to do something different.

And there's folks that liked what they had.

So how do you, I want to talk a little bit and we'll be on the other side of the break, talk about how you truly what are the tactical things you're doing to be a mayor for everybody.

We're talking with Steve Salander, the mayor of the city of Oregon, on a mayor Monday edition of the 419.

We'll be right back.

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Where you come to watch, listen and learn.

Welcome back into the 419 a mayor Monday edition.

And we're talking with the mayor of the city of Oregon.

We're gone.

I got it, I got it, I got I worked there for four years.

I can do this.

Steve Salander.

Steve, thank you so much.

Enjoy the conversation.

I know Gretchen told me during the break she has to get the first question.

This.

I did not say that, but I will go.

I will take it.

Okay.

You were on council for two years, and you decide to go run against a four term mayor.

What caused you to make that decision?

It was time for change.

You know, it really was time for a change.

You just.

We needed to change the the way the city was.

The image of the city.

And just kind of the general culture of the city, just felt that it just needed some change.

You know, our, our our, I guess, theme or whatever was, you know, the the time is now, the opportunities now.

And we just had to get in there and and just make a change.

16 years is a long time for anybody to be in office.

I mean, in my opinion, I think.

Well, I think it was too long.

You know, I think people get comfortable in the seat for for that long and maybe lose focus on what they really wanted to be in that seat in the first place.

And so I think it was just time to get that change and put some a new set of eyes and a new focus.

Well, 63% of the voters obviously agree with you.

Yes, that blew me away with the right choice.

Yes.

Yeah.

That's not tight.

Yes.

Right.

But but but the reality is, you know, he had won four elections.

And so the city four different times had said this is the person we want to lead.

Obviously your campaign's coming in saying, you know, that's actually not the right direction for the city.

63% of people agree with you, but there's still 37%.

That sure didn't.

Right.

What what did you do?

You know, what are the first things you've done to, to be the mayor for the 37% that that didn't want you in that seat?

Well, my big thing really is you've had them removed from.

I've had them removed?

Yes.

It was just get them out.

They live in Elmore now.

Yeah.

That's right.

Time to go.

I brought their houses down.

Yes, we sent them to East as a firefighter.

You know what?

I get away with it.

That's right.

But, so it was just a matter of my big thing is that people need to be heard, and that's whether the people that that that agree with me or the people that don't, they all need to be heard.

So even though those that 37% may not agree with me, I still believe that they need to be heard.

What are the ways that Oregonians can either can engage with their city or you now and then?

What plans do you have to increase that engagement or allow people to be able to communicate with you?

I mean, the different ways that I mean, we have all that sort of technology of, of text, email, you know, those sorts of things.

The big thing for me was also making even the city council meetings, when they have their one opportunity to address all of city council, that it was a welcoming space, that it was, you know, you weren't going to be getting up there and being attacked and being bullied and, and so forth by, by anyone.

And so that was the first thing was making it accessible, making it easy and safe to come up there and be able to say what you have to say, even if you want to say, you know what, Steve?

I think you're an idiot.

You know, I'm going to just sit there and smile.

Yeah, sure.

I'll say thanks, honey.

I'll see you at home.

Yes.

Yes, exactly.

Bingo.

Yeah, yeah.

But it's also just really been that.

Just making sure that regardless of whether you agree with me or not, or I agree with you or not, that we still have that conversation where you're facing a big issue in Oregon.

It was it was one of the key issues in the campaign.

And that's data centers.

I think just this week the developer, has asked for an extension of time.

Correct.

But can you just give an update on that what your position is.

And so many communities around Toledo are facing this data center issue.

Yeah.

Can you talk a bit about that.

And also is it data or data in the you know, I, I call it data.

Yeah.

All right.

Yeah.

Good.

Yeah.

All right.

Yeah.

I think of Star Trek, but, that's you guys know, data from Star Trek?

Okay.

Oh, I do okay.

Yes.

You next generation.

Yes, sir.

Absolutely.

Got it.

Was the show is about Star Trek, I know.

Right?

Right.

So much better.

Yeah.

Go ahead.

Up for me.

Up?

Yes.

Yeah.

So right in my position, really, on the data centers is just a matter of.

I'm at a point where I'm truly not either for or against.

It's a matter of we need to have the information that we need to have to make the right intelligent decision on it, inform decision on it.

So there are a lot of questions that still need to be answered, that sometimes, you know, just where we're at in the process and with confidentiality of the end user and so forth, they really can't give a whole lot of information just quite yet.

But we're doing it piece by piece and getting there.

Also focusing on the the people that are opposed to it.

What are your, you know, solid reasons why our location is, is in your mind, not the right spot for it.

What are your concerns?

The sound, the noise, the, you know, whatever it may be, the light, the the usage of electricity and water and so forth.

So how can we take those, those concerns and validate them?

And now what steps can we take to mitigate those as best we can?

So it's just a matter of, you know, taking the negatives that people have brought forward or Miss Stern's or Miss.

Yep.

And because they're not all necessarily accurate for our location.

Totally.

You know, as they may be accurate for another location, why we were talking about this before the show started.

And one thing I don't understand about these centers is it seems like all again, like I said, all the communities around us are facing this issue.

What information, how many of these are needed?

What type of space do they surface?

Area do they serve that all of these communities are being confronted with this issue?

They they need a lot of space.

I mean, hundreds of of acres.

The mega one is about 700 acres.

Yeah, yeah.

So we're looking at I believe it's 170 acres at our site.

So it's not quite as large, but it's still large.

So I mean, that's one of the things there that, you know, there and some of the other areas they're looking at, you know, what our currently agriculture, where ours is technically it really it has been for a long time zoned as an industrial park.

So although you look out there and you see a farm field, it is an industrial park.

But, you know, like I say, you still have to consider those, those concerns of the, of the citizens.

They are valid and they need to be addressed.

And they need to be heard.

So, you know, just doing our best to do our due diligence to make to truly see where we're at, because we're not yet in a point where it's where it's a done deal.

It's definitely not a done deal yet.

And so it may come.

It may not come.

What else do you consider to be a real priority for you?

Yeah, one of your.

I'm interested in your pillars, data centers is the hot topic, right?

But, you certainly just didn't start, your campaign or went to plug in as a result of data centers or data centers.

So what are what are the other pillars or, priorities for you?

For me, you know, it's quality of life is important to me.

And that's one of the things with the data centers to the that you're looking at, what is how is the impact quality of life.

So, you know, we we don't I felt like we didn't.

And a lot of the people, as I talked throughout the campaign and through the last several years, just didn't feel there was enough family entertainment, things to do as a family in Oregon or Oregon.

And yeah, you're welcome.

Yeah.

But, you know, just trying to trying to do that, trying to bring out what is special about our city.

You know, we have a lake right there.

Our city is very unique.

It in the sense that it's a city.

But we've got the lake, we've got the agriculture, we've got, you know, the parts.

The third busiest metro park in the county.

Nice.

That's.

How would you know that?

Yeah, I don't know.

We get a lot of fan mail here.

Yeah, yeah.

But it's you know, we're unique.

Like I say, we're unique.

And we have the birders that come here, you know?

So it's a big that's a big thing in our in our area.

So the amount of people that are not aware and I was guilty of this too.

I grew up, in the city of Toledo, and I didn't think of myself as a river kid.

Certainly not a lake kid, but Oregon.

What's up against the lake?

And it's beautiful.

Yeah, yeah, I sort of an untapped resource is unfair to it because it is tapped.

But it is beautiful.

It is.

I mean that in a positive way.

Yeah.

It is a beautiful place.

It does have a lot of amenities, and it's a great place to live.

How many people live in Oregon?

Roughly 20,000.

I want to say it's about 19,800, but which is right up to 20.

Yes, sir.

All right, I'll take that.

Yeah.

So, quality of life.

You moved to Oregon.

One of the things that you do for fun.

Where do you eat?

Well, actually, there's a sign right behind you over there, Buffalo Road Brewing Company.

Yeah, that's one of my faves right there.

Yeah.

Great new place right there.

I don't know what it is, but salmon.

Right.

That's right.

Yeah.

Yep.

Yeah.

So you going to win?

What's your, when you're having a single responsible beer?

What is what's your go to, at, Buffalo Rock?

You know, they have so many different ones that I really enjoy.

Okay.

Right now they have one called Miami Spice that, is made with habanero.

Yeah.

If you like.

Just a little bit of kick in there.

Sure.

It's it's it's an interesting beverage to have.

I love it.

Well, and I'm biased toward Buffalo Rock because their brewery is inside.

It's the old fire station, correct.

Oh, okay.

So it's such a cool venue.

Yeah.

In Waterville, they went into the old car wash.

Oh, sure.

Right.

And so, yeah, I there's a unique kind of piece there, but, it's a great location.

I mean, it is we we drive by it, literally three times a week, in the summer is we're going back and forth to Oregon rec for baseball.

Sure.

And it's it's always packed.

Yeah.

It's great.

Yeah.

We're driving by a building.

What an exciting anecdote, Kevin.

What what what's the what are the key businesses or industries in Oregon that that, that are there?

Well, I mean, the refineries are the biggest ones.

You know, we have the two refineries, which, I mean, I believe there's only four in the state of Ohio.

So for us to have two right here in Oregon is huge.

And then we have the hospitals, you know, we have Bay Park and Saint Charles.

So those are kind of four of our, our biggest, businesses in Oregon currently.

So I've been to Bay Park, no less than 15 times for your tubes.

I can tell you that.

It's a fantastic place.

And I'm sure I'll be missed.

Yeah.

We're gonna dive into, the hardest part of this interview and a minute.

But what's what's the.

If you could accomplish one thing in your term, what's the one thing you want to do other than being on this show?

I want this.

Yeah.

No I didn't.

Yes, yes.

That's right.

Boy, that's that's a good question.

I know, I mean, the town center has been, just starting, you know, I personally I thought it was not the best financial decision initially, but.

And it sat there for six years, but now we're finally starting to seeing some action starting in 2026, going down to our avenue.

So, the vision that I've talked about with, some of the other staff there, for that town center area, if we can bring it that to fruition, I think that will greatly impact the quality of life, with having a green space for some, for music, entertainment, things like that, and some, some unique stores and restaurants over there.

And of course, Olive garden, which Olive Garden in Oregon, if you've ever been in the group, you know how badly that or you guys wanted Olive garden.

So I don't know what the next joke is going to be.

Yeah, we'll we'll find one.

Yeah.

Let's just search for maybe I'll be in Vegas.

Joe.

Guy, trader, Trader Joe's.

Yeah, you can put it right on top of the Olive garden.

Yeah.

Let's go.

Yep, that's Trader Garden.

All right.

Save that magic for your next campaign.

All right.

Yeah.

It's now time for Gretchen's wacky quiz.

Let's play the trumpet.

But, I mean, there you go.

All right, I'm gonna give you four rapid fire questions.

Oh, my.

Gretchen is going to ask you for your favorite thing.

Okay.

In Oregon.

Okay.

And then is going to have you describe the region in nine words.

Exactly nine words, not eight, not ten.

All right, we'll do not 11 either.

So just the count.

Absolutely.

Just say the nine does.

Yeah okay.

All right.

Question number one.

If you had to give someone a book you've read, which book would it be?

Boy, there are quite a few, actually.

There's one that I enjoy called Outwitting the Devil.

All right.

It's it's a book where they talk about, where they talk about they're interviewing the devil and learning how the devil uses things to get us to drift off of the right path.

Interesting.

It's it's quite interesting.

The first quarter, or probably chapter two chapters is a little slow, but it's a good book.

So it's a really good book.

What chances would you give yourself of surviving a zombie apocalypse?

5% not mean I want to survive it.

Yeah.

No, no, I although I have friends that I think if I did stick by them, I'd be good.

So you just.

You don't need to be the fastest.

Just don't be too slow.

That's right.

Have you ever tried a fashion trend and failed?

That's a good question.

Did your girlfriend answer this?

Yeah, I think so.

We've actually have her answers dude.

Oh God.

It's the entire third segment.

Oh my god.

Oh my god.

Geez I don't know.

I'm sure I did.

I was probably back in the let's go with the in the 80s with the neon.

Okay.

Everyone failed at that.

Everybody failed at that.

I don't think it was possible to win at that.

Yeah, well, I guess you guys having watch a little show called Miami Vice.

Oh, yeah.

That's true.

Yes.

Right.

Michael Mann, that's Matt's favorite show.

Yeah, it's a favorite show.

If you had 60s to speak to the whole world, what would you say?

Oh, boy.

Be kind, be nice, be compassionate.

Love serve.

Yeah.

What's your number one most favorite thing about the city of Oregon?

Buffalo.

Right.

Brewing, my man.

All right, now comes the hard part of the show.

Nine words to describe either Oregon for the region.

Oregon.

I would say community.

Community.

What?

Good.

Caring, caring, loving.

Unified.

Somewhat unified.

Somewhat.

That's two words.

I'll take you.

All right.

Yeah, we're halfway right.

All right.

Very dialed in, dialed in.

Is that 2 or 2 more?

Absolutely.

You're rolling now.

You've got Chico.

Oh, my God, I got Chico.

Yeah, we got to hit all the buttons.

Three more.

Potential olive garden.

Potential olive garden.

Yeah.

There we go.

Last one.

You're down to one word.

Trader Joe's my man.

All right.

First.

Sure are credit Trader Joe's Steve Salander.

Thank you so much for joining us on the program.

We hope you come back and keep us updated on the great things that are happening in Oregon.

Yeah.

Thank you.

When we come back, we're going to talk.

I mentioned that drive past Buffalo Rock on my way to the Oregon Rec.

I'm excited to be joined by Hank Fox from the Oregon Rec to talk about some of the great things they're doing to keep folks in Oregon happy and healthy and active.

It's the Mayor Monday edition of the 419.

We'll be right back.

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Welcome back into the 419.

It's a mayor Monday edition of the 419, and we're dropping in on the city of Oregon.

We're joined now by Hank Fox, the recreation program coordinator for the city of Oregon.

I think you and I've known each other for a couple of years, through rec sports.

I will say just to kick this off, like of all of my experiences as a player, as a coach and as a parent, I have had nothing but phenomenal experiences with Oregon Rec, and I have told every other league I'm involved in, I need you to take notes because whatever you guys are doing, it's working.

It's a really well oiled machine.

Thank you for memorizing that.

Exactly how I wrote it.

Yeah.

It's right.

Yeah.

I appreciate it.

I'd like to reciprocate that and say, you're the type of coach that when you walk into our office and we see how you interact with the children and the programs, and you put the program in its totality before any personal whims or wants, you're the type of person we'd like to clone, so thank you.

Now they don't wait.

Hardaway.

That's not even.

Gretchen.

I leave you all the time.

Stage show.

I didn't realize it.

I mean, we recorded Vince.

I didn't know today was Valentine's Day.

It's Hank's job to say nice things to the volunteer coaches.

That's right, that's right.

It's getting warmer in the.

Yeah.

Studio.

What you had.

Let's let's go back to, you know, let's start a little bit kind of your background.

Where you from?

What got you into this work?

Okay, well, I'm originally from East Side, close to Oregon, right off Parker Street, south to south of the Wheat Stadium.

Yeah, I know, Prior Street.

So then my dad moved us out to Oak Harbor in the 70s, and then after college, I went to college in Pittsburgh at Carnegie Mellon.

After I graduated there, I came back and I lived.

What brought you to Carnegie Mellon?

Football.

Yeah.

Of course.

Recruited there for football and academics.

So.

Sure.

What position?

Strong safety, my man.

Yeah.

So the two just, making some notes.

There you go.

And I lived.

Then I came back little.

I lived in Oregon on the east.

Moreland lived off Howard Sylvania.

Yeah, I lived off, I can't remember the in the street.

It's kind of adjacent to manse.

He's that Phillips Louis.

Sure area.

Five points back in there.

So I've kind of, you know, lived around in that area and then, now I'm in Port Clinton and, do you participate in the, the fish trap?

I, I watch it from a distance.

I'm not a big party, or so to sp All right.

Good crowd.

I can tolerate in small doses.

Yes, I get it, brother.

That's what it is.

A great event.

Yeah.

Is I drop.

Yeah.

But, yes, I'm in Port Clinton now.

I still work with the family business.

We've been business this year.

41st year.

I coached gymnastics with ten business class A performing arts and tumbling.

Yeah.

No, Kabir.

Okay, tell me, how did that start?

40 years.

That's certainly not by accident.

My mother, who came over from Ireland.

She's actually a Pikey was a gypsy from the wagons.

Yeah, yeah.

So I'm first generation of Gypsy.

Yeah.

Okay.

Hold on one second.

Okay.

Yeah.

She came over and, she she had danced over in Ireland and me and my sister involved in dance when we were younger.

I actually dance for 25 years.

So little side note, are you in your mom?

Close.

She passed.

Yeah.

I'm sorry.

No.

That's fine.

She passed over your mama's boy.

Yeah, I was a mama's boy.

That.

Yeah.

She was my.

We.

Mumsy.

Yeah.

Ireland.

Yeah.

But, yeah, she started in 1985.

My sister, was four years old.

Me, Paula Fox.

She had been dancing and she said, hey, let's start a business.

And they did.

And it's clear she took off.

Yes, sir.

Yeah.

One of my nieces run it with my sister.

Yeah.

What a great.

I help when I can.

Yeah.

So it's dance.

It's, tumbling gymnastics, the Irish dance.

They're, They used to teach Irish step dance.

If you got competitive dance, they really prided themselves, on teaching the art and embracing the art.

Yes.

Not so much winning prizes and accolades and going to competitions.

They do do that, but, they teach everything and do a great job at it.

But this is the basis of a reality show.

Okay?

Irish family.

I love it.

All right?

I'm in a kitchen.

What is your favorite dance related movie?

Just is this for me to answer on my own or what?

We kind of talked about on the break.

Which I think we never talk.

Oh, probably.

Probably fame or in.

Well done, Hank.

And what an honest and earnest answer right off the top of your fame.

Classic movie fame.

Yeah.

All right.

So, so football, gymnastics, tap dance, like boxing.

I boxed in college as well.

When I broke my neck.

When supply shift broke your neck?

Yes.

That was.

Yeah.

Why did we waste all the time with the mayor?

No.

We could have had all this.

We need five segments with you.

Yeah, obviously.

So a lot of different sports.

But I want to try and use that transition to work on rec, right.

Because there's a lot of different offerings and there's this big push.

I feel like the, the a you push is to create specialists at a very young age.

And I'm, I mean, I'm not for it.

And it's about trophies and things of that variety too.

But there was a time, right.

Well, you have to again, I'm a public servant.

I serve the public and there's, regardless of the prior mayor hired me and Mayor Sounders, and now I still work for it.

Doesn't matter who you work for.

No disrespect.

You know, Charlie Brown could be the next mayor.

Not saying that, Steve.

Charlie Brown was named after Steve.

And if I'm still there, you serve twice.

I serve the people.

Yes, sir.

I embrace my friendships with all employees of city and whoever is in Mary, and I want to nurture that friendship as well.

But when you serve the public, obviously there's diverse, you know, pieces of the pie who has their own ideology of what sports should be, as you mentioned.

And there is a push for people, and kids at such a young age to thrive so early and find their specialty and just, you know, and, you know, instead of trying everything out, you know, dabble in it, so to speak.

But, I mean, you are an example of that man, a strong safety and also a tap dancer and all these, oh, dabbler.

Yeah, that's important.

Right?

I mean, just as you mentioned, I think, and these are my words, so please correct them.

But the philosophy of your mom's, studio is that you're not training or are creating competitive dancers.

You certainly have, I'm sure.

But what you're doing is molding young people to have discipline.

Sense of self-worth.

Right?

Or, to track a teacher.

And that translates over to sports.

And we experience the same thing there, just like Kevin said.

You know, even in dance or it's dances, athletics, you still have that small contingency that they want to.

Well, let's go get these trophies to go to these competitions and get them at the top.

You know, instead of nurturing the fundamentals and instilling a strong core of skill, a skill set, whatever it may be, for whatever sport, dance, baseball, yeah, that kind of gets lost, I think, sometimes.

But as I mentioned, having to serve everyone in the public in its totality.

If there's a group who want that, you know, option, we still have to serve it and we still have to pursue it to some extent, trying to find that balance, it's never going to be perfect.

But you talk to us about kind of just the the broad offering that we're getting recognized and also the facilities.

I think our I mean, our first class as well.

Yes.

Kind of work that backwards.

Sure.

Our facilities also, you know, kudos to the mayor and city council and local businesses and our grounds crew.

They do a phenomenal job.

I guess setting the stage from physical sense and from a metaphorical sense, they offer us tremendous resources.

They don't micromanage us.

They hold us in check and keep us up to date on what they're hearing from the community.

So, yes, our facility is I don't know if you've ever been out there.

I know you have.

Yeah.

It's you know, we have a splash pad and a fitness court, and the only thing we're really lacking, and that is something we may tackle moving forward, is indoor space.

We have a great relationship with schools.

They do so much, and they're so courteous to accommodate us.

Allows you gym space.

But they do have to serve their student body and their athletic teams.

So we kind of have to work with what's kind of left over.

We have a great relationship and we make it work.

But moving forward, if we should, we get some indoor space that would take us, I believe, to the next level from a facility standpoint.

But yes, our outside facilities facilities are spectacular.

Yeah.

that's hands off to the grounds crew.

I mean, those guys, Tim Root and his guys are great.

I mean, yeah, I mean soccer fields, baseball fields, turf baseball fields, veterans Park South Shore, satellite locations, the bike path.

People don't realize how big I couldn't give you an exact number, but the footprint of what these guys cover, and we manages acres.

And it's humbling to me for our grounds.

And my interaction with you is through youth sports.

But you guys do more than just youth sports.

Yes, we have, you know, your staples, your baseball, softball, soccer, flag football, girls flag football, which is becoming huge.

Yes.

Soccer beginner soccer, lacrosse, basketball, volleyball.

We do do those are your your bat and ball, you know, stereotypical sports programs.

But yes, we do try to offer some other things.

You know, the fitness court, we did get really heavy into some art programs, cooking and art classes and partnered with Clay High School for some culinary classes.

That was large during Covid.

Yeah, sure.

Yeah.

Obviously you had to kind of pivot in kind of, you know, you know, what is good for you for doing it.

I mean, yeah, you could have done nothing.

Yeah.

But not pat yourself in your crew on the back.

How big is the team?

Your, art.

Well, in the office, there's three of us.

And then we have our our ground supervisor, and then they have seasonal employees, you know, and then concessions.

But, I mean, that's the one thing about work I love that I've come to find is.

It's like being in a family where it doesn't matter which department the rec, the streets, department, water.

You know, we're all part of the same family.

Some, you know, sometimes my butt heads on a few things.

But at the end of the day, I've really felt like it's a family environment and they ultimately have each other's backs.

You can get more information about the offerings at Oregon.

Ohio.

Com.

The question I have is why is this the job of the city to have these facilities in these places?

Well, partially because our rec department, like many communities, we are part of the municipality, so that falls directly upon us.

Just by proxy, I mean, that's, you know, we're part of the city that specific department of the city, and we're there to serve the people and and enhance their, you know, experiences, not whether it be the political side of things that, you know, Steve can handle that.

Sure.

The recreational side of things, the community side of things.

We all have a specific service.

The streets department, they got to keep people safe, right?

It's it's a collective effort.

And it all of a small part of that all falls to each department.

But then again, the synergistic effect of that, I think, is quite to me in Oregon, it's it's top it's top shelf.

You've had a really diverse, athletic career or dabbling yourself.

What is the most difficult thing you've had to do?

In your own athletic career?

Is it a particular dance move or filling in a gap?

From dance to strong safety to all the things you've done, what's the most difficult thing that you've you've been able to do, even if it was a failure?

Probably when I broke my neck to, at that time, you know, I went to small school, Carnegie Mellon, everyone dreams of going to the big.

I had had some conversations with Paul Hackett down at the University of Pitt, potentially walking on just to get the chance to bang heads with the big boys.

And then two games later that season broke my neck on a kick off.

I was a head hunter back then, you know, everyone speared.

There was no form pack when you got your helmet was a weapon.

Fortunately.

That was quite a humbling.

Yeah.

When you feel the impact on your lay there for 20 minutes and you can't move, right.

And then my arm was paralyzed for two weeks.

But you had to come back from that, and I was going to play football again.

But it does put things in perspective.

That's just a small sliver of you can't let a sport define you.

Your character, your integrity trump all that in my mind.

So then I was highly intelligent and went back into boxing because, you know, that's not hard on your head, right?

That's right.

Now, the the neck injury.

What's next?

Boxing.

That's right.

Yeah, yeah.

I worked my way up.

Yeah, that's exactly the obvious next choice.

That's right.

We as you, as you think about kind of your time with with Oregon.

And this has been how long I may miss after you're going into my ninth year.

Good for you.

Yeah, yeah.

What what do you hope kind of your legacy, in the city of Oregon is, I'm hoping that we.

As in the collective wreck, And I think I think with who we have in place, Tim Borden as our commissioner, you know, he's been there.

I couldn't tell you exactly, but I know it's in the 20 year, 20, 25 years.

He's like director accuracy.

Don't worry.

The actor just saying wonderful gets good.

Yeah.

He's, like, recreational for us.

For us.

So, he, he really, facilitates our efforts, and I guess I, I'd like it to be remembered as a department with directed because it's ever changing, just like council members and the mayor and all that, that family.

Unfortunately, you love to stay together forever, but that family changes.

So I'd like the rec department to remember it as one that was fair.

That try to serve everyone the best we could based on our resources and what was feasible based on, you know, the request coming in to us from the public.

And a lot of that, I hope that they would know that, the way we operated was we always tried to gain a good, perspective on what the community wants.

And in turn, hopefully they reciprocate that to us because I think that's paramount in any department and any business relationship is that we often times, like I hopefully you've had some good experiences at the rec.

Quite, quite a few that we told you for your first, you know, experiences positive.

You've gained that.

That's your.

Well, that's my perception of it.

That's good that you have a good first expression is.

And that's going to bring you back to have more experiences and then gain more perspective.

The flip side of that is oftentimes someone might not have a good experience the first time, and that's their perception, you know.

But we just ask, you know, that you gain some perspective, give things, don't don't base your perception of something on one experience, you know, gain some perspective.

I would hope that we did our best to gain some perspective on what the community wants as a whole, and we can implement.

And at the same time, the community's coming to understand that the rec department, we're here for you, but gain some perspective on what we do and why we do or don't do something you might or might not like.

What's at stake.

Thank you so much.

I appreciate what you're doing out in Oregon.

I appreciate you, obviously, part of part of what you're trying to do in the city to make it a nice place to, you know, live, work and play.

So, hey, thank you so much.

Thank you, thank you.

The, recreational program coordinator, low man on the totem pole.

But proud of it.

Yeah.

So that's what you do.

What?

You're doing great work.

We appreciate it.

When we come back, we'll wrap up this Mayor Monday edition and our tour of Oregon.

Ohio on the 419.

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Welcome back into the 419.

We're wrapping up a mayor Monday edition as we took a tour of Oregon, Ohio with Oregon Mayor Steve Salander and also from the rec sports department.

Hank Fox and Hank left us with some gifts.

Yes, Gretchen.

You've been.

I've been in the bag.

We have lip balm.

We have hand sanitizer.

We have a fidget spinner all branded.

It's nice.

We're going to put this on our shelf.

And you got a new, cell phone holding the phone holder.

Yep.

So now.

So very nice.

We didn't get to the gifts, which we demand, but it was very nice of Hank to bring these for us.

Absolutely.

I again, another enjoyable kind of tour of.

Yeah.

One of the cities around northwest Ohio.

Very much so.

Tree City, I don't think that's right.

Who's to say okay.

I mean, they could be a Tree City USA.

Yeah.

City.

Yeah, yeah, it could be a wait for the, Facebook.

I, I mean, Jimmy, I'm a huge fan of of, the rec sports.

Very.

When we started, when my kids were going to card Mr.

Rich.

Oh.

So naturally started going there.

Gotcha.

And, you know, now we don't go to Cardinal Stritch, but we still, make the trip back there and, you know, enjoy kind of having our kids participate in, you know, Juliet played softball.

The boys played baseball, played baseball, play baseball every year.

We're getting ready for our second season of ten.

You okay?

The coaches meeting.

We do a draft.

Oh.

To pick the team.

Gotcha.

And so that draft happens.

Got it.

I think another show this week.

Hank.

Back to tap dance and or break dance.

It's the 419 powered by CTE and presented by Retro Wealth Management.

When we come back tomorrow, we're talking Film Toledo with, Michael DeSanto and Doug Ball, all of that on more and more, more, more Tree City, Perfect Tree City, USA.

Thanks to our guest today.

And thank you for watching.

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