Middletown Board of Health approves ordinances, applies for sewage‑system grant and OKs contracts and travel

The Middletown Board of Health on April 8, 2025, approved two ordinances expanding delegated enforcement authority, authorized the health commissioner to pursue a federal sewage‑system grant application, approved a contract template tied to that grant, authorized travel to a state public‑health conference and adopted routine business including minutes and the final March financial report.

The most substantive discussion centered on a federal Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) grant that the board authorized the health commissioner to apply for; staff described the award as reimbursement‑based, income‑eligible for homeowners and administratively complex, with permit, soil‑sampling, bidding and design steps that Butler County estimated could take six months to a year for a single house from start to finish. Board members asked about upfront costs, eligibility and local process; staff said the department would need to work with the city finance office to appropriate funds because the program reimburses contractors after work is completed.

Other votes were routine. The board approved two final ordinances by title and final reading that delegate certain license‑suspension authorities to the health commissioner and to registered environmental health specialists, citing Ohio Revised Code chapters governing food‑service and retail‑food licensing. The board also approved a contract template for WPCLF projects, a travel authorization for two staff to attend the Ohio Public Health Conference (total budget $1,057), approval of March financial reports and approval of the March meeting minutes. The board received its first‑quarter report for 2025; that report was presented and discussed but required no vote.

Votes at a glance: • Approval of March minutes — motion passed on roll call. (Recorded votes: Miss McDonald/Miss McDowell called roll; votes recorded as present/yes by the regular board members listed below.) • Final financial report for March 2025 — approved on roll call. • Travel authorization: Ohio Public Health Conference; total budget $1,057 — approved on roll call (Miss Sipsey: yes; Miss Baggett: yes; Dr. Zollet: yes; Miss Lawley: yes; Mister Bonnell: yes; Miss Miller: yes). • MBHE Ordinance 2025‑01 (read by title; authorizes the health commissioner to take actions to suspend retail food or food‑service licenses under Ohio Revised Code sections cited in the ordinance) — final reading and adoption approved on roll call (Miss Dixie: yes; Miss Baggett: yes; Dr. Zollet: yes; Miss Lawley: yes; Mister Bonnell: yes; Miss Miller: yes). Ordinance text cited Ohio Revised Code sections 3717.29(d)(1) and 3717.49(c)(1). • MBHE Ordinance 2025‑02 (read by title; authorizes the health commissioner or a registered environmental health specialist to take specified actions under Ohio Revised Code sections) — final reading and adoption approved on roll call (Miss Sipsey: yes; Miss Baggett: yes; Dr. Zollet: yes; Miss Lawley: yes; Mister Bonnell: yes; Miss Miller: yes). Ordinance text cited Ohio Revised Code sections 3717.29(c)(1) and 3717.49(b)(1). • MBH Resolution 2025‑01 (authorizing the city health commission to apply for, accept and enter a WPCLF agreement for repair/replacement of home sewage treatment systems; declaring emergency) — approved on roll call (Miss Sipsey: yes; Miss Baggett: yes; Dr. Zollet: yes; Miss Lawley: yes; Mister Bonnell: yes; Miss Miller: yes). Staff described the award as a reimbursement grant, income‑based for eligible homeowners and administratively detailed; staff said a sample contract and ordinance language were submitted to EPA by April 30 to preserve eligibility. • Approval of contract template for WPCLF home‑sewage work — approved on roll call (Miss Sipsey: yes; Miss Baggett: yes; Dr. Zollet: yes; Miss Lawley: yes; Mister Bonnell: yes; Miss Miller: yes). Staff said any changes required by EPA or legal review will be returned to the board.

No motions failed or were tabled at the meeting. Several items were informational only (first‑quarter report, health commissioner and program reports).