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Council holds multiple ordinances and resolutions for second/third readings; schedules special meeting
Summary
Circleville City Council held a slate of ordinances and resolutions for further reading, including grant applications, park land purchases, event permits, alley vacatings, records-digitization contract and several appropriation adjustments tied to recent levy results; a special meeting was scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m.
City Council on Tuesday conducted first and second readings for multiple items and voted to hold each for the next appropriate reading rather than suspending rules for immediate passage because two members were absent.
The items matter because they include grant applications for parks and recreation, a conservation grant tied to parkland acquisition, an application under the NatureWorks program that would support a third pickleball court, a digitization/archival contract, multiple routine event permits and housekeeping budget ordinances that reassign funds for water, wastewater and capital projects.
Clerk Melissa Burns announced a public hearing set for April 15 at 6 p.m. in council chambers on a requested planned-unit development incentive. Council then proceeded through a long agenda of ordinances and resolutions; because two members were absent, council members repeatedly moved and carried motions to hold items for second or third readings.
Key items held for later adoption included:
- Resolution authorizing Circa Bowl Pumpkin Show, Inc. to use the UDC administration parking lot for arts-and-craft vendors for calendar years 2025 through 2029 (held for third reading).
- Ordinance authorizing the director of public service to apply to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources NatureWorks program (transcript stated a maximum allotment to the county of $23,072). If awarded, funds would support the Pickleball Association's effort to build a third pickleball court at Bartholomew Park; council noted the association has already raised $52,000 toward a total project cost of $75,000 (held for third reading).
- Ordinance to enter a Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Program grant agreement through the Ohio Public Works Commission, referenced in the meeting with a cited grant figure (transcript contains unclear numeric formatting; council described the grant as enabling the city to purchase two park parcels on North Court Street and Pickaway Street and recommended holding for a third reading).
- Several resolutions to authorize Uptown Circleville Main Street events (First Friday and the 3-on-3 tournament), Circa Bowl and Elks flag-day uses of city streets (held for second readings where applicable).
- Resolution adopting the Circleville Safety Action Plan, which council said responds to a Safe Streets and Roads for Everyone (SS4A) study and anticipates changes to South Court Street; council indicated implementation ordinances would follow and moved the resolution to a second reading.
- A resolution to execute a scanning and archival preservation agreement with the EGF Group to digitize original legislation and historical records; council noted the project will strengthen a pending grant application and directed it to a second reading.
- Ordinances declaring intent to vacate Alley Nos. 1, 4 and 5 in the Pickaway/Ohio Street area; council said property owners on both sides have agreed and planning-and-zoning approved the requests; these were moved to second readings.
- Multiple appropriation amendments and housekeeping ordinances covering safety-forces tax, ARPA, waterworks operating and improvement funds and a reappropriation related to OWDA and a water-plant design grant; council members and city auditor Mark Bridal discussed figures and described the OWDA amount as a pass-through and principal-forgiveness grant; the large-dollar housekeeping ordinance was moved to a second reading.
Council members also discussed a series of recommended budget reductions that reflect the financial impact of three failed safety levies. Auditor Mark Bridal summarized the reductions as totaling $229,680.02 overall, with a $108,750 reduction to the general fund related to not hiring a parks-and-recreation director, a $112,000 share (26% of a property price) related to parkland purchase obligations, and a stated $88,074.22 reduction tied to removing a currently unfilled police officer position.
Because of the absences, the council scheduled a special meeting for Thursday at 6 p.m. to conduct the second and third readings with the goal of passing some or all of the held legislation.
