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Council reviews 2025 appropriation amendment: cruisers, Canal Point water and wastewater power costs
Summary
Council reviewed Ordinance 25-024 (first reading) to amend 2025 appropriations to budget $130,000 for two police cruisers, replenish Canal Point water purchase funds and add power budget for the wastewater plant; item moved to full council.
Canal Winchester City Council reviewed an ordinance to amend the 2025 appropriations that would allocate funds for two police cruisers, reimbursements for Canal Point Industrial Park water purchases and higher electricity costs for the wastewater plant.
City Administrator Matt Peebles, speaking on behalf of Finance Director Amanda Jackson, told council the general fund item would add $130,000 to the sheriff's capital outlay to place a purchase order for two cruisers — one marked and one unmarked — because manufacturers require purchase orders well before payment or delivery. Peebles said the estimate is $70,000 for the marked vehicle (including upfit) and $60,000 for the unmarked unit; although actual payment will occur in 2026, procurement needs the appropriation now to issue the purchase order.
Peebles also said the Canal Point Industrial Park water appropriation is a replenishment of funds used to purchase water from the city of Pickerington under an existing intergovernmental agreement that dates to 1998; staff described it as an "in and out" replenishment tied to growth in industrial water use. For sanitary sewer operations, Peebles said rising electric rates have increased power costs and the wastewater plant needs additional funds through year end for South Central Power.
Council members asked follow-up questions about lead times for cruiser orders (staff said manufacturers require early purchase orders to reserve next year's production), whether the Canal Point water arrangement affects long-term reliance on Pickerington (staff said the 1998 agreement limits Pickerington service to that area and the city continues to pay capacity and user fees to Pickerington), and whether onsite generation had been considered (staff discussed a large diesel generator installed in 2020 and said natural gas made less sense at that generator size).
Council voted at the work session to move Ordinance 25-024 to full council for first reading and further consideration.
