Council moves support agreement for Cheney Mill restoration; $100,000 bed‑tax reimbursement funded by appropriation

Canal Winchester City Council approved a resolution authorizing the mayor and city administrator to enter a financial support agreement with the Canal Winchester Historical Society to help fund restoration work at Cheney Mill, including a sidewalk connection along Oak Street.

City Administrator Matt Peebles told council the Historical Society's restoration includes a public sidewalk along Oak Street to tie into the High Street sidewalk; the city is proposing a reimbursement payment using unencumbered bed‑tax funds. Peebles said a proposed appropriation ordinance on the council agenda would provide the money from the bed‑tax fund for the one‑time payment.

Councilmembers asked whether the proposed payment would come from the bed‑tax fund or general fund and whether the appropriation would reduce the balance to an uncomfortable level. Peebles said the appropriation on third reading would use bed‑tax funds and that staff would provide the bed‑tax fund balance; later in the meeting development staff reported that the bed‑tax fund balance is approximately $450,000, noting some of that amount is reserved or previously allocated.

The Historical Society's sidewalk is planned primarily on private property with a public sidewalk easement; the council compared it to a previously reimbursed sidewalk project the city supported for the library. Councilmember questions confirmed the segment would extend along the north side of Oak Street to the edge of the Historical Society's property.

Council adopted resolution 25‑042 on a roll call; the record shows two abstentions: Councilmember Moore and Councilmember Amos abstained, while the remaining members voted yes (recorded votes included Miss Amick (yes), Mister Buskirk (yes), Mister McLaughlin (yes), Mister Shea (yes) and Mister Bennett (yes)).

The appropriation ordinance (25‑019) that included a $100,000 allocation to support the Historical Society also passed on third reading later in the meeting. City staff said the appropriation will be processed from available bed‑tax funds and that staff would provide council the exact remaining fund balance on request.

The financial support agreement authorizes the mayor and administrator to finalize terms with the Historical Society and specifies the grant as a reimbursement for eligible costs related to the public sidewalk and beautification work associated with the Cheney Mill restoration project.