[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6235763,"mediaKeyId","3396937-f8c14a4cec6b57337db11747356a14b4","parentId",3396937,"title","Council honors CHLOE Inc. and founder Connie Nassager as she retires; Melanie O'Neil named incoming director","audioSeconds",311,"startMs",827000,"endMs",1138000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3396937-f8c14a4cec6b57337db11747356a14b4&start=827&end=1138","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3396937-f8c14a4cec6b57337db11747356a14b4/thumbnail_827000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6235763/Gahanna/Franklin-County/Ohio/Council-honors-CHLOE-Inc-and-founder-Connie-Nassager-as-she-retires-Melanie-ONeil-named-incoming-director","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235763-d12d0bdfc14c10353cacc7136bbda52b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775915992&Signature=SWv1ICIkC5rx12zEoFG5eMsGI~MJxQzSlmKxSH3yBPOxdBG9RjqOTRwiosZdJ9eF6~7Uoz1mZpKMK5qSuVBXflvoN-YmfcTk9m7R3C3FjA~A0sXVwy6ciaqfapCyDWMMrwPGCCo9Bn1waBnxqQoAv0tZ4xhlUNWoY2I-We9mf8tLgYVRZmk0ouy5MtQ3RX8HZnlgGiAp~st0-UwVI~ehEnCi~SMS1yvEqnI5e4LTNU7MDE4wP9kv6WAXTyfYWTDn1Tvy4cy0K~KpguOHc10qFtXAJ6QB8DLgXIYS1Y1zi1RmzSbdolZhjgJ1-7cQ8TcGXsL9rl1wAS14ZO3OBjfdIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Gahanna, OH ","date","2025-05-20T12:14:05Z","article","Gahanna City Council presented a recognition May 19 for CHLOE Inc., a local nonprofit serving young mothers, and honored founder Connie Nassager as she prepares to retire after 25 years of service.

Council President Marissa Bowers introduced the resolution on the consent agenda, praising CHLOE's work supporting mothers ages 13 to 21 with parenting resources, mentorship and a small boutique to help participants provide for their children. \"CHLOE stands for community, health, life skills, opportunities, and education,\" Bowers said, and she thanked Connie Nassager for her \"visionary leadership.\"

Connie Nassager addressed the council, describing her work with CHLOE as \"an absolute joy\" despite difficult moments, and spoke about the program's focus on mentorship, reading to children and practical supports. \"They get a free book every time they come,\" Nassager said, and she described the program's twice-monthly meetings and incentive system that allows participants to earn points to shop in the program's baby boutique.

Nassager said she chose Melanie O'Neil as her successor and said she had no hesitation handing the organization to her. Melanie O'Neil, identified in the meeting as the incoming executive director, told the council she planned to work on reducing barriers that keep mothers from attending meetings, such as transportation. \"We are very excited to continue Chloe's work, very excited to work on some of the barriers that keep our moms from attending our meetings, like transportation,\" O'Neil said.

The recognition was on the consent agenda; the council approved the consent agenda by roll call later in the meeting.

Why this matters: CHLOE Inc. provides local services to young mothers and their children; the transition in leadership was formally recognized by the council and will be reflected as part of the city's acknowledgments.

Direct quotes come from Connie Nassager and Melanie O'Neil as recorded in the May 19 meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council: Council Meeting - May 19, 2025 - Livestream","oneSentenceSummary","Council presented a resolution on the consent agenda recognizing CHLOE Inc.'s 25 years of service to young mothers and honored founder Connie Nassager, who announced her retirement and endorsed Melanie O'Neil as incoming executive director.","taxTitle","Gahanna, Franklin County, Ohio","taxId",55589,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6235769,"Council continues Pride resolution debate; public commenter urges a separate 'natural family' resolution",0,3119000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3396937-f8c14a4cec6b57337db11747356a14b4&start=3119&end=3119","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3396937-f8c14a4cec6b57337db11747356a14b4/thumbnail_3119000.jpg","/articles/6235769/Gahanna/Franklin-County/Ohio/Council-continues-Pride-resolution-debate-public-commenter-urges-a-separate-natural-family-resolution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235769-a8e05a7538818a81fa0f460ead8a2f1e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775915992&Signature=UJkE~xEYtA4GE8OF56FTjQ6zX2cWJU7V63~NqFbQ1aa5zzXjRkSy-mITZVSq4Tu7qVyzlS6lg1hkiAGR9fVERLjK5woTXn9Aba7Na0jHZAM1XFLNgu7csOlLxZJeIr369Ob19udr5dv2vz45PuSAsBNIFTKQo6ET54Z7I7zQ2kQN2r0-x8Mkvb~ZhzEQt641Tv16bbIwE-1oC80taATEVKs6Ib8IFnd23f~QJ7rfZDYyZOmUKzfA0Cfq34ldyDHG5DPYffaDUhFNKyC4-gVfYpnCYlEcgX-qlgal-SURIQMuFfkVvN7TRdh4C~NEAFpXSpPFINgNiados0VFUvh1Dw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Gahanna City Council continued discussion May 19 of a draft Pride month resolution (referenced as resolution 0023-2025), with members debating whether the text should read \"LGBTQ\" or include expanded forms such as \"LGBTQ+\" or \"LGBTQIA.\" The item will return to the council agenda on the first Monday in June for further consideration and a planned presentation by Vice President Trenton Weaver.

Councilmembers expressed different perspectives on preferred terminology and on who should determine appropriate language for the community. Councilmember Jamille Jones said council members who do not identify as LGBTQ should defer to organizations led by LGBTQ people on accepted terminology: \"I would suggest we defer to to those,\" Jones said, adding that \"these are organizations that are led by people that identify in that group, and those of us that don't identify shouldn't have the opportunity to say we only acknowledge you on our terms.\"

Council President Marissa Bowers referenced recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions in framing broader protections for LGBTQ people. \"It's 10 years ago next month that the Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell ... and 5 years ago next month, the court ruled in Bostock,\" Bowers said, citing the decisions as part of the legal context for protections against discrimination.

The discussion occurred after a public comment from Kathy McCorkle of Gahanna, who criticized council members for supporting LGBTQ-related recognition while not supporting what she described as \"natural family\" recognition. McCorkle said she had attempted outreach to council members and asked them to introduce a \"natural family\" resolution for a vote. She displayed a sign she described to the council and named several council members she said had voted on a prior resolution. McCorkle said she would like the council to \"introduce a natural family resolution\" and advance it to the floor for a vote so members could record their positions.

Councilmembers indicated the item will return for formal consideration at the next scheduled meeting, and Weaver said he plans to prepare a presentation to accompany the resolution discussion.

Why this matters: language in civic proclamations and resolutions signals municipal recognition and inclusion policy; the debate also attracted public comment and differing views about who should set inclusive terminology.

Direct quotes in this article are from Councilmember Jamille Jones, Council President Marissa Bowers and public commenter Kathy McCorkle.","The council continued discussion of a draft Pride month resolution including debate over whether to use \"LGBTQ\" or \"LGBTQ+\"/\"LGBTQIA\" language; a public commenter urged council to instead introduce and advance a \"natural family\" resolution.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6235773,"Council introduces contract with AECOM for West Gahanna sanitary relief sewer; member urges exploring debt options",1396,2936000,4332000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3396937-f8c14a4cec6b57337db11747356a14b4&start=2936&end=4332","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3396937-f8c14a4cec6b57337db11747356a14b4/thumbnail_2936000.jpg","/articles/6235773/Gahanna/Franklin-County/Ohio/Council-introduces-contract-with-AECOM-for-West-Gahanna-sanitary-relief-sewer-member-urges-exploring-debt-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235773-0cf5793eae2f4a730bf9d56fe3548769/orig.mp4?Expires=1775915993&Signature=cMv3VDi6TTj5D-jV4fSLwUdaIOJ9~PxfxokUtja9ZbhlyPSek73B3fViuBGiTIqoh0JNtMT9jylt18IjlYIifne8nzOG93t2T6pvUSMzmfZuNEafimnmXaypKNF3dgEkm8sUszwBlpe5hg6jdPv7VFkAdE1CnI3S~MQAwz0e~sRmntwGJIZVhKOMu1I4Ia5KhD31fLFSuN6QtOH5dAcd2DXZTGUO~vseWEkZYR9vEKm7iHmHE9VUqs0FvvR~pe-WWQAGx27Fvlgr2SJ-rsii868QpLK4hPTLSAn2rm88XwUJXUuaD~wWIao2qfGbUQ2sGf3YR4RjkYllkW2RuBMOlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Gahanna City Council on May 19 introduced ordinance 0022-2025 to authorize the mayor to contract with AECOM for professional design services on the West Gahanna sanitary relief sewer project and to authorize related supplemental appropriations.

The ordinance, read into the record as part of section f (ordinances for introduction), would also authorize contracting and declare an emergency for expedited work on the sanitary relief project. No adoption vote occurred at introduction; the ordinance was presented for first reading.

Councilmember Schnetzer, who later commented on the ordinance during council remarks, praised the movement toward design work and urged the administration to consider financing options beyond pay-as-you-go capital. \"Debt financing can come in multiple forms from an outright public sale to a private placement,\" Schnetzer said, and he recommended assessing programs such as the Ohio Water Development Authority. He added that \"their financing terms at the moment are sometimes a hundred basis points cheaper than anything that we're seeing in the public markets,\" and suggested the city's municipal advisor could weigh in on structure and timing.

Schnetzer framed the point as part of a broader funding challenge: the city's capital project list includes a number of enterprise-system projects that together exceed $100 million, and he asked staff to consider how best to fund the queue of prioritized infrastructure investments.

The ordinance was listed alongside other introductions (T&M Associates for utility owner representation and Professional Pavement Services for a sidewalk maintenance program) and will return for later committee or consent consideration. City staff and council did not adopt ordinance 0022 at the May 19 meeting.

Why this matters: the sanitary relief sewer project addresses capacity and infrastructure in the West Gahanna area; financing decisions will affect enterprise fund balances, rate-setting and long-term capital planning.

Direct quotes in this article are from Councilmember Schnetzer and the ordinance text read into the record.","Council introduced ordinance 0022-2025 to hire AECOM for design of the West Gahanna sanitary relief sewer; Councilmember Schnetzer urged the administration to explore debt-financing and Ohio Water Development Authority programs to help fund a slate of large enterprise projects.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6235779,"Gahanna told aggregation rates will rise as PJM capacity charges spike; program still below AEP Ohio standard service offer",87,1205000,1292000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3396937-f8c14a4cec6b57337db11747356a14b4&start=1205&end=1292","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3396937-f8c14a4cec6b57337db11747356a14b4/thumbnail_1205000.jpg","/articles/6235779/Gahanna/Franklin-County/Ohio/Gahanna-told-aggregation-rates-will-rise-as-PJM-capacity-charges-spike-program-still-below-AEP-Ohio-standard-service-offer","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235779-9002c3330cf7f499d1a1a474374ff456/orig.mp4?Expires=1775915993&Signature=Ff-a9xrbXjy2GTJgAFnA9nT0zvQFIBjTj8vgLI~YiSFEm54xPg1Hhrkb4qIQjR8XQLCF707gJWl3BnMwMTZPRnHKmUkBLKrqLU20BW6doaBW4AjeKNOzYVXx~Ea-rKWk0IcqwYYVEu5Pm0nj420v9yMkW79B1zd9tdNL~6DCKYzDkI3IUcttYbT8cF1pqoX-3shAi7SV~6Mc-ytMNHufZRXFCOqlmckSS22eZ06tfH~CLQzC1DTNWIaloutXHGH2uTUGglGW6vDm5WfyTPj2C~UOnSBF6Xzi54g2QVTi7w1iUImsSIA01A9Bulh490FObwHKOA7bQtE8E8-fhbrV4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Gahanna City Council heard a rate update May 19 from representatives of the city's energy aggregation program and its vendor, who said an upcoming price increase is driven primarily by a sharp rise in regional capacity charges and will take effect in June.

Luke Suffrage and Stephen Harris of the SOPEC/Gahanna Energy Plus program told the council that since the program reactivated in December 2024 it has produced savings while providing a green supply option. \"Since December, we've seen about $423,000 in savings, across customers,\" Suffrage said, noting that the figure includes small commercial and residential accounts. He said about 9,000 customers are currently enrolled in the aggregation.

The presenters said the price increase is linked to capacity charges set by PJM, the regional transmission operator. \"From a capacity standpoint, the capacity went tenfold this year,\" Suffrage said, and the program has seen capacity rise by roughly \"about 2 and a half cents per kilowatt hour\" for the market. He and Harris explained the increase reflects higher prices for the standby generation used in peak-demand hours and broader capacity pressures across PJM.

Despite the increase, the presenters said Gahanna's aggregation price is expected to remain below AEP Ohio's Standard Service Offer (SSO). \"Gahanna is locked in at a lower rate,\" Suffrage said, describing the program as \"a green power\" option that should still be cheaper than the SSO for the coming supply year (June through May 2026). Presenters said residents can also opt into a lower-cost \"brown\" product within the aggregation if they choose.

Council members asked for additional detail about the duration of the higher capacity charges and what residents would receive in upcoming communications. Schnetzer asked whether rate relief is likely beyond the next 12 months; Suffrage said the higher capacity environment could persist \"for the next several years,\" and urged deployment of renewable assets to reduce peak demand. Padova asked who would receive the mailed notification; presenters said the postcard would go to eligible aggregation accounts (excluding customers in PIP programs or those already on private supply or on a do-not-aggregate list by statute). Suffrage said an electronic version would be provided to the city before the end of the month and that AP Energy expected to mail postcards by the end of May.

Presenters described program mechanics: enrollment is automatic for eligible accounts (opt-out), net metering is allowed for accounts with on-site solar, and customers who had previously opted out generally remain excluded unless they actively rejoin. They also noted some individual enrollment issues can arise from utility tariff codes or address data and said such cases have been handled on a customer-by-customer basis.

Suffrage warned of related federal policy and program risks: \"The Low Income Heating and Assistance Program, LIHEAP, has been defunded of its staff at a national level,\" he said, adding that changes to that program could reduce a safety net some households have relied on for energy assistance.

The council did not take a vote on the update. Council members requested that staff post the new rates on the city's aggregation web page, confirm whether previously opted-out households should receive the postcard, and follow up with the exact AP Ohio SSO numbers for July when they are posted.

Why this matters: the aggregation program affects thousands of Gahanna households and small businesses; a supply price increase tied to PJM capacity pricing will raise bills for many residents even as the program preserves a green supply option and remains, by presenters' calculations, modestly below the SSO.

Direct quotes in this article come from Luke Suffrage and Stephen Harris, representatives of the SOPEC/Gahanna Energy Plus program, and from remarks by councilmembers during the May 19 meeting.","SOPEC presenters told Gahanna City Council the city's electric aggregation will see a June price increase driven by a tenfold rise in PJM capacity charges; presenters said the program remains slightly below the AEP Ohio standard service offer and that the city will mail postcards to eligible residents.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council honors CHLOE Inc. and founder Connie Nassager as she retires; Melanie O'Neil named incoming director

Council continues Pride resolution debate; public commenter urges a separate 'natural family' resolution

Council introduces contract with AECOM for West Gahanna sanitary relief sewer; member urges exploring debt options

Gahanna told aggregation rates will rise as PJM capacity charges spike; program still below AEP Ohio standard service offer