Xenia council approves bond issue for Market District, narrows backflow rule and adopts tax estimates; Rumpke renewal authorized

The Xenia City Council on Sept. 11 moved to convert short-term notes into a 10-year taxable bond for part of the Market District, narrowed the city's backflow-preventer requirement to structures identified by the Ohio plumbing code, accepted county-certified tax estimates for 2026 and authorized the city manager to execute a contract addendum with Rumpke to extend trash service.

The most consequential vote was an emergency ordinance authorizing the issuance of up to $1,850,000 in special-obligation taxable bonds to refinance notes taken to acquire the city's leasehold interest in the Xenia Town Square/Market District. Ryan Duke, finance director, told council the 2021 notes had been rolled annually and were due to mature Oct. 22, 2025; staff proposed issuing a 10-year bond, paying down $1 million of principal now and carrying roughly $1.8 million forward plus about $50,000 in issuance costs. Duke said, "Staff recommends rather than continuing to roll these over, year after year, that we issue bonds, a 10 year bond." He said the ordinance permits interest up to 7.5 percent but staff expects market rates closer to 6 percent and has sought lenders who would allow prepayment without penalty so sale proceeds could be used to retire principal earlier. Council passed the ordinance as an emergency; the roll call was unanimous.

Council also completed a public hearing and passed an amendment to Section 10.15.1 of the Xenia City Code that narrows the city's backflow-preventer requirement. City attorney/staff explained the 2023 ordinance had required backflow devices for all sanitary sewer connections; the amendment limits the requirement to structures the Ohio plumbing code identifies as at risk (generally those with basements or whose elevation places sanitary lines above occupied spaces). Assistant/City staff summarized the change as targeting "the backflow prevention device requirement to only those types of structures that would be most at risk from this type of sanitary sewer backflow." Councilman Crawford moved the ordinance and Councilman Reynolds seconded; the measure passed on roll call.

On budgeting, the council adopted Resolution 2025-51 accepting amounts and tax rates certified by the Greene County Budget Commission for tax year 2026. The certificate sets estimated general property tax receipts at $1,892,000 (about $26,000 higher than last year's estimate) and the local government allocation at $896,064.98 (up from $867,407.83). Finance staff said the increase is largely attributable to new construction.

Administratively, council authorized the city manager to sign an addendum to the Rumpke sanitation contract to exercise the option year for 2026 and to take advantage of renewal terms for 2027 and 2028. City staff said the contract contains a 7.5 percent rate increase in each renewal year; staff recommended extending under the existing terms because there are few regional vendors and rebidding now would likely mean higher rates.

Other business: council introduced an ordinance to dedicate 0.113 acres of city-owned land in the G.W. Weatherholt Addition as public right of way for Park Street to facilitate a replat and sale of assembled lots; the ordinance was introduced and will return for consideration. Council also approved routine minutes and administrative motions, and later voted to fly the municipal flag at half-staff through Sept. 14 in observance of a state proclamation.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of Aug. 26, 2025 special meeting minutes: moved by Councilwoman Sarris, second by Councilman Reynolds; tally: Yes 6, Abstain 1 (Councilman Propst). Outcome: approved.

- Approval of Aug. 28, 2025 regular meeting minutes: moved by Councilwoman Sarris, second by Councilman Propst; tally: unanimous. Outcome: approved.

- Ordinance 2025-22 (amend Section 10.15.1, backflow preventers): moved by Councilman Crawford, second by Councilman Reynolds; tally: unanimous. Outcome: adopted.

- Ordinance 2025-23 (emergency; authorize issuance of taxable special-obligation bonds not to exceed $1,850,000): moved by Councilwoman Sreece, second by Councilman Walker; tally: unanimous. Outcome: adopted as an emergency.

- Ordinance 2025-24 (introduce replat/dedication for Park Street parcels in G.W. Weatherholt Addition): introduced by Councilman Reynolds; action: introduction only, to return for further consideration.

- Resolution 2025-51 (accept Greene County Budget Commission estimates and certify levies for 2026): moved by Councilman Crawford, seconded by Councilwoman Sarris; tally: unanimous. Outcome: adopted.

- Administrative motion authorizing the city manager to execute Rumpke addendum and exercise renewal options for 2026'028 (sanitation contract): moved by Mayor Urschel, second by Councilman Walker; tally: unanimous. Outcome: approved.

- Administrative motion to fly the municipal flag at half-staff through 6 p.m. Sept. 14, 2025: moved and seconded; tally: unanimous. Outcome: approved.

Why it matters

Locking the Market District debt into a longer-term taxable bond gives the city a known repayment schedule (staff estimated annual debt service at roughly $255,000 under the proposed 10-year structure) while preserving the option to use sale proceeds to pay principal early. The backflow amendment changes the compliance burden for many homeowners by applying the device requirement only to properties identified by the Ohio plumbing code as at risk; staff said the change responds to Greene County Combined Health District implementation concerns. The Rumpke action preserves existing service terms and avoids an immediate rebid when the vendor market is thin.

What's next

Council expects to put the bond issue out to bid and to close on Oct. 22, 2025, the maturity date of the existing notes. The Park Street replat/dedication will return to council for final action after staff completes the replat and accompanying ordinance. The administration will execute the Rumpke addendum and notify the company of the renewal election for 2026 and potential renewals for 2027 and 2028 under the contract terms.