Council workshop reviews supplemental appropriations, approves minutes; engineers get $33,000 for David's Drive design

Wilmington — City staff on Thursday outlined a package of supplemental appropriations to correct missed budget line items and to cover midyear adjustments, and described a $33,000 engineering supplement for work on David's Drive.

City staff said the items will be formalized in ordinance 25-06 and reviewed again at the council meeting for formal action. Council approved the workshop minutes at the start of the meeting; the workshop did not take final votes on the supplemental appropriations.

City staff member O'Donnell, presenting the finance items, said the first two items could be grouped and were simply omitted from the 2025 budget packet. "Those two items... were missed when the budgets were being reviewed, and so those two items need to go back into our budget for 2025," O'Donnell said. He described items c through j as increases to workers' compensation that "total ends up being 14,175." The group discussed timing and the annual true-up process for the workers' compensation bill.

Staff also described department-by-department increases in liability insurance provided through the Miami Valley Risk Management Association, saying the pool spreads risk across member cities and that some increases reflect newly insured vehicles or property rather than a rate spike. A council member observed personal auto premiums have risen roughly 20 percent and asked whether the city shops the market; staff said the pool historically provides competitive pricing but agreed to follow up on thresholds for changing carriers.

A $1,000 transfer from the cemetery fund was identified to pay for columbarium engraving fees; staff said the fees are paid in advance by residents and then disbursed for engraving.

Engineering and roads: staff described David's Drive, which previously required extensive full-depth stabilization because of wetland and subgrade problems. The administration said a complete cement stabilization rebuild on that section would cost about $5,000,648.04, while a revised plan limits full-depth repairs to problem spots, grinds three inches, and replaces three inches of surface to reduce overall cost. "That was at the tune of about 33,000 to get it that part of it reengineered," said Mr. Crowe, referring to the supplemental appropriation requested to redesign that portion.

The finance presentation also included a then-and-now resolution (resolution 25-03) to record prior-year obligations that were paid in the current fiscal year; staff said state law requires notification for amounts over $3,000. A landfill vehicle repair was noted as part of the then-and-now reporting.

No final votes on the supplemental appropriations package were taken during the workshop. Council opened and approved the meeting minutes earlier in the session on a motion by Councilmember Tolliver, seconded by Councilmember Wells, and later adjourned the workshop on a motion by Councilmember Wells, seconded by Councilmember Knowles.

The administration said the supplemental-appropriations ordinance and the then-and-now resolution will appear on the regular council meeting agenda for formal readings and any required votes.

Votes at a glance

- Acceptance of workshop minutes — motion by Councilmember Tolliver; second by Councilmember Wells; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Adjourn workshop — motion by Councilmember Wells; second by Councilmember Knowles; outcome: approved by voice vote.