Lawsuit Between Grand Rapids Council Member and Village Continues

GRAND RAPIDS, OHIO – The ongoing legal dispute between Lynn Sylvain, a council member for Grand Rapids, and the Village of Grand Rapids continues as the case moves forward in the Wood County Court of Common Pleas.

Sylvain filed a lawsuit in February 2024 concerning her property at 24308 Front Street, which includes an accessory building that partially sits on the unconstructed Bass Street right-of-way. The lawsuit stems from Sylvain’s long-standing use and maintenance of the building, which she asserts has been done with permission from the Village since prior to her ownership in 2018.

The Village of Grand Rapids, however, has raised concerns about the use of the Bass Street right-of-way and its impact on public access. This issue became a point of contention as the Village explored plans to construct a new parking lot west of Town Hall, which would require the removal of Sylvain’s building.

In affidavits filed in response to the lawsuit, John Berry, Mayor of Grand Rapids, and Ryan Rothenbuhler, Village Solicitor, offered additional insights into the Village’s position.

Berry, in his affidavit, highlighted the importance of the Bass Street right-of-way to the functioning of the Village. He stated that Bass Street is crucial for parking during events at Town Hall, used by several local organizations, including the Grand Rapids Historical Society, the Grand Rapids Art Council, and Bittersweet Farms. Berry also noted that parking signs were erected in October 2024 to address Sylvain’s storage of a truck and boat trailer on the right-of-way, which was causing ongoing issues with access during public events.

Rothenbuhler’s affidavit further elaborates on the necessity of the Bass Street right-of-way for the Village, emphasizing its use for parking at Town Hall during events. Rothenbuhler also mentioned that the Village Fiscal Officer had compiled a calendar of events for 2024 and 2025, further demonstrating the ongoing need for parking in the area.

In addition, Rothenbuhler noted that the Village was forced to place parking signs in the Bass Street right-of-way in October 2024 due to Sylvain’s truck and boat trailer being stored there for extended periods. Rothenbuhler went on to describe an incident in September 2024, when Sylvain reported her truck as stolen after it was towed for obstructing the right-of-way. A copy of the incident report from the Wood County Sheriff’s Department was attached to the Village’s motion for summary judgment (various documents can be seen below in the PDF file).

Rothenbuhler also provided insight into Sylvain’s behavior at Village Council meetings, stating that she “routinely creates issues” and is “known to be a difficult disruptor.” He noted that Sylvain frequently made public records requests but often failed to retrieve the records after Village employees had compiled them. He further mentioned that Sylvain had been confrontational during council meetings, making it difficult to address issues constructively.

Sylvain, in her lawsuit, is seeking a court order to either vacate Bass Street or declare her the rightful owner of both the building and the land on which it sits. She is also requesting reimbursement for court and attorney costs.

A trial date has been scheduled for July 23rd and 24th, 2025, in the Wood County Court of Common Pleas.

This is an update to ongoing coverage

Items mentioned in the affidavits, including photos, and other exhibits can be found in the file below, which was retrieved from the Wood County Common Pleas Court website.

Original Filing