Pataskala council reappoints volunteers, adopts rezoning, approves economic development contract; consent agenda passes

Pataskala City Council voted to reappoint two members of the Personnel Board of Review and one representative to the fire board, adopted a rezoning ordinance on third reading for a Columbia Road parcel, and approved a one-year contract with Montrose Group LLC for economic development advisory services.

Council reappointed Mary Walker to the Personnel Board of Review after a motion and roll-call vote; the motion carried with recorded “yes” votes from Walter, Jefferson, Coleman, Gampyre, Galick, Lee and Wright. Becky Smith was reappointed to the Personnel Board of Review in a separate motion and roll call; the vote was recorded as yes by Everson, Coleman, Amstier, Galick, Lee, Hite and Walter. The council also reappointed Tommy as the city’s representative to the fire board by motion and roll call; the vote was recorded as yes by Coleman, Hampshire, Lee, Scalick, Hite, Walter and Everson.

On legislative business, the council adopted Ordinance 2024-4483 on third reading. The ordinance rezones a 63.59-acre parcel on Columbia Road (parcel number 06415284400000) from agricultural (AG) to planned manufacturing (PM) with a plan district overlay. The motion to adopt was moved and seconded and the roll-call vote recorded unanimous support from the members present.

Council also considered several items on first reading. Ordinance 2024-4486, a proposed municipal public improvement tax-incentive measure referencing Ohio Revised Code sections 5709.42, 5709.43, 5709.832 and 5709.85, received a first reading and no final action. Ordinance 2025-4489, a supplemental appropriation ordinance for current fiscal-year expenses, was read for the first time. No votes were taken on those first readings.

Council approved Resolution 2025-006, authorizing the city administrator to execute a contract with Montrose Group LLC to provide economic development advisory and consulting services. Council members discussed that the firm’s contract rose in the prior year when lobbying services were added and that the current contract continued at the current amount; the administration and development committee reported satisfaction with Montrose’s work and cited the cost as roughly half of what the city would pay for an equivalent full-time staff position. The motion to approve the resolution was moved by Walter, seconded by Epperson, and passed on roll call with the members recorded as voting yes.

The consent agenda passed on a motion moved by Epperson and seconded by Lee; the roll call recorded all listed members as voting yes. The meeting concluded after additional citizen comments and departmental reports.

Votes at a glance: - Mary Walker — Reappointment to Personnel Board of Review; motion moved by Councilmember Walter; outcome: approved (roll-call yes recorded for Walter, Jefferson, Coleman, Gampyre, Galick, Lee, Wright). - Becky Smith — Reappointment to Personnel Board of Review; motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (roll-call yes recorded for Everson, Coleman, Amstier, Galick, Lee, Hite, Walter). - Tommy — Reappointment as Fire Board representative; motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (roll-call yes recorded: Coleman, Hampshire, Lee, Scalick, Hite, Walter, Everson). - Ordinance 2024-4483 — Rezoning (Columbia Road, parcel 06415284400000) from AG to PM with plan district overlay; motion to adopt: passed (roll-call recorded yes votes). - Resolution 2025-006 — Contract with Montrose Group LLC for economic development consulting; motion to approve: passed (roll-call recorded yes votes).