The city of Maumee was named in April as the Strongest Town champion by a nonprofit dedicated to recognizing cities that have made progress toward pedestrian safety, financial resiliency, and housing and transportation improvements.
It was a moment when residents could feel good about the direction of their city. The colonial-funky downtown had had a facelift. A meandering bicycle path had been installed along the Anthony Wayne Trail that promised to connect the city to downtown Toledo. Hundreds of trees had been planted along the roadway that for many is the entrance to the city. And the town was garnering some favorable national recognition.
But that feeling didn’t last. Eight months later, the city finds itself blighted by popular outrage against its own government. Maumee is now facing the prospect of a wholesale recall of its mayor and six of its seven councilmen and the sacking of its city administrator.
And much of the anger that city residents are feeling has its roots in an event that occurred a quarter century ago.