Middletown City Council: consent items, property sale and multiple ordinances approved; manager hired

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — City Council on Tuesday moved a slate of routine and substantive measures: it approved the consent agenda, authorized the sale of a city-owned blighted lot at 1333 Grove Street to a private buyer with rehabilitation and owner-occupancy conditions, passed several funding and utility measures on second reading or as emergencies, and completed a post-executive-session vote to hire Ashley Combs as city manager.

Votes at a glance (key items taken and final roll-call outcomes as recorded in the April 1 meeting):

- Consent agenda (receive and file minutes; oaths of office): Approved by roll call (unanimous yes). The packet included Planning Commission minutes (12/11/2024, 01/13/2025, 02/12/2025), library board minutes and historic commission minutes and oaths for several appointees.

- Motion agenda, item a — purchase/sale/development agreement for 1333 Grove Street: Approved. Buyer Larry Glenn will rehabilitate one home, convert the second structure to a garage within 12 months and accept a 10-year owner-occupancy requirement. The city reported it had acquired the property to combat blight and did not incur acquisition cost; staff estimated maintenance savings and the buyer’s purchase price was $2,162.25 plus closing costs. Roll-call vote: unanimous yes.

- Resolution R2025-08 (Christo townhomes/Renaissance Point TIF overlay and notice): Adopted on second reading as an emergency to permit a public hearing on May 6 and to preserve the developer’s due-diligence schedule. The legislation updates TIF overlays and an economic development plan; staff said the developer will cover upfront costs and reimbursements are recovery via TIF revenues. Roll-call vote: yes.

- Appropriations adjustment R2025-09 (fire training/OPS line): Approved on second reading (small grant-funded adjustment to cover advanced burn classes). Roll-call vote: yes.

- O2025-13 (adoption of 2024 supplement to city codified ordinances): Approved on second reading; update reflects Ohio statutory changes and ordinances adopted through Aug. 6, 2024. Roll-call vote: yes.

- O2025-14 (utility reimbursement agreement with Duke Energy for pole/line relocations on SR-122): Approved as an emergency; staff said the city’s share of relocation costs is about $353,561 to support Renaissance Point right-of-way improvements. Roll-call vote: yes.

- O2025-15 (Duke Energy transformer and line extension for new Fire Station 85): Approved as emergency; Duke is sole electrical service provider and the city’s share (40% of specified work) is $30,269.43, staff said. Roll-call vote: yes.

- R2025-10 (purchase of Motorola radios for police): First/second-reading procedural notes and request for emergency status appeared; council did not take final action on April 1. Staff requested funding for additional radios to equip expanded patrol staffing. Council members discussed adding one radio for the city manager so the manager can monitor major incidents in real time; council voted to amend staff request to increase the radio order by one unit before a final reading.

- R2025-11 (Comprehensive Opioid/Stimulant grant appropriation changes): First reading; no final council action April 1. Staff said the city will receive grant funds and requested de-appropriation and reallocation to cover overtime and benefits tied to the grant.

- O2025-16 (issuance/sale of notes in anticipation of bonds for Renaissance Area/Arena District infrastructure): First reading only; authorizes up to $5.5 million in new bond anticipation notes to refinance 2024 short-term notes tied to Renaissance Point infrastructure if council so decides in future sessions.

- Employment agreement for city manager Ashley Combs: After an executive session, council voted to approve the employment agreement, making Ashley Combs city manager. Roll-call vote: unanimous yes.

Why it matters: The actions on financing, utility relocations and TIF overlay language facilitate infrastructure work for the Renaissance Point development and related right-of-way projects. The Grove Street property sale and the city-manager appointment are immediate operational decisions with direct impact on blight remediation and city administration.

What to watch: Council set a May 6 public hearing date for the TIF overlay and will consider final financing and radio purchases at subsequent meetings. Council also scheduled continued public discussion of feral/stray-cat issues at Smith Park for the April 15 council meeting after many residents and rescue groups urged the city to support trap-neuter-return and low-cost spay/neuter services.