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Residents urge council to support library levy outreach and press Liberty Township for fire levy financial justification
Summary
Two Powell residents used public comment to urge council action: a Library Board trustee asked for council support of a May 6 library levy and described proposed improvements; a resident asked council to request a financial justification from Liberty Township for a proposed fire/EMS levy.
At the March 4 meeting, two residents addressed council during citizen participation on separate ballot measures affecting Powell residents.
Lori Kiffer, who identified herself as a member of the Delaware County District Library Board of Trustees and gave her Powell address, described the library system’s programs and facilities and urged support for a May 6 library levy. Kiffer said the levy would expand hours, support outreach including after‑hours lockboxes, fund vital programs (story time, summer reading, ACT tutoring) and allow the library to “pay our dedicated employees a competitive wage.” She described the system’s five branches and services including maker studios and a bookmobile visit for a senior resident.
Dan Harmon, a Powell resident who identified his address, addressed the council about a separate levy: he said Liberty Township trustees had placed a 2.4‑mill continuous fire/EMS levy on the May 6 ballot “without discussion” and asked the Powell City Council to formally request that Liberty Township Fire‑EMS provide a clear, complete forward‑looking financial justification for the proposed levy to city administration or council. Harmon told council he had discussed his concerns with the fire chief and a trustee and said voters deserve projections of expected revenues and expenses and the key assumptions behind them. He urged transparency and called on Powell officials to help ensure residents can make informed votes.
Council did not take action during the public comment period; staff did not report any formal direction that evening. Both comments were entered in the public record.
