Moraine City Council approves emergency budget moves, OKs $1.7 million fire ladder and appoints clerk

Moraine City Council on Feb. 13 approved two emergency supplemental-appropriation ordinances, accepted a $1,705,095 bid for a new aerial ladder quint with an estimated 2028 delivery, appointed Karen Powell as Clerk of Council and tabled a proposed change to the city’s Merit System ordinance.

The council voted unanimously on each of the adopted items. The first ordinance, numbered in the agenda as 2175-25, was amended on the floor to add the phrase “and declaring an emergency” to the title before receiving final adoption. A second ordinance, listed as 2176-25, moved funds the city had budgeted for an Ohio Department of Transportation resurfacing of State Route 741 from 2026 into February 2025; council approved suspending the rules so the second reading would not be required and adopted it during the meeting.

The council also adopted a resolution to accept a Sourcewell cooperative-purchase proposal for a 2025-approved aerial ladder quint at a total cost of $1,705,095, with the department estimating delivery in 2028. Separately, the council approved a resolution to declare the items on the city’s 2025 surplus list as no longer needed and authorized disposal via GovDeals, donation to nonprofit organizations or trade-in programs.

Council appointed Karen Powell as Clerk of Council by resolution and immediately administered the oath. A separate ordinance to amend the Moraine Codified Ordinances, Chapter 149, incorporating updated Merit System Commission rules was tabled at the law director’s request so the revision could first be reviewed by the Merit System Commission.

Finance and administrative updates distributed in the meeting packet included the January finance director’s report and a mayor’s court monthly statement showing gross revenue for December of $12,163.69; the law director said he would present more complete mayor’s court figures next month. Council members made several brief staff-direction requests: Council member Marcus asked the city manager to contact Miami Township about possible work on Lamb Road; the city manager said he would follow up.

Votes at a glance

Ordinance 2175-25 — "An ordinance to make supplemental appropriations for current expenses and other expenditures of the City of Moraine, State of Ohio for the period 01/01/2025 to 12/31/2025" (title amended to add “and declaring an emergency") — Outcome: Adopted (emergency). Roll call: Mr. Miller — yes; Mr. Doherty — yes; Ms. Marcus — yes; Mr. Burchad — yes; Mrs. Witt — yes; Mrs. Allen — yes; Mayor Murphy — yes. Notes: Law director requested amendment to add emergency language before adoption.

Ordinance 2176-25 — "An ordinance to make supplemental appropriations for current expenses and other expenditures of the City of Moraine, State of Ohio for the period 01/01/2025 to 12/31/2025" (to move ODOT SR 741 resurfacing funds from 2026 into 02/2025) — Outcome: Adopted (emergency/suspended rules). Roll call: unanimous (same voting members as above). Notes: Council moved to suspend the rules so no second reading was required.

Ordinance (chapter 149 amendment) — "An ordinance amending Moraine Codified Ordinance Chapter 149, Merit System Commission" — Outcome: Tabled. Roll call: unanimous. Notes: Law director asked item be tabled so revisions could be presented first to the Merit System Commission.

Resolution (appointment) — "Appointment of Karen Powell to the position of Clerk of Council" — Outcome: Adopted. Roll call: unanimous. Notes: Oath administered at the meeting.

Resolution 81272-25 (purchase) — "Authorize the City of Moraine to accept the Sourcewell proposal for the purchase of one 2028 E1 aerial ladder quint at a total cost of $1,705,095" — Outcome: Adopted. Roll call: unanimous. Notes: Delivery estimated in 2028; Sourcewell is the cooperative purchasing organization (formerly the National Joint Powers Alliance).

Resolution (surplus) — "Declare items on attached 2025 surplus list to be no longer needed and authorize disposal via GovDeals, donation or trade-in" — Outcome: Adopted. Roll call: unanimous.

What happened and why it matters

The emergency supplemental appropriations allow the city to move budget authority into the current year to pay for costs in the Arts and Recreation Fund and the Economic Development Fund and to cover a resurfacing project on State Route 741 that was moved up to February 2025 by ODOT. Council used its emergency-adoption authority (suspending the normal second-reading requirement) so the transfers could take effect immediately.

Approving the Sourcewell purchase begins the procurement process for a major fire apparatus the department had budgeted for 2025; the vendor proposal and the city’s resolution establish authority to accept that cooperative-purchase pricing. The surplus declaration clears city inventory for sale, donation or trade-in under the methods approved by council.

Council business and community notes

There were no public comments listed on the agenda. Members offered brief reports: a parks master-plan steering-committee process continues with a presentation to council expected after the April meeting; Council member Miller offered condolences on the death of former Fire Lieutenant Larry Winters; Council member Allen acknowledged public-works crews for winter street work and offered condolences to the family of Helen Lyle. The city manager agreed to contact Miami Township about possible work on Lamb Road and said he would report back to council.

Meeting context

The meeting followed routine order-of-business items (roll call, pledge, approval of minutes) and ran brief, with council members debating procedural amendments only as needed to enable emergency adoption. No public- hearing-level debate or contested votes were recorded.