Northwood’s mayor had to cast the deciding vote on a resolution authorizing the city to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Mayor Ed Schimmel voted against the resolution at city council’s March 27 meeting.

The council vote was split 3-3, with Councilman Pat Huntermark absent. Voting in favor were Jim Barton, Louis Fahrbach, and Randy Kozina. Dean Edwards, Mike Melnyk, and Mark Stoner voted against it.

Before the vote, Mr. Fahrbach, who had introduced the resolution in February, said council action on this is necessary. He said leadership, such as police chiefs and administrators, change.

“Right now, we do fully cooperate with any federal and state law enforcement,” Mr. Fahrbach said. “Without a resolution in place, nothing prevents future leadership from shifting away from ICE cooperation.”

It ensures Northwood’s policy is codified, public, and enduring, he said.

“This resolution is not an administrative direction; it’s a policy statement,” Mr. Fahrbach said. “We’re affirming that ... city support, to cooperate with ICE. This is exactly the kind of empowerment that city council is directed and, in my opinion, obligated to take.”

When Mr. Edwards cast his “no” vote, he interjected, “I don’t think it’s needed.”

At the end of the council meeting, Mr. Fahrbach asked for a reconsideration from the three councilmen who voted “no.” He said he forgot to mention that Police Chief Jeffery Zahradnik endorsed the resolution.

Mr. Fahrbach’s request was met with silence.

“OK, thank you,” he said.

Mayor Schimmel could not immediately be reached for comment. In a previous interview, when asked about the resolution, he said the police chief already cooperates with all federal agencies.

The resolution states that the city recognizes the importance of upholding federal immigration laws in the interest of public safety and national security. ICE is the federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws and investigating criminal activities related to national security, public safety, and border integrity.

Cooperation between local law enforcement and federal agencies, including ICE, enhances the ability to address serious crimes such as human trafficking, drug smuggling, and violent criminal activity, the resolution stated.

During the audience commentary at the beginning of the meeting, one Northwood resident spoke in favor of the resolution, and three women who live in northwest Ohio said they were against it.

Gary Dunbar, of Eisenhower Drive, said he supported it.

“I ask that you do pass the resolution,” he said. “I like Northwood. It’s a safe city, and I would like it to remain a safe city.”

Linda Alvarado, of Maumee, said she was speaking on behalf of Baldemar Velasquez, founder of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee.

“I urge you to vote against this initiative as it contributes to the existing negative narrative from top ICE and border patrol officials, and further deepens division,” she said.

There are already laws in place to detain immigrants who allegedly commit serious crimes, Ms. Alvarado said.

A portion of the resolution can be translated to “spying on your neighbors,” she said. The resolution would also be a financial burden with its training requirements and possible lawsuits for false arrests, Ms. Alvarado said.

This was the second council meeting where Susan Kuehn, of Toledo, spoke against the resolution.

The resolution would make it mandatory to share information and honor detainer requests, said Ms. Kuehn, who is with the Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition and Ohio Immigrant Alliance.

“My concern continues to be that your approval of the proposed resolution will directly result in a green light for the city of Northwood and its local enforcement agencies to enter into an ... agreement with ICE,” Ms. Kuehn said. “To remake the Northwood Police Department into the eyes, ears, and arms of ICE means that many residents here will cease to feel safe in contacting the police in urgent situations, such as domestic violence.”

Josie Setzler, of Fremont, is also a member of the peace coalition and is on the organizing team for People for Peace and Justice Sandusky County. 

She drives through Northwood and shops in the city, and said would be disturbed if she saw police officers arresting someone like Rumeysa Ozturk, 30, a doctoral student at Tufts University, who was recently apprehended in Boston. Federal authorities detained Ms. Ozturk after an investigation found she had engaged in activities in support of Hamas.

First Published April 7, 2025, 8:53 p.m.