Chillicothe City Council delays third-reading levy vote after city clerk absence

A special meeting of the Chillicothe City Council called for 5:00 p.m. was held to consider the third reading of a resolution to place a levy on the ballot, but council postponed action after the city clerk did not appear. Council members voted unanimously to move the levy item to the next council meeting.

Council members said the clerk’s absence left uncertainty about how to proceed with formal action. Council members discussed whether to proceed or delay and ultimately voted to reschedule the item. The meeting record notes that, if the council did not act at the special meeting, the item would likely be placed on the November ballot instead of the spring ballot that the resolution’s third reading would have targeted.

The council first moved to excuse Councilmember Prowl, who was not in attendance. That motion, made by Councilmember DeMitt and seconded by Councilmember Nickerson, passed on a unanimous roll call. Later, Councilmember McKeever made a motion to carry forward Councilwoman Preston’s earlier motion to move the levy consideration to the next council meeting; Preston seconded. The roll call returned unanimous affirmative votes from Bennett, Payne, Preston, DeMitt, Nickerson, Barnes and McKeever, and the council confirmed the item will appear on the next meeting’s agenda.

With the levy item postponed, the council completed routine business. Councilmember Payne led the Pledge of Allegiance. The meeting concluded after a unanimous motion to adjourn, moved by Councilmember Bennett and seconded by Councilmember Payne.