Newly elected Bellefontaine City Council members Devin Palmer, first ward; Mick Lile, fourth ward; and Wes Eason, at-large, received a warm welcome from fellow city leaders during the body’s first meeting of the new year Tuesday evening, Jan. 13.
Although newly elected, councilman Lile is a familiar face in council chambers, rejoining the body after a two-year hiatus.
Absent from the meeting were newly elected city council president Ben Stahler and at-large councilwoman Jenna James, who was re-elected in November. At-large councilman Kyle Springs presided as council president pro tem.
In brief reports, Mayor Dave Crissman, Service-Safety Director Wes Dodds, and Law Director Josh Stolly each welcomed the new members, telling them their doors are “always open” and encouraging them not to hesitate to ask questions.
Stolly also commended councilwoman Palmer for identifying some typographical errors in paperwork that had been provided to council.
The law director noted that the city provides written notice in compliance with Ohio law and city ordinances, with notices posted on the city’s website and social media platforms. Since the Bellefontaine Examiner ceased print publication, only those notices legally required to be published in a newspaper are now being published in the Urbana Daily Citizen.
Ben Vollrath, president of the Logan County Chamber of Commerce, told council that while single-family home construction has increased locally, developer interest in multi-family housing has waned due to financial feasibility concerns, adding that incentives similar to those used for single-family developments may be needed to spur such projects.
Bellefontaine Police Chief Chris Marlow reported that the department has one full-time and one part-time dispatcher nearing completion of training, though staffing remains a concern after a sole officer candidate recently withdrew from training. Two additional candidates currently attending the police academy are not expected to complete training until this summer and next year, respectively.
Fire Chief Brian Wilson said the department expects to take possession of its new fire engine later this month and that newly hired firefighter Derrick Williams is scheduled to begin shift work next week.
Auditor Fred Brentlinger reported that Bellefontaine’s 2024 audit report is now available.
City Engineer Jim Bishop requested that council attend a special two-part special hearing scheduled for Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. to discuss the proposed annexation of the approximately 2-acre Alexander property and the vacation of a city alley.
At the Nov. 25 council meeting, a public hearing was held on a request from Gary Alexander Jr. to annex four parcels of land along Township Road 179 in Jefferson Township into the city for single-family residential development; no public comments were received, and city officials at that time outlined potential road improvements and a future traffic study should the annexation be approved.
Dodds encouraged new council members to utilize the city’s Google OneDrive account for email and document creation related to city business to faciliate public records requests more easily.
Dodds also requested that the next regularly scheduled council meeting, set for Feb. 27, begin one hour earlier at 6:30 p.m. to allow time for a strategic planning discussion with the Ohio Plan for Government Risk Management. Council approved the change.
With the parks superintendent position still unfilled, Dodds reported that ground has been broken on the Bellefontaine Joint Recreation District’s Harmon Field revitalization project on the city’s west end, which is expected to be completed this summer.
Dodds added that the recreation district is reviewing proposals from two firms seeking to serve as construction manager at risk for the city’s new pool project, along with applications from candidates for the open parks superintendent position.
Councilman Jordan Reser relayed there is a public meeting scheduled for 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21 to discuss the future of Hoffman Municipal Pool at the Distiance Learning Center at Bellefontaine High School.
During his first meeting back on council, Lile offered a brief street department update, joking that the streets “are all still out there, and that’s all I’ve got,” drawing laughs from attendees.
One ordinance was given a first reading only, authorizing supplemental appropriations and amending the city’s permanent appropriations ordinance for South TIF, wastewater, and refuse purposes.
The clerk of council reported receiving two new liquor license applications—one for Tokyo Marysville on North Main Street and one for a Speedway location on North U.S. 68. Action on the Speedway application was temporarily deferred pending administrative review.
The next regular city council meeting is slated for 7:30 p.m. Feb 10 in council chambers. Prior to the regular meeting, members are scheduled to meet for a strategic planning session.
