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Circleville council approves police realignment ordinance and authorizes indigent-defense contract
Summary
City council passed an ordinance realigning police-code sections and approved a contract to fund indigent defense services through June 30, 2025; council also placed three mayoral reappointments on file.
Circleville City Council passed an ordinance that amends multiple sections of the city codified ordinances related to the police department and approved an ordinance authorizing the mayor and law director to contract with the Pickaway County Commissioners to provide legal representation for indigent defendants through June 30, 2025.
The police-related ordinance, originating in the safety committee, was adopted after a second reading and a motion to suspend the rules. Jeff Hallinan, safety committee chair, said the ordinance "was requested via the chief of police, Kenny, and our mayor to have this realignment for what will best serve our citizens." Council took a roll-call vote and the ordinance passed unanimously. The number given for that ordinance during the meeting was 112025.
Separately, the council heard the first reading of an annual ordinance authorizing the mayor and law director to enter a contract with the Pickaway County Commissioners to provide legal representation to indigent defendants in cases involving the Police Department or municipal court from July through June 30, 2025. Tom Klitschke, judicial committee chair, described the measure as an "annual ordinance" and said the council needed to act quickly because the year is already in progress. After motions to suspend the rules and for passage, the council voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance on the floor at the meeting.
During the communications portion, the clerk read three mayoral reappointments that the council placed on file by unanimous vote: the reappointment of Kip Nun Gunster to the Pickaway Metropolitan Housing Authority Board (term to expire Dec. 31, 2029), Tyler Cruz to the Park Commission (term to expire Jan. 1, 2028) and Mike Combs to the Planning and Zoning Commission (term to expire Dec. 31, 2030). The council motion to place those correspondences on file was moved by Katie Hedges and seconded by Jeff Hallinan.
No opposition or abstentions were recorded on the ordinance votes during the meeting. The record shows the council used suspension of rules procedures to expedite both ordinances.
The meeting record does not specify a fiscal appropriation amount for the indigent-defense contract in the ordinance text read at the meeting; council members noted the item is annual and that the timing required attention because the fiscal year is underway.
