Lima City Council approves multiple ordinances on first reading, moves one to second reading; hears housing and youth-sports appeals

Lima City Council met in regular session where members passed a number of ordinances on first reading, authorized administrative steps on liquor permit notices and a rezoning public hearing, and heard public comments from a resident seeking home-repair help and a community fundraiser promoting the Upward Basketball program.

The council voted to pass multiple ordinances on first reading, including measures authorizing participation in opioid-litigation settlements, budget amendments, banking and contract actions, sidewalk-assessment financing, engineering and construction contracts, and applications for state public-works funds. One ordinance related to a development project in American Township (identified in the meeting as Project BOSC) did not advance on first reading and was set to move to a second reading.

The actions taken matter because they set the city’s legislative and financial direction: first-reading approvals allow related contracts, bond or note issuances, solicitations for bids or advertisements for public hearings to proceed and begin the statutory process toward final adoption or later action.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 181-25 — Authorizing the mayor to execute documents for the city to participate in opioid-litigation settlements. Motion to pass on first reading carried by roll call, 7–0. - Ordinance 182-25 — Amending the 2025 annual budget. Passed on first reading, 7–0. - Ordinance 183-25 — Authorizing contract with Huntington National Bank to serve as the city’s depository. Passed on first reading, 7–0. - Ordinance 184-25 — Authorizing the mayor to use govdeals.com to dispose of tax-department equipment. Passed on first reading, 7–0. - Ordinance 185-25 — Authorizing issuance and sale of bonds up to $81,700 for property-owner portion of sidewalk construction special assessments (references resolution and ordinance numbers cited in the ordinance text). After receiving and filing the fiscal officer’s certificate, passed on first reading, 7–0. - Ordinance 186-25 — Authorizing issuance and sale of $56,600 of notes in anticipation of bonds for sidewalk special-assessment work. Fiscal officer’s certificate received and filed; passed on first reading, 7–0. - Ordinance 187-25 — Authorizing a contract with Mannick and Smith Group Inc. for professional engineering services regarding the Main Street Bridge. Passed on first reading, 7–0. - Ordinance 188-25 — Authorizing an amendment to the contract with F and B Engineering LLC as previously authorized. Passed on first reading, 7–0. - Ordinance 189-25 — Authorizing an amendment to the contract with Open Air Sales Inc. Passed on first reading, 7–0. - Ordinance 190-25 — Authorizing the mayor to apply for and administer funds from the Ohio Public Works Commission (State Capital Improvement Program and/or Local Transportation Improvement Program) for Public Works. Passed on first reading, 7–0. - Ordinance 191-25 — Authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract in support of a development project in American Township identified as Project BOSC. Roll call in the meeting recorded five yes votes and two no votes; the item did not pass as a final first-reading adoption at that time and was moved to second reading. - Ordinance 192-25 — Authorizing advertisement for bids and a contract for phase 3 of citywide wayfinding sign fabrication and installation. Passed on first reading, 7–0.

Other formal actions

- Consent calendar: The council approved the consent calendar (Item A received, filed and approved; Items B and C received and filed). Motion carried. - Communications on liquor permits: The council directed the clerk to request a public hearing from the Ohio Division of Liquor Control regarding a permit application for “U, LLC” at 121–123 East Kibbe Street; for Amy’s Waiting Room Inc., 309 East Wayne Street, the council authorized the clerk to notify the Liquor Control Division of no objection. - Petitions: The council received and filed a petition to rezone 1307 Saint John’s Avenue (from class 1 to class 3 residential) submitted by Ujima House, authorized publication of notice, and scheduled a public hearing for October 20, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.

Public comment and privilege of the floor

Resident Karen Reidenbach addressed the council about the city’s home-repair/roofing program and said she and her family have struggled to find assistance. Reidenbach said she bought her current home seven years ago, that three people live there, and that her daughter is disabled; she told the council “we’ve tried reaching out to all the places we can” but was told she makes too much income to qualify for some programs. The clerk took her contact information; the council asked staff to review possible resources and to provide a callback with information.

Ron Frank, a community charitable fundraiser affiliated with Forest Park United Methodist Church, asked the council to publicize an Upward Basketball registration and sponsor drive. He said registration begins Nov. 8, uniform fittings and practices will begin then, the eight-week season’s first games are scheduled around Nov. 10, and sponsorships cost $90 per child (checks payable to Forest Park United Methodist Church with “Upward Basketball” on the memo line). Frank provided the church information line (419-227-8445) and his phone number (419-302-5030) and a mailing address for donations: Forest Park United Methodist Church, 315 South Collins Avenue, Lima, Ohio 45804.

Other remarks and committee referrals

Council members used miscellaneous business to raise constituent issues and upcoming events: trash-collection complaints about Rumpke service were noted; Councilor Thompson invited residents to the Community Violence Prevention Coalition meeting and raised environmental and infrastructure questions about proposed data centers; Councilor Nipper referred a Cable Road project to a joint finance and neighborhood-concerns committee for further review; a walk-the-ward event and downtown weekend activities were also announced.

What’s next

Several ordinances were advanced on first reading and will follow the city’s normal legislative process toward additional readings or contract implementation as dictated by each ordinance and applicable administrative rules. The council scheduled a public hearing on the rezoning petition for Oct. 20, 2025. The meeting adjourned and council set its next meeting for September 22 at 7:00 p.m., per the motion to adjourn.