Waterville council approves early 2025 budget amendment to cover Parker Square repairs, paving change order and county debt bill

The Waterville City Council on March 10 approved Ordinance 0125, the first amendment to the FY2025 appropriation ordinance, and declared it an emergency to allow immediate payment of several unplanned costs.

John, the city administrator, told council the amendment addresses three items: repairs to Parker Square after damage caused by a driver (the city will receive partial reimbursement from the driver’s insurance), payment of a change order from the 2024 paving program that was charged to 2025, and a newly received invoice from Lucas County for debt service on work at the wastewater treatment plant. "The bill is coming due," the administrator said, and the city must add funds to the current appropriation to pay the added debt service.

Council moved to suspend the rules and approve the ordinance as an emergency measure; a subsequent vote recorded final passage. The council approved the ordinance by roll call; all present voted in favor and one member, Tony Garber, had been excused earlier in the evening.

Council did not specify the total dollar amount added by the amendment during the public discussion; members referred to the city’s operating budget where the debt had been anticipated in prior years but the county’s invoice was larger than expected. The administrator said the city had budgeted for the county debt in prior years but had not previously received a bill until now.

The ordinance amends the city's appropriation ordinance to increase appropriations for the identified repairs and debt service and was adopted on first and final reading as an emergency.