Kurtz is appointed as township trustee to take Dickel’s place

                Now he has been selected to take Dickel’s place.

                Kurtz’ resume was among six the township received to fill Dickel’s position, and after an executive session at the March 1 Vermilion Township meeting, he was selected by the board. In attendance at the meeting was the township’s prosecutor, Charles Bennett, who stated since Dickel had resigned his seat, and trustees had 30 days from the time of that resignation to appoint someone to take his place. “The law does not define the word appoint – they have full discretion as how they determine who should be the best candidate.” Bennett said the trustees put an ad in The Photojournal and on their website. After interviewing, he said they made their choice, which is binding and there is not up for debate due to the law. “You did this in a manner that you felt was fair and straightforward,” said Bennett.

                Chairman Rodger Scott confirmed trustees had six applicants, and they went over every one of them. “We’d like to pick all six, but we can’t,” he said.

                Kurtz is currently employed by SAFEbuilt, LLC, for which he has worked since leaving the township in March 2021. He is a building official/supervisor for townships that do not have a building department in Sandusky, Huron, Seneca, and Wyandot counties. He is also chief building official and an inspector for the City of Vermilion, a job he has had since July 2000. From January 2016 to February 2021, Kurtz was the township administrator, building official and zoning inspector. He is also assistant fire chief for the Vermilion Township Fire Department.

                Prior to his years with Vermilion Township, he was the service director for the City of Vermilion from January 2010 to December 2015.

                Kurtz is a 1983 graduate of Huron High School. He attended Lorain County Community College and Cleveland State University for coursework relating to building.  He is enrolled at Columbia Southern University, pursuing a B.S. in Fire Science.  He is president of the Erie County GIS Advisory Board (Auditor’s Office), is on the board of directors for the Ohio Building Officials Association (OBOA) and is a member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and International Code Council (ICC) of which he is chairman.

                Kurtz’ certifications include Ohio Dept. of Commerce Building Plans Examiner- 2022, Ohio Dept. of Commerce Building Official – 2006, Ohio Dept. of Commerce Building Inspector – 2000, Ohio Dept. of Commerce Residential Building Official – 2006, Ohio Dept. of Commerce Residential Building Inspector – 2006, Ohio Dept. of Commerce Residential Plans Examiner – 2006, Ohio Dept. of Public Safety Level I Professional Firefighter – 2007, Ohio Dept. of Public Safety Fire Safety Inspector – 2007, International Code Council Building Official – 2006, International Code Council Commercial Building Inspector – 2000, International Code Council Residential Building Inspector – 2000, NIMS 200, 300, 400, 700, 800.