Pataskala council approves consent agenda; updates given on finance search, auditors, salt and park signage

Pataskala City Council on Monday approved its consent agenda and heard a series of brief operational updates, including changes to the State of the City venue, ongoing finance director recruitment, an auditor consulting arrangement, salt inventory status and park signage contributions.

Presiding officials said the annual State of the City address, hosted with the Chamber, will be held at the library this year because demand for seating outgrew the police training room. Council members noted the city is continuing its search for a replacement finance director.

Council received an update on an auditor relationship: the city's current auditing firm will meet monthly with staff as a nominal-fee consultant to review accounting issues and policy questions; the arrangement was described as a one-year engagement to provide regular sounding-board services, with the option to expand to a more in-depth consulting relationship if needed.

Public-works or streets staff reported the city entered the winter season with about 800 tons of salt ordered and in storage and expects to order the same amount for the current year; staff said they may increase ordering to 1,000'to 1,200 tons for next year but anticipates completing the current season with inventory largely adequate.

On parks signage, the parks report noted a new sign will be located at the entrance to John Rhys Parkway; the Extreme Soccer Club (referred to as PSC in the report) will pay half the cost of that sign. Council committee reports also noted other routine property-leasing renewals and meeting schedules.

Council moved and seconded the consent agenda (moved by Mr. Walter; seconded by Mary), and roll-call responses in the transcript recorded unanimous approval; the clerk announced that the consent agenda passed.

The meeting concluded with routine committee scheduling and an adjournment motion that carried on a roll call of recorded "yes" votes.