Ward 4 Council Member· 2024-01-02–2027-12-01 (sworn in at the January 2, 2024 council meeting and again January 5, 2026 after re-election November 4, 2025 per Wood County official results, Ward 4 since 2018 per BOE Took Office; month-level end: December 2027 because the Wood County BOE Elected Officials List updated 1/5/2026 shows a 2 year term Commences 1/1/2026 with next election 11/2/2027 although its Expires field reads 12/31/2026, which is inconsistent with a seat filled in 2025 for a 2 year term)
William J. Herald
Bowling Green
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 14
- Total speaking time
- 1:15:22
- Avg per meeting
- 5:23
- Segments
- 1611
Want every word Herald has said?
The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Herald said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.
Top issues during term (20)
903 North Main Street rezone
The family plans to spend over $100,000 on renovations, which they say would raise the property's value and city tax revenue.
Downtown Facade Enhancement Grant
Funded from the city's general fund this year; the amount spent was not stated in the meeting.
Ward redistricting
Vacant building enforcement program
The draft includes steep fines for owners of registered vacant buildings, which could discourage reuse or even prompt demolition of hard-to-reuse old buildings.
Poe/Mercer pump station odor control
About $4 million, covered by loan revenue and delayed projects in the 2026 budget — no immediate new appropriation.
Capital projects pipeline 2026-2031
These are multi-million-dollar utility investments funded through city utilities budgets and EPA loans.
USDA-IRA Urban and Community Canopy Grant tree planting
The program is federally funded, but the funding window closes in 2027.
Potential Local Historic Designations — Hanna House and Boom Town areas
No direct cost to taxpayers, but a district designation would add review requirements for exterior changes by property owners in the area.
Residential driveway-widening variances and off-street parking
Ferguson is paying a contractor for the concrete widening herself.
Community concerns about AI and data centers
While massive data centers bring major tech investment, taxpayers could end up footing the bill for infrastructure upgrades if not negotiated right.
Zoning Code Overhaul Awaiting Public Hearing
No direct cost to residents; the changes mainly affect how commercial builders design projects.
Income tax reallocation for street repair
Would redirect income tax revenue toward street repair if ever adopted.
Local historic register nomination — 504 S. Main St.
No direct cost to residents; the overlay adds design review for future exterior changes at the property.
Wooster-Dunbridge roundabout project
Roughly $1 million in city street repair funds committed as the local share alongside federal money.
$1 million state grant for water and sewer lines
The loans could fund major water and sewer work, though borrowing is not yet obligated.
Ohio EPA notice of violation at Water Treatment Plant
Cost of a new spectrophotometer and enhanced testing absorbed in operations; no separate figure given.
Callery pear removal and replacement on Wren
Street tree care outreach to residents
Electric rate increase and rate stabilization borrowing
Up to $7.4 million borrowed, repaid from electric system revenues, intended to soften future rate hikes.
public safety infrastructure
Mayor reported the project is on budget, though no dollar figure was given.
Decisions during term (264)
Recorded while Herald was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Adjournment
Approval of October 5 meeting minutes
Suspend rules for Ordinance 9392
Adopt emergency clause for Ordinance 9392 (Wooster-Dunbridge roundabout)
Adopt Ordinance 9392 — Wooster-Dunbridge roundabout LPA agreement
Amend Ordinance 9388 (Vacant Building Enforcement Program) by substitution
Adopt Resolution 3917 — Wood County Public Defender renewal
Table Ordinance 9384 — 903 North Main Street rezone
Approval of September 9, 2026 meeting minutes
Variance for Jamie Spaulding, 757 Longford Drive — driveway widening 5 feet over maximum
Variance for Kyle Fulford on behalf of Jeffrey and Steffi Matheny, 1117 Sandpiper Lane — driveway widening 15 feet over maximum
Variance for Dion Springstead, 336 Conneaut Avenue — driveway widening 8 feet over maximum
Approval of September 2, 2026 minutes
Preliminary drawing for Stone Ridge Plats 10-14
Approval of minutes from September 21, 2026
Referral of 504 S. Main St. historic register designation
Adoption of Resolution 3919 — ODOT transit grant applications
Adoption of Resolution 3914 — tax levies
Adoption of Ordinance 9377 — professional cleaning services
Adoption of Ordinance 9380 — Corrpro corrosion protection
Voting record (94)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
Suspend rules for Ordinance 9392
Adopt emergency clause for Ordinance 9392 (Wooster-Dunbridge roundabout)
Adopt Ordinance 9392 — Wooster-Dunbridge roundabout LPA agreement
Amend Ordinance 9388 (Vacant Building Enforcement Program) by substitution
Adopt Resolution 3917 — Wood County Public Defender renewal
Table Ordinance 9384 — 903 North Main Street rezone
Adoption of Resolution 3919 — ODOT transit grant applications
Adoption of Resolution 3914 — tax levies
Adoption of Ordinance 9377 — professional cleaning services
Adoption of Ordinance 9380 — Corrpro corrosion protection
Adoption of Ordinance 9381 — Progress Point Properties deed
Adopt Ordinance 9383 — AMP rate stabilization loan with emergency clause
Adopt Resolution 3916 — BGSU law enforcement training center joint use agreement
Table Ordinance 9376 indefinitely — sale/trade of vehicles and equipment
Adopt Ordinance 9382 — law enforcement training center design and construction contracts
Adopt Ordinance 9379 with emergency clause — Poe/Mercer Pump Station screen replacement funding
Resolution No. 3915 — Bentwood Estates appropriation for Crim Shared Use Path
Ordinance No. 9375 — supplemental appropriations
Ordinance No. 9378 — sidewalk repairs by special assessment
Ordinance No. 9379 — second reading, Poe/Mercer Pump Station loan agreement
Resolution No. 3913 — park improvement grant program
Ordinance No. 9372 — vehicle sale, amended to include Ordinance 9376 list
Resolution No. 3912 — Access Management Policies (Chapter 156)
Ordinance No. 9368 — rezoning 22 acres on South Dunbridge Road
Ordinance No. 9370 — interim R-1 zoning, 1200 Sand Ridge Road
Adopt Ordinance #9374 — supplemental appropriations
Adopt Ordinance #9369 — Sand Ridge Road annexation
adopt Resolution #3911
adopt Ordinance #9367 as amended by substitution
Resolution 3911 — ODOT roundabout funding for West Wooster/Wintergarden
Believes the roundabout is a lower-priority project and roughly $1 million of street repair money is an opportunity cost.
Ordinance 9367 — low-speed micromobility devices
The legislation does not address speed, which he views as the actual safety issue, and the code needs a comprehensive review.