Xenia council approves property sales, traffic-code updates, budget appropriations and remediation contracts; introduces backflow amendment

The Xenia City Council on Aug. 28 approved a package of routine and project-specific measures, including the sale of six tax-foreclosed properties, updates to the city traffic code to align with recent state law changes, emergency appropriations tied to a county grant and an interfund loan reimbursement, and contracts to clean and assess contamination at 249 Sycamore Street. Council also introduced an amendment to the city code on sewer backflow prevention that targets installations to locations identified in the Ohio Plumbing Code.

The actions, taken during a regularly scheduled council meeting at Xenia City Hall, included formal votes on ordinances and resolutions and several contract approvals to advance redevelopment and public-works projects. Council members emphasized that some measures were procedural and required by outside grant or state requirements; others were tied to multiagency remediation and downtown redevelopment efforts.

The sales approved by the council cover six city-acquired parcels that were obtained through tax foreclosure and held for the city’s home preservation program. City Manager Ryan Baker said the program’s goal is to return properties to owner-occupants who will pay property taxes and maintain the lots. “The real goal is to get these properties back in the hands of individuals that will be utilizing the properties, paying the taxes, and providing a positive influence back on the community,” Baker said.

Council voted to update the municipal traffic code so it is concurrent with state law. Danette, the city’s law director, told council the change follows a comprehensive update to keep local code aligned with amendments that took effect earlier this year, including provisions that arose from House Bill 96. “If it’s an issue that’s addressed in the ORC, we have to mirror it,” Danette said.

On the budget front, council approved an emergency amendment to the 2025 appropriation ordinance to record two items: the city’s role as pass-through for a Greene County improvement grant of $75,000 for work at the AD Building, and an appropriation to reimburse the general fund for an interfund loan to a street cost center (fund 229) used to complete a project now reimbursed by the county. Finance Director Ryan Duke explained that the grant “flows through the city” and that the interfund appropriation is to reimburse the general fund for money lent to finish work earlier in the year.

Council approved a final plat and subdivider agreement for the Summerbrook South Subdivision, Section 6 — a 13.559-acre addition that will create 23 single-family lots, one open-space lot and extend existing streets. Brett Merriman (planning/engineering staff) said that planning, engineering and fire/EMS divisions reviewed the final plat and that the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval. The measure passed with one abstention from President Smith.

The council awarded remediation and assessment work at the former Thomas Auto site at 249 Sycamore Street. Public services staff said removal of roughly 1,400 tons of contaminated soil is required; the council authorized a contract award to Environmental Remediation Contractor LLC for $186,690 to remove and properly dispose of the soil and backfill with clean fill. Council also approved a $128,411 contract with Tetra Tech Inc. to manage remediation work, collect confirmatory samples and prepare a remediation completion report. Staff said the work is being coordinated with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and must be completed before the end of the year to satisfy OEPA milestones.

Council approved a memorandum of understanding and a Greene County Community Investment Grant award for repairs to the EV Exchange building at 17 W. Third St. City staff said the county granted up to $75,000 toward roof repairs as part of a roughly $3.7 million redevelopment project led by Dr. Ross McNutt; the city’s role is reimbursement-based and contingent on documentation of expenditures. Council members noted and asked staff to correct a numerical discrepancy in the paperwork before final accounting.

On backflow prevention, Merriman explained that enforcement of the backflow-device requirement adopted in 2023 has proved difficult in certain home types (notably slab homes). The introduced ordinance (Ordinance 2025-22) would revise section 10.15.1 to align with the Ohio Plumbing Code’s elevation-based rules — for example, requiring a device when fixtures are installed below the nearest upstream manhole — and direct the Greene County Combined Health District to continue inspection and enforcement as part of plumbing inspections. Merriman said the change is intended to target locations most likely to experience sanitary sewer backups, while avoiding undue hardship on homeowners. The ordinance was introduced for future consideration and was not voted on.

Council members and staff also spent substantial time on budget planning and a longer-term pavement and infrastructure strategy. Council’s budget committee reviewed five-year projections and discussed how a proposed income-tax increase on the Nov. 4 ballot would affect funding for streets and other capital needs. Mayor Urschel and council members stressed that the city is balancing infrastructure needs with maintaining public-safety staffing; city staff provided a tentative multi-year paving list that assumes the proposed levy passes and a shorter list that reflects current funding.

Votes at a glance (selected items): - Ordinance 2025-19 (sale of six city-owned properties): Passed, roll-call vote — Mayor Urschel: Aye; Councilman Crawford: Aye; Councilman Prophes: Aye; Councilman Walker: Aye; Councilwoman Sarris: Aye; President Smith: Aye. - Ordinance 2025-20 (traffic code update to be concurrent with state law): Passed, same roll-call majority. - Ordinance 2025-21 (emergency appropriation to recognize a $75,000 county grant and reimburse general fund for interfund loan): Passed (paperwork emergency), same roll-call majority. - Ordinance 2025-22 (amendment to backflow prevention requirement): Introduced; no final vote. - Resolution 2025-46 (final plat, Summerbrook South Section 6): Approved; President Smith abstained. - Resolution 2025-47 (award contract for 2025 Sycamore Street remediation to Environmental Remediation Contractor LLC, $186,690): Approved. - Contract approval with Tetra Tech Inc. for environmental assessment/remediation management, $128,411: Approved. - Resolutions 2025-49 and 2025-50 (Greene County CIG grant and related MOU for EV Exchange project, up to $75,000): Approved.

The council recessed for a scheduled work session and announced it would return for an executive session to discuss property acquisition and receive legal advice. Staff reminded the public that city offices would be closed Monday for Labor Day.

Ending: Council members said the planning and remediation work are steps toward downtown redevelopment and infrastructure maintenance; several members encouraged residents to review budget materials ahead of the Nov. 4 ballot measure that would raise the city’s income tax rate for five years to fund street repairs and maintenance.